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Stem Cells
Stem cells are defined by their unique ability to reproduce themselves and to develop through cell division into specialised cells which make up all the organs and tissues in the human body. Most regular cells are committed to a specific function, stem cells however remain undifferentiated, giving rise to particular types of cells under the right biological conditions.
Although often associated with early stage cells in the embryo and foetus, stem cells also exist in adult and young adult tissues. Adult and embryonic stem cells differ in important ways including their ability to reproduce under laboratory conditions, to differentiate into different cell types, to survive and function after transplant and to avoid immune rejection. Scientists are currently working to determine the extent to which these different cells types will be useful in treating human ailments.
Adult stem cells are generally thought to be more specific than embryonic stem cells. They are found among specialised cells in a specific tissue and tend to develop into specialised cells closely related to that tissue type (e.g those found in blood may develop into red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets.) Adult stem cells are already being used in treatments for over one hundred conditions including leukaemia, Hunter’s syndrome and heart disease.
Embryonic stem cells on the other hand are obtained from undifferentiated cells in an early stage embryo and the range of specialised cells which they can give rise to is thought to be far more diverse. Embryonic stem cell research has yet to yield any clinical trials however many feel that it holds much greater developmental potential than adult stem cells.
Nonetheless, whether adult or embryonic, stem cells are the building blocks of life. They are the key to human development and act as the body’s in-house doctor, repairing diseased, damaged and lost tissue.
It is for this reason that researchers and clinicians have, and continue to, dedicate time and energy to understanding how stem cells develop. If this potential can be harnessed, stem cells may hold a cure to some of the world’s most intractable diseases including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Motor Neuron Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.