STEM CELLS

Stem cells are biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide (through mitosis) and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem

cells.

ORIGIN OF STEM CELLS• 1908: The term "stem cell" was proposed for

scientific use by the Russian histologist Alexander Maksimov (1874–1928) at congress of hematologic society in Berlin. It postulated existence of haematopoietic stem cells.

• 1978: Haematopoietic stem cells are discovered in human cord blood.

TYPES OF STEM CELLS :

• EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS -are isolated from the Inner cell mass of blastocysts. • ADULT STEM CELLS -are found in various tissues

The sources of autologous adult

stem cells• Bone marrow, which requires extraction by harvesting, that is, drilling into bone (typically the femur or iliac crest).

• Adipose tissue (lipid cells), which requires extraction by liposuction.

• Stem cells can also be taken from umbilical cord blood .

Potency

• Totipotent - the ability to differentiate into all possible cell types. Examples are the zygote formed at egg fertilization and the first few cells that result from the division of the zygote.

• Pluripotent - the ability to differentiate into almost all cell types. Examples include embryonic stem cells and cells that are derived from the mesoderm, endoderm, and ectoderm germ layers that are formed in the beginning stages of embryonic stem cell differentiation

• Multipotent - the ability to differentiate into a closely related family of cells. Examples include hematopoietic (adult) stem cells that can become red and white blood cells or platelets.

• Oligopotent - the ability to differentiate into a few cells. Examples include (adult) lymphoid or myeloid stem cells.

• Unipotent - the ability to only produce cells of their own type, but have the property of self-renewal required to be labeled a stem cell. Examples include (adult) muscle stem cells.

Stem cell research • focuses on stem cells, which have a

capacity to regenerate. A stem cell is capable of developing into other types of cells, like kidney cells, liver cells, heart cells, etc. Stem cells circulate and function to replace dysfunctional cells, naturally maintaining optimal health.

• It provides medical benefits in the fields of therapeutic cloning and regenerative medicine.

Advantages of Stem Cell Research• It provides great potential for discovering

treatments and cures to a plethora of diseases including Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, spinal cord injuries, diabetes and many more.

• Scientists and doctors will be able to test millions of potential drugs and medicine, without the use of animals or human testers.

•the study of development stages that cannot be studied directly in a human embryo.

•it holds the key to reversing the effects of aging and prolonging our lives. Stem cell research has already found many treatments that help in slowing the aging process, and a bonus of further stem cell research is a possible 'cure' for aging altogether.

Disadvantages of Stem Cell Research

• The use of embryonic stem cells for research involves the destruction of blastocysts formed from laboratory-fertilized human eggs.

• According to a new research, stem cell therapy was used on heart disease patients. It was found that it can make their coronary arteries narrower.

•In the case of adult stem cells,blood stem cells make only blood, and brain stem cells make only brain cells.

• FUTURE STEM CELLS TECHNOLOGY• Stems cells research has given us a promising

future on development of precaution methods and treatment of various cancer and rare

blood related disease.

• Thank you for your attension

- T.SUJATHA GROUP NO: 20