Archive for the ‘Stem Cell Questions & Answers’ Category
Last Updated on Thursday, 12 August 2010 01:41 Written by Administrator Thursday, 12 August 2010 01:41
Question by jennifer: How do adults get thier stem cells taken out and where do they get the samples from?
I wasnt sure for adults. I know you can save stem cells form umbilical cord for infants. Do adults just save thier stem cells from a blood draw???
Best answer:
Answer by fss
Stem cells are cells found in all multi cellular organisms. They are characterized by the ability to renew themselves through mitotic cell division and differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cell types.
The two broad types of mammalian stem cells are: embryonic stem cells that are isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts, and adult stem cells that are found in adult tissues.
The term adult stem cell refers to any cell which is found in a developed organism that has two properties: the ability to divide and create another cell like itself and also divide and create a cell more differentiated than itself.
Most adult stem cells are lineage-restricted (multipotent) and are generally referred to by their tissue origin (mesenchymal stem cell, adipose-derived stem cell, endothelial stem cell, etc.).
Adult stem cell treatments have been successfully used for many years to treat leukemia and related bone/blood cancers through bone marrow transplants.Adult stem cells are also used in veterinary medicine to treat tendon and ligament injuries in horses.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 8 August 2010 07:29 Written by Administrator Sunday, 8 August 2010 07:29
Question by Liam O: What is the period when embryonic stem cells can produce any type of cell?
Reworded: As in, when is there embryonic stem cells in an embryo and when can they produce any type of cell?
Best answer:
Answer by Peter S
Totipotent (totally potent) embryonic stem cells are capable of forming every type of body cell. Each totipotent cell could replicate and differentiate and become a human being. All cells within the early embryo are totipotent up until the 16 cell stage or so.
Next are the pluripotent embryonic stem cells which can develop into any of the three major tissue types: endoderm (interior gut lining), mesoderm (muscle, bone, blood), and ectoderm (epidermal tissues and nervous system). Pluripotent stem cells can eventually specialize in any bodily tissue, but they cannot themselves develop into a human being.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 8 August 2010 05:25 Written by Administrator Sunday, 8 August 2010 05:25
Question by slydog: Should researchers have access to embryonic stem cells, or only adult stem cells? What is your reasoning?
Should researchers have access to embryonic stem cells, or only adult stem cells? What is your reasoning?
Best answer:
Answer by midnightmoon
Of course they should have access to embryonic stem cells. If its socially and morally acceptable for women to kill more embryos in vain attempts to get preg after their body clearly and loudly said no, then it is most definatly ok for scientists to use the embryos they left for dead in research that could help many people live better lives.
Yes, adult stem cell research has made tons of progress. I myself have had adult stem cell treatment (I had a hematopoetic stem cell transplant). However, who knows what embryonic stem cells could do?
I also think it is unfair that people say embryonic stem cells havnt given results yet. Do you know it was something like 40 years between the discovery that bone marrow was hematopoetic stem cells and the first hematopoetic stem cell transplant?? If it took 40 years to make any kind of progress with adult stem cells, I dont think its fair to call embryonic stem cell research over in less than 10, ESPECIALLY when there are more embryos being killed daily that could be used with the research. Stopping embryonic stem cell research today would not stop embryos from being destroyed.
Some people ask if it would have been ok for Hitler to do experiments on the Jews after he killed them. HUGE differences between those situations. First and foremost, embryos are NOT humans. They have no distinct organs, they have no heart, they have no feeling and they no consciousness. The are less than 14 days old. If they were in a live woman, she wouldnt even know she was preg yet. It is a total misconception that these stem cells come from aborted babies and that women are paid to get preg and have abortions. Not even close to true. However, even if this research did come from abortions, if it is legal for me to have an abortion and take the remains home for burial, you CANT say its illegal for me to have a legal abortion and then donate the remains to research. You just cant.
Further more… Its a cliche and over used question, but… If there was a fire, and you had to choose between saving one baby, and a container of a million embryos, which one are you going to save? NO one would go after the container of a million embryos, they would ALL go after the baby without a second thought about it.
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Tags: access, adult, cells, Embryonic, only, reasoning, researchers, Should, Stem | Posted under Stem Cell Questions & Answers | Comments Off
Last Updated on Friday, 6 August 2010 03:31 Written by Administrator Friday, 6 August 2010 03:31
Question by Rick O: How and why can stem cells develop into any organ in the body?
How and why can stem cells develop into any organ in the body?
PLEASE EXPLAIN! If it is unspecialized what does that mean or anything? Please be more simple in describing!
Best answer:
Answer by dadnbob
It’s one of those miracles of life that we are still trying to figure out.
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