Stem Cell Research

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A Stem Cell is a cell that has the ability to become any type of cell in an organism. They are found in large quantities in developing embryos.

They can be self-renewing, therefore they can make additional stem cells; or they can differentiate into various specific types of cells. As a result of these useful characteristics, stem cells come under close scientific scrutiny. They present new opportunities to develop new therapies, to treat diseases where the functions of repair, replacement and regeneration are impeded.

        

There are two types of stem cells:

Embryonic stem cells, which can be taken from embryos 4-5 days after fertilisation. They are pluripotent, in that they are able to specialize into different types of cells. 

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Their use is highly controversial.

Adult Stem Cells,  adult stem cells can be found in certain tissues of the body, including umbilical cord blood and bone marrow. Their use is not controversial, as there is no need for the destruction of an embryo. They are used to regenerate and repair organs due to their ability to divide indefinitely.

Stem cells show potential for many different areas of health and medical research, and studying them can help us understand how they transform into the many specialised cells that make us up. Some of the most serious medical conditions, such as ...

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