Medical treatment involving stem cells is an ever-growing, billion-dollar industry, so chances are you have heard about it in the news. Here in the U.S. and around the world, stem cells are being used in various therapies to treat a wide variety of health problems and diseases, including dementia, autism, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, osteoarthritis, cancer, heart disease, Parkinsons disease, and spinal cord injury. Treatments for such health issues may sound promising, but the risk is many of those being sold and advertised arent yet proven to be safe and effective. This is why its so important to educate yourself before jumping into any kind of stem cell treatment.
To gain a better understanding of this new age of medical research, one must first understand what stem cells are and how they work. Stem cells are special human cells that can develop into many different types of cells. They can divide and produce more of the same type of stem cells, or they can turn into different functioning cells. There are no other types of cells in the body that have this natural ability to generate new cell types.
So where do stem cells that are used for research and medical treatments come from? The three main types of stem cells are embryonic (or pluripotent) stem cells, adult stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells.
Embryonic stem cells come from unused, in vitro fertilized embryos that are three to five days old. The embryos are only donated for research purposes with the informed consent of the donors. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, which means they can turn into any cell type in the body.
Adult stem cells are found in small numbers in developed tissues in different parts of the body, such as bone marrow, skin, and the brain. They are specific to a certain kind of tissue in the body and are limited to maintaining and repairing the tissue in which they are found. For example, liver stem cells can only make new liver tissue; they arent able to make new muscle tissue.
Induced pluripotent stem cells are another form of adult stem cells. These are stem cells that have been manipulated in a laboratory and reprogrammed to work like embryotic (or pluripotent) stem cells. While these altered adult stem cells dont appear to be clinically different from embryonic stem cells, research is still being conducted to determine if the effects they have on humans differ from actual embryonic stem cells.
Stem cells can also be found in amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood. These stem cells have the ability to change into specialized cells like embryonic stem cells. While more research is being conducted to determine the potential of these types of stem cells, researchers already actively use these through amniocentesis procedures. In this procedure, the stem cells drawn from amniotic fluid samples of pregnant women can be screened for developmental abnormalities in a fetus.
The main difference between embryonic and adult stem cells is how they function. Embryonic stem cells are more versatile. Since they can divide into more stem cells or become any type of cell in the body, they can be used to regenerate or repair a variety of diseased tissue and organs. Adult stem cells only generate the types of cells from where they are taken from in the body.
The ability for stem cells to regenerate under the right conditions in the body or in a laboratory is why researchers and doctors have become so interested in studying them. Stem cell research is helping scientists and doctors to better understand how certain diseases occur, how to possibly generate healthy cells to replace diseased cells, and offer ways to test new drugs.
Clearly, stem cell research is showing great potential for understanding and treating a range of diseases and other health issues, but there is still a lot to learn. While there are some diseases that are showing success using stem cell treatments, many others are yet to be proven in clinical trials and should be considered highly experimental.
In our next article, various stem cell treatments, FDA regulations, and other stem cell hot topics will be explored. It will also focus on what to look for when considering stem cell therapies so people arent misled or misinformed about the benefits and risks.
