The complex field of stem cell research is expanding at a remarkable rate, but public understanding of this topic is still growing.
With so much information to be learned, and equally as much information available, it can be difficult to find legitimate and localized sources.
Our goal is to make this information easily accessible and understandable so you, too, can be on the forefront of this cutting edge research.
One of the most basic questions in this research is two-fold: What are stem cells and where do they come from? Stem cells, like other types of cells, are found throughout the body, but they have two very unique characteristics.
1) they have the ability to divide into other types of cells and 2) they can replicate themselves for long amounts of time.
So what exactly does that mean? If we go back to the basics, all of our organs, in all parts of our body, are made of cells.
In fact, there are over 200 different types of cells in the human body.
There are cells that make up our skin, our bones, our blood...
everything.
While ordinary cells divide to create a copy of themselves, what makes stem cells so unique is their ability to divide into all of the 200+ types of cells as well as a copy of themselves.
Even though these cells can be found throughout the body, there are specific places where they are localized, and they are therefore named based on their organ of origin.
Embryonic stem cells (es cells) are the type that has generated the most attention and controversy, but also the most excitement.
Once an egg has been fertilized, it goes through a very rapid division process.
After about three days, the structure that started as one cell, has divided into a structure of about 100 cells, called a blastocyst.
A blastocyst looks almost like a microscopic version of a walnut, with a diameter less than that of a strand of human hair.
Es cells are obtained by extracting the "inner cell mass" from the inside of the blastocyst.
These cells are then placed in culture, which allows them to divide and replicate.
They are described as pluripotent, meaning they can replicate themselves infinitely and have the unique ability to be coaxed into differentiating into all types of cells in the human body.
A common misconception is the idea that es cells come from fetuses or babies.
As previously described, es cells come from a blastocyst, which is neither a fetus nor a baby; a blastocyst it is an early-stage embryo.
The controversy surrounding embryonic stem cells centers on the ethical question as to when a human life begins, however a vast majority of individuals don't attribute the same moral status to this blastocyst as to a living human.
The other major type of stem cell is collectively called adult stem cells, which are found in various locations throughout the human body, as well as in umbilical cord blood.
These adult stem cells can be classified further depending on where in the body they come from.
For instance, cardiac stem cells were recently discovered in the heart and neural stem cells are found in the nervous system.
What makes adult stem cells different from embryonic is that they are multipotent, in that they can arguably only differentiate into a limited number of cell types, notably cells from which they were originally extracted.
Adult stem cells have been in use for several decades, however largely only to treat blood disorders, as many of these have been found in bone marrow where blood is made.
On the other hand, as discussed, es cells have the unique ability to differentiate into any kind of cell type, highlighting their vast potential in treating disease and becoming cell replacements.
Recently, new technological advances have opened up the possibility to create embryonic and embryonic-like stem cells through processes called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and cellular reprogramming (IPS).
The results highlight the exciting and dynamic nature of this field.
At the same time though, they all offer something unique and must be studied together in order to find cures and treatments to disease.
With so much information to be learned, and equally as much information available, it can be difficult to find legitimate and localized sources.
Our goal is to make this information easily accessible and understandable so you, too, can be on the forefront of this cutting edge research.
One of the most basic questions in this research is two-fold: What are stem cells and where do they come from? Stem cells, like other types of cells, are found throughout the body, but they have two very unique characteristics.
1) they have the ability to divide into other types of cells and 2) they can replicate themselves for long amounts of time.
So what exactly does that mean? If we go back to the basics, all of our organs, in all parts of our body, are made of cells.
In fact, there are over 200 different types of cells in the human body.
There are cells that make up our skin, our bones, our blood...
everything.
While ordinary cells divide to create a copy of themselves, what makes stem cells so unique is their ability to divide into all of the 200+ types of cells as well as a copy of themselves.
Even though these cells can be found throughout the body, there are specific places where they are localized, and they are therefore named based on their organ of origin.
Embryonic stem cells (es cells) are the type that has generated the most attention and controversy, but also the most excitement.
Once an egg has been fertilized, it goes through a very rapid division process.
After about three days, the structure that started as one cell, has divided into a structure of about 100 cells, called a blastocyst.
A blastocyst looks almost like a microscopic version of a walnut, with a diameter less than that of a strand of human hair.
Es cells are obtained by extracting the "inner cell mass" from the inside of the blastocyst.
These cells are then placed in culture, which allows them to divide and replicate.
They are described as pluripotent, meaning they can replicate themselves infinitely and have the unique ability to be coaxed into differentiating into all types of cells in the human body.
A common misconception is the idea that es cells come from fetuses or babies.
As previously described, es cells come from a blastocyst, which is neither a fetus nor a baby; a blastocyst it is an early-stage embryo.
The controversy surrounding embryonic stem cells centers on the ethical question as to when a human life begins, however a vast majority of individuals don't attribute the same moral status to this blastocyst as to a living human.
The other major type of stem cell is collectively called adult stem cells, which are found in various locations throughout the human body, as well as in umbilical cord blood.
These adult stem cells can be classified further depending on where in the body they come from.
For instance, cardiac stem cells were recently discovered in the heart and neural stem cells are found in the nervous system.
What makes adult stem cells different from embryonic is that they are multipotent, in that they can arguably only differentiate into a limited number of cell types, notably cells from which they were originally extracted.
Adult stem cells have been in use for several decades, however largely only to treat blood disorders, as many of these have been found in bone marrow where blood is made.
On the other hand, as discussed, es cells have the unique ability to differentiate into any kind of cell type, highlighting their vast potential in treating disease and becoming cell replacements.
Recently, new technological advances have opened up the possibility to create embryonic and embryonic-like stem cells through processes called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and cellular reprogramming (IPS).
The results highlight the exciting and dynamic nature of this field.
At the same time though, they all offer something unique and must be studied together in order to find cures and treatments to disease.