Stem Cell Research

What are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are a type of cell that are found in all multi-cellular organisms. The special thing about stem cells is that they are 'unspecialised' and therefore can grow to become any sort of 'specialised' cell in the body. They have the ability to continuously replenish and renew themselves as long as the animal or person is living. As the unspecialised cells divide they have the potential to specialise and become, for example, a brain cell or a red blood cell.


Why are Stem Cells Important?
Stem Cells are incredible for two reasons. Firstly because they can essentially become anything the body needs and secondly because they never cease to multiply. Stem Cells are vital to the human body as they continuously repaire and replace broken down cells. In some organs such as the gut and bone marrow the replacing of worn down cells is a regular occurence where as in areas like the pancreas and heart stem cells only divide under certain conditions




How can stem cell research help those with genetically inherited diseases?
In the future stem cell research offers a very promising cure or many diseases including ones that are gentically inherited. Stem cells can become any cell that they need to and this is why it may be very helpful for future treatments. For example heart disease is a very common disease which is in the process of having a cure. In this treatment it is hoped that the stem cells will create new heart tissue, new heart valves and other vital tissue that makes the heart work properly. There are about 128 million people that sufer from diseases that may be able to be treated through stem cell research.




Resource- Peter Cartwright