Back to category: Science

Limited version - please login or register to view the entire paper.

Stem Cell Research

What exactly are stem cells? Stem cells are the mother of all cells in our bodies. They are cells that can develop into many different types of tissue, such as bone, muscle, or brain, and organs of the human body. When a fertilized egg first divides, totipotent stem cells are formed. These totipotent stem cells are cells that can turn into any type of tissue and form a complete organism. It is for this reason that stem cells have been the topic of many medical debates. In theory, these stem cells can grow into replacements for almost any part of the human body. Scientists think that stem cells will someday provide a cure for diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and spinal-cord degeneration. They estimate that over 100 million Americans have diseases that could be affected by research on stem cells.
Scientists use the term “stem cell” to describe cells at several stages of development. So where do the stem cells come from? An egg is fertilized w...

Posted by: Jack Drewes

Limited version - please login or register to view the entire paper.