Research and Treatment Using Stem Cells

Up until the last decade, nobody really gave stem cells or its research much thought mostly due to the fact that little was known about it. What we do know is that every single cell in the body stems from this type of cell which is why it is referred to as the “stem cell.” Our bodies depend on the process of renewal in order to repair itself through our life. In fact our very life begins with stem cells when a newly fertilized egg divides, producing a group of stem cells that are known as an embryo. These early stem cells are Totipotent, which means that they can become any kind of cell in the body.

For decades, researchers have been studying the biology of stem cells to figure out how development works and to find new ways of treating health problems. The question of why we can’t live forever hangs in the balance of our inability to heal and stop the aging process, and that is what researchers are looking for, answers to the why. Stem cell therapy has one main goal, and that is to find ways to repair damaged tissue that cannot heal itself.

Scientists have explored many avenues when looking at stem cell research. Many different techniques have been tried from transplanting cells into the damaged area and directing them to grow new, healthy tissue. Another technique is to coax stem cells already in the body to produce new tissue, but transplants seem to have a better outcome. There are many types of health problems that stem cell research has been directed toward, but the biggest ones are spinal cord injuries, amputation, heart disease, diabetes, neurological disorders, and severe burns on the skin.