What are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are one of the most fascinating types of cells in the human body. Stem cells are considered the body's master cells and are referred to as the "building blocks" of life.
Essentially, stem cells are blank cells, cells that do not have a specific purpose until they divide. When a stem cell does divide, each new cell has the potential to keep its identity as a stem cell or (and this is what is so amazing) it can become another cell with a specialized function, like a red blood cell or a heart cell. In fact, stem cells have the remarkable ability to develop into many different types of cells. For this reason, stem cells are referred to as multipotent cells.
Though there are different types of stems cells, all stem cells share three characteristics.
1. Stem cells are unspecialized. This simply means that the cell does not contain any structures that would help it perform a specific job inside of your body. It is important to note that what the stem cell lacks in specialized structure, it makes up for in potential.
2. Stem cells give rise to specialized cells through a process called differentiation. Specialized cells are cells that do have structures in place that help them perform a specific job inside of your body. One example of a specialized cell would be a red blood cell.
3. Stem cells are capable of dividing and renewing themselves inside a healthy body for long periods of time. Stem cells that can become different types of blood cells are called hematopoietic cells. Cord blood stem cells are hematopoeitic cells.
Organ transplants have long been used to replace malfunctioning organs in an otherwise healthy individual. Stem cell transplants have offered a similar type of help for ailing blood and immune systems. Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, can destroy the body's ability to replenish blood cells and red blood cells. Stem cell transplants can rebuild these systems.
Researchers are interested in stem cells because of their unique ability to give rise to other types of cells in the human body. The primary goal of most stem cell research is to determine how undifferentiated cells become differentiated. The results of this research may provide information about how certain diseases like cancer develop, and may also lead to cell-based therapies that will effectively treat currently incurable diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, and even spinal cord injuries.
