34 Most Important Stem Cell Research Facts
The research into stem cells is an ongoing concern among scientists and researchers, as well as those suffering from a range of currently untreatable conditions. Currently, stem cell research has provided a number of successes, as well as serving to confront a range of medical and wider ethical issues. Because stem cells are such a sensitive topic in many circles many times the facts can be misconstrued, however when examining stem cells and their research consider the following points:
1. Stem cells can be found in the majority of multi-cellular organisms, and they can self-regenerate by both mitosis and differentiation.
2. The stem cells that are found in mammals can be classified as embryonic stem cells found in blastocysts.
3. Cell culture can be utilized in order to grow and develop stem cells into specialist cells
4. Besides having the ability to self-renew, stem cells can differentiate into specialist cell types. This is referred to as “potency”.
5. Embryonic stem cells are cell cultures that are typically around four or five days old. In general, embryonic stem cells are largely untested.
6. An adult stem cell is the type that is found in a fully developed living organism. Adult stem cells are multipotent, and they can create cells similar to themselves as well as differentiated cells. These types of cells have provided reasonable success in the treatment of both blood and bone cancers.
7. Research has indicated that stem cells hold on to their ability to self-regenerate by cellular division. These cells act as the body’s wear and tear mechanism.
8. Due to the fact that stem cells are capable of repairing damaged tissues they are extremely useful in curing some diseases related to heart and brain damage, as well as the spinal cord injuries.
9. Stem cells also potentially have a part to play in gene therapy and the treatment of inherited diseases and conditions. Embryonic cells are reportedly of excellent use in treatments for disorders of the nervous system.
10. The earliest research into stem cells can be traced back to the 1960s, and work done by Joseph Altman and Gopa Das.
11. Joseph Altman and Gopal Das discovered the evidence of neurogenesis in adults, which is basically a form of stem cell activity in the human brain.
12. Altman and Das’ work was followed by the 1978 discovery of haematopoietic stem cells in human cord blood.
13. The first groundbreaking success that underscored the first true success in the field of research into stem cells was the bone marrow transplant that was carried out between two siblings in order to correct severe combined immunodeficiency.
14. 1997 saw research into cancer stem cells validated, when it was shown that leukaemia evolves from haematopoietic stem cells
15. In 2006 a team of English scientists created the first artificial liver cells thanks to the use of blood stem cells from the umbilical cord.
16. The first embryonic stem cells in mice were discovered by Martin Evans, Gail Martin and Matthew Kauffman.
17. Gail Martin is known to have pioneered the phrase “embryonic stem cell”.
18. In 1998 James Thompson created the first-ever human embryonic stem cell line.
19. The injection of stem cells into the human body is not without risk and can cause tumours in certain circumstances.
20. There are currently no proven treatments in the field of embryonic cell research, despite ongoing work.
21. January 2008 saw researchers finally able to develop human embryonic stem cells without killing the embryo.
22. In order to produce embryonic cells an embryo must first be destroyed. This can be difficult, ethically, as an embryo holds the possibility of human life.
23. When in the womb an embryo can develop into a human being, and hence a new life. Therefore, the creation of a many stem cell lines requires that a human embryo must first be destroyed, thereby potentially depriving the right to life.
24. Supporters of stem cell research claim that the sacrifice of an embryo is outweighed by the fact that such embryos are used for the greater good as stem cells in cell therapies and treatments for the suffering.
25. Many stem cell research supports also claim that the argument is not wholly conclusive, as embryos are not technically developed life.
26. Adult stem cells can be obtained from a variety of pregnancy-related tissues, including amniotic fluid, the umbilical cord and the placenta.
27. Stem cells are present in both adults and children from the moment of birth in almost all organs and tissues.
28. Stems cells are very hardy, and there have been cases of neural stem cells being taken from particular areas of the post-mortem human brain as long as 20 hours after death.
29. Stem cells, being a natural “wear and tear” mechanism, are argued by some to be the most natural repair mechanism for many of our bodily tissues.
30. Stem cell usage must be fully differentiated, and adult stem cells only belong in the micro-environment of an adult body while embryonic cells belonging in an early embryo micro-environment rather than in an adult body where they are liable to cause tumours and reactions from the adult body’s immune system.
31. Stem cells are already being successfully used in the treatment and cures of a wide range of different medical conditions, including a range of different cancers, auto-immune diseases, cardiovascular disease, corneal regeneration, immunodeficiencies, degenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, stroke and spinal cord damage, certain blood conditions, wounds and injuries such as skull bone repair, gangrene and jawbone replacement as well as liver failure, cirrhosis and chronic bladder diseases.
32. Stem cell research has also produced treatments for a number of birth defect related conditions, as well as the potential to treat long-term nerve damage.
33. Studies indicate that stem cell research could also lead to the possibility of being able to grow and harvest replacement organs, thereby negating the need for agonizing waits on the transplant list for many patients. Some are also opposed to the harvesting organs on ethical and religious grounds.
34. Concerns have also been raised that stem cell research could lead to the possibility of one day cloning humans, or lead to the rise of so-called “designer babies”.
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