CELL THEORY STEM CELLS
CELL THEORY – STEM CELLS
Stem cells are a large focus of study in today’s biomedical world. “They are cells that exist in an undifferentiated state, and transform into differing tissue types depending on what the cells surrounding them are,“ (National Institute of Health, 2012). Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. In addition, they also serve as an internal repair mechanism inside many tissues, dividing without limits to replace other cells as long as the organism is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the prospective of either remaining a stem cell or turning into a cell with more specialized functions for example muscles cells, red blood cells or brain cells.
Stem cells are distinguished form other normal cell types by multiple characteristics. Firstly, stem cells are unspecialized and are capable of renewing and replenishing themselves through cell division, even after long periods of being inactive. Unlike muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cells—which do not normally replicate themselves—stem cells may replicate many times, or proliferate. A starting population of stem cells that proliferates for many months in the laboratory can yield millions of cells. Also, under experimental conditions, stem cells can be induced to become tissue or organ specific cells with specialized functions. Stem cells can give rise to specialized cells. When unspecialized stem cells give rise to specialized cells, the process is called differentiation. While differentiating, the cell usually goes through several stages, becoming more specialized at each step. “In some organs, such as the gut and bone marrow, stem cells regularly divide to repair and replace worn out or damaged tissues. In other organs, however, such as the pancreas and the heart, stem cells only divide under special conditions,” (National Institute of Health, April 2002).
There are two common forms of
Stem cells are a large focus of study in today’s biomedical world. “They are cells that exist in an undifferentiated state, and transform into differing tissue types depending on what the cells surrounding them are,“ (National Institute of Health, 2012). Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. In addition, they also serve as an internal repair mechanism inside many tissues, dividing without limits to replace other cells as long as the organism is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the prospective of either remaining a stem cell or turning into a cell with more specialized functions for example muscles cells, red blood cells or brain cells.
Stem cells are distinguished form other normal cell types by multiple characteristics. Firstly, stem cells are unspecialized and are capable of renewing and replenishing themselves through cell division, even after long periods of being inactive. Unlike muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cells—which do not normally replicate themselves—stem cells may replicate many times, or proliferate. A starting population of stem cells that proliferates for many months in the laboratory can yield millions of cells. Also, under experimental conditions, stem cells can be induced to become tissue or organ specific cells with specialized functions. Stem cells can give rise to specialized cells. When unspecialized stem cells give rise to specialized cells, the process is called differentiation. While differentiating, the cell usually goes through several stages, becoming more specialized at each step. “In some organs, such as the gut and bone marrow, stem cells regularly divide to repair and replace worn out or damaged tissues. In other organs, however, such as the pancreas and the heart, stem cells only divide under special conditions,” (National Institute of Health, April 2002).
There are two common forms of
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