stem cells
What are stem cells?
Multi cellular organisms have within their bodies original or primal cells which have the ability to renew themselves by cell division. These cells can transform into specialized cell types and can form a variety of muscles, nerves and blood cells. Doctors see immense potential for the use of these cells in transplant medicine.
Categories of stem cells
There are three broad categories of these cells—embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells and cord blood stem cells.
1. Embryonic stem cells are cells in the embryo.
2. Cord blood stem cells are extracted from the umbilical cord and placenta at the time of the birth of a baby.
3. Adult stem cells are part of the repair mechanism of the body.
Research on stem cells
Stem cells were first discovered by two Canadian scientists Ernest A McCulloch and James E.Till in 1960. Since then research into these cells has led to the discovery of methodology of growing these cells in laboratories. It has also been discovered that these cells can be used in transplant medicine very effectively. Experiments are being conducted to understand how these cells can be used in therapeutic cloning. Adult stem cells, and cord blood stem cells or bone marrow cells are considered to be most promising source cells for these experiments.
Cord blood as source for stem cells
Cord blood taken from the umbilical cord and placenta at the time of birth, is very rich in stem cells that can be used to cure a number of blood and immune system diseases. Since the extraction and storage of these stem cells are easy, harmless and available in plenty, doctors recommend that it should be preserved for future use. Families who have inherited genetic problems should make the effort to preserve the cord blood extracted from the umbilical cord and placenta, of babies in their family. This cord blood can be stored in a frozen condition, in private cord banks, for medical treatment of the family members when the genetic disorder manifests itself. Even families who have no genetic disorders in the living generations, can opt to store the cord blood, in private banks for treatment in blood and immune system related diseases, such as anemia and leukemia.
Future of stem cell research
Scientists strongly believe that stem cells can be used in the future to cure other kinds of diseases and even cosmetic disorders. Insulin has been successfully created from stem cells. Liver tissue has also been developed from stem cells. Since hundreds of children are born every day and stem cells are plentifully available in various forms, stem cell technology is expected to be the leading stem cell therapy on a global scale.