The human body contains stem cells, a specific type of cell that possesses distinctive characteristics. Stem cells can divide and renew for long periods of time. They are unspecialized cells that can differentiate into a specialized type of cell, such as a red blood cell, a brain cell or a muscle cell. The discovery of stem cells and their remarkable properties prompted the onset of stem cell research. The research requires scientists to use a source abundant in stem cells--embryos, which triggered a debate on the ethical values of the research. Even with the controversy, stem cell research provides many benefits.
Understanding Cell Development
Stem cells are the precursors to all other cells of the body. Embryos in the stage known as a blastocyst, which usually occurs between three and five days after fertilization, according to the Merck Manual, contain about 100 stem cells. As the embryo develops, these stem cells differentiate into the various specialized cells of the body. Studying how the stem cells differentiate into specialized cells, which then develop into organs, can help scientists understand the steps of the process and identify where errors can occur.
Better Understanding of Inherited Diseases
Inherited diseases, also known as genetic diseases, describe conditions passed from a parent to a child due to an abnormality in a chromosome--a strand of deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, that carries genes. Genes, the basic units of heredity, provide the information for all human characteristics, such as eye color. Scientists study stem cells to learn where errors in division occur, leading to chromosome abnormalities or damaged genes. When scientists learn where and how the diseases occur, they can find a way to intervene to prevent or cure the disease.
Understanding Cancer
Cancer, the abnormal and uncontrollable growth of cells, accounts for nearly one out of every four deaths in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. The ability to understand how and why cancer cells divide so rapidly with dying can help to find better treatments and possibly a cure.
Stem cells derived from embryos can replicate, or proliferate, for many months or even more than a year creating millions of other stem cells. By studying these cells, scientists hope to learn what characteristics allow for this long-term self-renewal and what factors normally regulate cell proliferation. Learning this can lead to a better understanding of what occurs in the abnormal cell division in cancer cells.
Creating Medical Therapies
One of the most promising benefits of stem cell research remains the advancement and creation of medical therapies. By learning how stem cells differentiate, scientists can develop techniques to trigger the differentiation. Stem cells offer a renewable source of cells that can replace diseased cells. This means stem cells have the potential to treat diseases such as Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal cord injury, burns, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis, according to the National Institutes of Health.