For more information regarding the basics of stem cells visit these sites:
https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/1.htm
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bone-marrow-transplant/in-depth/stem-cells/art-20048117
View original post here:
The 411 on Stem Cells: What They Are and Why It's Important to Be Educated - Legal Examiner
- The Science Of Health: Are Spinal Cord Injuries Irreversible? Know Science Advances That Can Cure Them In The Future - ABP Live - October 16th, 2023
- Biden Weaponized Health Care on Abortion, Transgender, COVID-19 - Daily Signal - April 23rd, 2023
- Can This Company's Research Help Transform Regenerative Medicine As Its Lead Product Receives FDA IND Approval? - Marketscreener.com - November 17th, 2022
- BIOADAPTIVES, INC. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (form 10-Q) - Marketscreener.com - November 17th, 2022
- With fewer inmates (and officers), Michigan closes another prison - Bridge Michigan - September 12th, 2022
- Testol 140 Review, Real Testol-140 Reviews Before and After Results - Dailyuw - September 12th, 2022
- Can California deliver on its zero-emission car goal? - Los Angeles Times - September 12th, 2022
- Researchers revive abandoned technique in effort to make artificial human eggs in a test tube - STAT - August 3rd, 2022
- 'Incredibly prejudicial': Why Sacramento courts have caged cells, and why that'll change - Walla Walla Union-Bulletin - August 3rd, 2022
- Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research - PubMed Central (PMC) - December 22nd, 2021
- Dream Body Clinic Stem Cell Therapy Stem Cells HGH - December 22nd, 2021
- Stem cells | healthdirect - December 22nd, 2021
- Human Embryonic Stem Cells | The Embryo Project Encyclopedia - December 22nd, 2021
- Stem cells, through a religious lens Harvard Gazette - December 22nd, 2021
- Scientists identify 2nd HIV patient whose body rid itself of virus - National Herald - November 21st, 2021
- Need to streamline research on CRISPR gene-editing technology: Experts - Business Standard - November 21st, 2021
- Atrial Fibrillation Market Growth Driven by Technological Advancements in AFib Systems and Solutions and Rapidly Increasing Geriatric Population -... - November 21st, 2021
- Could Regenerative Biology Work in Humans? - Harvard Magazine - July 21st, 2021
- Alberta and NWT Bishops OK vaccination for COVID Grandin Media - Grandin Media - December 3rd, 2020
- The way prisoners flag guard abuse, inadequate health care and unsanitary conditions Is broken - injusticewatch.org - December 3rd, 2020
- From Roaches To Medical Emergencies, Illinois Inmates Say Theres Nobody That We Can Really Go To For Help - WBEZ - December 3rd, 2020
- Alexion Receives Marketing Authorization from European Commission for New Formulation of ULTOMIRIS (ravulizumab) with Significantly Reduced Infusion... - November 20th, 2020
- California's Stem Cell Agency Will Get A Funding Boost From Prop 14. Here's A Look At Its History. - Capital Public Radio News - November 19th, 2020
- Stem Cell Banking Market is Projected to Reach $6,956 million by 2023 | Leading key players are Cord Blood Registry, ViaCord, Cryo-Cell, China Cord... - November 19th, 2020
- Locked up during the Waupun COVID surge - Wisconsin Examiner - November 19th, 2020
- Panelists debate the implications and ethics of stem cell research - Johns Hopkins News-Letter - November 2nd, 2020
- Rapid Reshore & Development and BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Announce Agreement to Advance Construction of BrainStorm's US Manufacturing Facility... - November 2nd, 2020
- Is the Pro-Life Movement on a Collision Course with the Coronavirus? - The Dispatch - November 2nd, 2020
- Will Trevor Lawrence stay at Clemson to avoid the Jets? - Yahoo! Voices - November 2nd, 2020
- Spurs' Becky Hammon honored with impressive San Antonio mural - Yahoo! Voices - November 2nd, 2020
- Total Student Enrollment of China New Higher Education Group Achieves Strong Organic Growth to a New Record High -- Total Number of Enrolled Students... - November 2nd, 2020
- Elis announces the acquisition of 3 laundries in Brazil - Yahoo Finance UK - November 2nd, 2020
- Stem Cell Banking Market is forecast to reach $6,956 million by 2023 | ViaCord,Cryo-Cell, China Cord Blood Corporation, Cryo-Save - The Daily... - October 2nd, 2020
- Those linked to stem cell board received more than $2.1 billion - Capitol Weekly - September 16th, 2020
- Patenting Stem Cell Inventions in India- What to Expect? - Lexology - September 13th, 2020
