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Different Types of Stem Cells, They can divide and rejuvenate themselves…
Different Types of Stem Cells
Stem Cells Have the Ability to Develop Into Many Different Types of Cells
Stem cells are developmental cells that have three basic characteristics:
When a stem cell mitotically divides, two different scenarios can occur.
First of all, the division can produc
e two new identical stem cells
. Additionally, the division can produce
one new stem cell along with one specialized cell.
There is still much to be learned about how this happens and what controls the differentiation of the cells. Stem cells can be classified in many ways.
Classified According to Potential to Develop into Specialized Cell Type
One way is to categorize them into groups based on their potential to develop into specialized or differentiated cell types.
The general rule of thumb for stem cells is this: The
more differentiated the stem cell; the different types of cells it can become are lessened.
Totipotent
Can grow into any type of cell in the body Only the zygote and cells of the first few divisions of the embryo have this ability.
Pluripotent
Have the ability to grow into any cell in the body except totipotent stem cells Found in the blastocyst Commonly referred to as embryonic stem cells
Multipotent
Can only grow into similar types of cells Found all over the body such as the blood, brain, and bone marrow Commonly referred to as adult stem cells or somatic stem cells
Classified According to Origin
. Commonly, you will see
stem cells classified as adult stem cells (aka: somatic stem cells
) or embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cell research has been going on for many, many years. On the other hand, embryonic stem cells have only been cultured and studied since the late 1990s.
Embryonic stem cell research has flourished over recent years because of their ability to develop into any type of cell.
This potential provides huge hope for advancements in repair of human tissue due to injury or disease. You undoubtedly have heard of the controversy involving embryonic stem cell research.
Adult Stem Cells
Adult stem cells are also called
somatic stem cells.
Advantages:
They are found throughout the body, including many different organs and even fat. They can be taken from any adult without harming them. This eliminates any ethical issue involved in their use. They can be cultured in the lab and then reintroduced into the adult. This eliminates any rejection of the cells by the body's immune system.
Disadvantage
s: There are very few in the body. They are difficult to locate. Growing them can be difficult. There may be more irregularities in their DNA
It was
once thought that all adult stem cells were multipotent.
This means that they could only produce cells of the same type. Recent studies indicate that these adult stem cells may be more flexible or "plastic" than was once thought. This is huge in modern day stem cell research because of its
potential and the fact it possess less of an ethical dilemma.
Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem cells come from embryos. Most embryonic stem cells used in research come from in
vitro fertilization.
This is when a female egg is fertilized with a sperm outside the body. The cells come from the inner mass cells of the three to five day old blastocyst.
Advantages
These cells are not differentiated into any specific type of cell. They are pluripotent and can grow into just about any type of cell in the body. This gives great hope to those with damaged tissue due to injury or disease. A possible
cure for diabetes i
f stem cells can replace damaged pancreas cells. Has been used as a t
reatment for leukemia and lymphoma.
Damaged nerve cells can be replaced by healthy nerve cells if stem cells can be incorporated. This could be a
cure for paralysis.
Disadvantages
May be rejected by the patient's immune system. May grow uncontrollably into a tumor. Embryo must be destroyed to harvest the stem cells. This presents a huge ethical dilemma. This will remain an ongoing argument for quite some time.
They can divide and rejuvenate themselves for an extended period of time.
They can remain is a basic unspecified form.
The have the ability to differentiate into a variety of different forms.