How do stem cells work
Stem cells refer to be undeveloped cells that are located within an embryo that have the potential to develop into any cell of a living organism. These are highly versatile and are useful to newly developing creatures due to the fact that all living organisms must use these in order to have the ability to form any other specific type of cell the organism may need — be it a nerve cell, tissue cell, brain cell or other cell form a body may require.
Stem cells are generated during the reproduction phase of a creature and are most often found particularly in human embryos when talking about human stem cells. Make no mistake, however, in assuming that humans are the only creatures that have stem cells as all living organisms that produce offspring must have these basic cells present in order to generate new young.
The application of stem cells to modern science and biology studies came about through developments into DNA studies and molecular manipulation. As scientists gained a better understanding of not only human DNA but DNA in general it allowed them to speculate more and more about what possibilities altering an organism’s DNA might have as a whole if applied directly to other cells by the manipulation of their nucleus or the center that holds the DNA for the cell’s operation.
This is, most studies into the development of stem cells has gone into essentially replacing a stem cell’s nucleus — or DNA blueprint – with a targeted cell nucleus to force the stem cell to generates new cells based upon the nucleus’ specifications. Because of this positive advancements in the areas of medical treatment in regards to ailments that may have previously been seen as impossible to treat have come about, such as being able to adequately treat nerve damage or other permanent damage to body cells that simply cannot reproduce and repair on their own.
At the same time stem cell research and treatments have brought about a large number of ethical debates due to the belief that stem cells are part of a new life of a creature as they’ve primarily originate from a fetus. In a human’s case that means that stem cells with the widest range of medical application come from a developing fetus, which in turn raises many ethical questions amongst both scientific and religious groups worldwide.
Regardless, research into stem cells has been conducted through scientific organizations around the world and has shown some positive benefits and improvements in the treatment of many diseases and illnesses, such as the ability to even return memory to patients who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The question still remains however of whether or not the practice is to be continued by scientists due to do its potential negative impact on human life if embryos are harvested too extensively for research and application to medical practices.
Of course an alternative to embryonic stem cells also lies in the usage of the adult stem cells that remain dormant in the heart, brain and lungs and other organs of developed human beings and other animals. While these cells have less flexibility in medical application that can still prove useful in treating a number of different diseases and have even helped treat a number of critical cases such as diabetes and other bodily functions as a result of the inability for the human body adequate chemicals. The only drawback is that while adult stem cells offer much less of an ethical debate than fetal stem cells they also have a much narrower aspect of application, therefore the cost of each must be weighed carefully with the benefits.
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