Biology in the Real World Stem Cells Article Review

Biology in the Real World

Stem Cells

Almost all life forms have stem cells in them and the main purpose of these cells is that through the process of mitosis they can divide into other various kinds of cells as well as into other stem cells. In animals there are 2 kinds of stem cells:

Embryonic stem cells and

Adult stem cells.

The embryonic stem cells are the ones that are completely unattached from the blastocyst's inner cell mass and these cells are of great importance for a developing embryo and these are known as the pluripotent cells but these cells also play a great role in the normal return of the regenerative organs like blood, intestinal tissues and skin. Whereas, when it comes to the adult organisms these stem cells work as the replenishment system for the body as it refreshes the adult tissues and for this reason they are said to have a progenitor nature (Tuch, 2006).

Mainly there are three ways through which the stem cells can be extracted from a person's body:

1. From the adipose tissues, here the stem cells are extracted through liposuction.2. From the bone marrow, in this technique the stem cells are extracted by harvesting which means the bone is drilled into, mostly the femur or iliac crest are the parts that are drilled into.

3. Through the process of pheresis the stem cells are extracted from the blood of the donor with the help of a machine and then the rest of the blood is returned to the body of the donor (Tuch, 2006).

Now the plastic stem cells are being used in the medical therapies on a regular basis such as in the bone marrow transplant. These stem cells are also now being produced artificially in the medical labs where they are differentiated and specialized into cells of various regions such as the nerve cell, muscles etc. The autologous embryonic cells along with the embryonic cell lines which are being created through the therapeutic cloning are said to have very promising future in the upcoming therapies (Tuch, 2006).

It is very strongly believed by the medical researchers that the stem cell therapies have the tendency to change the treatment of human diseases.....