- Global Stem Cell Banking Market Is Projected To Witness Vigorous Expansion By 2026 - Kewaskum Statesman News Journal - September 13th, 2020
- How Close Are We To Making Babies from Bone Marrow? - Discover Magazine - August 12th, 2020
- India could bleed itself dry amidst covid-19 crisis owing to blood shortage - ETHealthworld.com - July 12th, 2020
- Court rules controversial stem cell research is legal - July 10th, 2020
- Legal Issues in Stem Cell Therapy in the U.S. - Inventus Law - June 19th, 2020
- Restoring vision to the blind - Science Magazine - May 22nd, 2020
- Death of a Survivor - The New Republic - May 4th, 2020
- Could Cannabis Be an Effective Treatment for COVID-19? - Lab Manager Magazine - April 29th, 2020
- The Republicans who were once so pro-life they fought over one woman on life support now want to sacrifice grandma for the economy - The Independent - April 29th, 2020
- Russia's Humanitarian Law Obligations to Civilians in Occupied Ukrainian Territories in the Time of COVID-19 - Just Security - April 29th, 2020
- Merck Boosts Commercial Viral Vector and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Capacity - PR Newswire UK - April 22nd, 2020
- Insights Into the $8.8 Billion Cell Therapy Industry, 2020-2027 - Rising Adoption of Regenerative Medicine, Introduction of Novel Platforms &... - March 17th, 2020
- The tragic life of Meredith Vieira - Nicki Swift - March 17th, 2020
- The Challenge of Bioethics to Decision-Making in the UK - Westminster Abbey - February 20th, 2020
- Penn announces seven 2020 Thouron Award winners - Penn: Office of University Communications - February 20th, 2020
- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics to Present at the 2020 Biotech Showcase and 3rd Annual Neuroscience Innovation Forum at JPM Week - GlobeNewswire - January 7th, 2020
- Drugs, Biologics, and Regenerative Medicine in 2019: A Successful Year Ends with Promise of a More Challenging 2020 - JD Supra - December 21st, 2019
- Edited Transcript of MRKR.OQ earnings conference call or presentation 12-Nov-19 10:00pm GMT - Yahoo Finance - November 29th, 2019
- BrainStorm Announces Financial Results for the Third Quarter of 2019 and Provides a Corporate Update - GlobeNewswire - November 19th, 2019
- What to Know in Washington: Trump Ally in Impeachment Spotlight - Bloomberg Government - November 19th, 2019
- Do transhumanists need their own bill of rights? - Quartz - October 27th, 2019
- Does Stem Cell Therapy Work For Back Pain? - Regenexx - October 8th, 2019
- The Ethical, Social & Legal Issues of Cloning Animals ... - October 8th, 2019
- An Overview of Stem Cell Research | The Center for ... - October 5th, 2019
- Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research | Endocrine Reviews ... - October 2nd, 2019
- Embryo - Wikipedia - October 2nd, 2019
- Legal Issues in Stem Cell Therapy in the U.S. - Royse Law Firm - September 14th, 2019
- Research With Stem Cells | American Medical Association - May 23rd, 2019
- Practical Problems with Embryonic Stem Cells - usccb.org - March 17th, 2019
- Stem Cells For Dummies: The Controvery, Pros and Cons ... - March 6th, 2019
- Human cloning - Wikipedia - February 18th, 2019
- stem cell | Definition, Types, Uses, Research, & Facts ... - December 12th, 2018
- Timeline of major events in stem cell research policy ... - August 25th, 2018
- stem-cells | ETHICAL, LEGAL, AND SOCIAL ISSUES - July 29th, 2018
- The Legal and Ethical Issues of Cloning That Make it ... - October 11th, 2017
- 5 Ethical and Legal Issues | Cord Blood: Establishing a ... - September 21st, 2017
- FDA Grants Orphan Drug Status to Cellect's ApoGraft for Acute GvHD and Chronic GvHD - PR Newswire (press release) - September 5th, 2017
- Of cell phones and swords things Amarilloans should know about new state laws - Amarillo.com - September 1st, 2017
- Cellect Shares Will Be Traded From Next Week Exclusively on NASDAQ - PR Newswire (press release) - September 1st, 2017
- ICMR to release stem cell research guidelines soon - BSI bureau (press release) - September 1st, 2017
- ICMR's stem cell research guidelines soon to be released - ETHealthworld.com - August 31st, 2017
- Should your medical data be off the record? - The Irish Times - Irish Times - August 25th, 2017
- Combatting the spread of anti-vaccination sentiment - OUPblog (blog) - August 25th, 2017
- Embryonic stem cell - Wikipedia - August 24th, 2017
- How processing health data has become increasingly problematic - Irish Times - August 24th, 2017