Stem Cells Essay

Submitted By daniellewark
Words: 2814
Pages: 12
Open Document
Stem Cells

(HowStuffWorks, 1998)
Danielle Wark
Mrs.Toope
SBI 3U1
Friday, May 17, 2014

Stem Cells

Are you looking to change the medical World as we know it but something is holding you back? Then you are a lot like stem cells. Our bodies contain many specialized cells that carry out many specialized functions, these cells are called differentiated cells. In contrast to this, a stem cell is undifferentiated where it’s role in our body is not yet determined. Stem cells are undifferentiated or unspecialized cells found in human and nonhuman animals that have the ability to continue dividing indefinitely and to differentiate into many different cell types, including more stem cells. (Aldridge, 2012) Commonly, stem cells come from two main sources: embryos formed during the blastocyst phase of embryological development called embryonic cells, and adult tissues called adult stem cells. Stem cells play an important role in our body from embryonic development through adulthood.(Crosta, 2008) This essay will answer questions like what are embryonic stem cells? What are adult stem cells? How does the stem cell develop? What are the ethical issues holding the stem cell research back? And finally, what does the future of stem cells hold for us?

(Edinburgh, 2010)
Development of the Stem Cell
Development begins when the egg and sperm meet. This event produces a special kind of stem cell that has the potential to grow into a new human being, as well as the placenta, which will nourish the embryo as it grows. (Utah, 2014) For the first few divisions all the cells remain undifferentiated; each one has the same potential as the fertilized egg. As development continues, a series of signals or instructions gradually limit each cell’s potential. (Utah, 2014) Differentiating has begun. One week after fertilization, the embryo, now called the blastocyst, looks like a lopsided hollow ball. The blastocyst consists of an inner cell mass (embryoblast) and an outer cell mass (trophoblast). (Crosta, 2008) The outer cell mass becomes part of the placenta, and the inner cell mass is the group of cells that will differentiate to become all the structures of an adult organism. (Crosta, 2008) About 2 weeks after fertilization, the cells of the embryo organize into three layers. Cell signals restrict the potential of these cells even further; each layer will give rise to a different set of cell types. A few weeks later, the cells of the outer layer have become skin, the nervous system and the parts of the face and neck. The middle layer has become muscle, blood, blood vessels, and the beginnings of bones and connective tissue.The inner layer has now begun to form the digestive and respiratory tracts and the glands that feed into them, including the pancreas and the liver. (Utah, 2014) As development continues, cells differentiate to form the 250 or so cell types of the body. But even after birth and into adulthood, pockets of stem cells remain. These somatic (adult) stem cells play an important role in growth as well as maintenance and repair. (Utah, 2014) Some stem cells sit quietly, waiting for a signal to tell them to divide; others are constantly at work, replacing cells that are lost through daily wear and tear. As we grow from fertilized eggs into fully formed human beings, stem cells give rise to all of our differentiated tissues and organs. Stem cells continue to play an important role throughout our lives as they help to heal and maintain our bodies. (Utah, 2014)

Three layers of blastocyst.
(Edinburgh, 2010)
Embryonic Stem Cells Perhaps the best known stem cell is the embryonic stem cell which are found in the early embryo of mammals. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning that they can give rise to all cell types of the body. (Aldridge, 2012) As the name suggests, embryonic cells are generated by transferring cells from an embryo that is in the blastocyst phase of development, (which in humans generally forms
Show More

Related Documents: Stem Cells Essay

Clone: Stem Cells. Stem Essay

According to scientists from New York stem cell foundation laboratory, the first prosperity in using the cloning technique which it was on dolly. Stem cell has a lot of benefits which able to treat diseases, such as diabetes and spinal cord injury by change the old with new one. Some researchers show that SCNT can use to change the genetic material of an egg cell with the DNA from a mature cell like a skin cell. In 1996 the first animal cloned was Dolly. After that, scientists did a lot of researchers…

Words 1156 - Pages 5

Pluripotent Stem Cells

Induce Pluripotent Stem Cell Induction of Pluripotent stem cells is one of the most controversial topics that many Biology scientists want to discover. In the article titled “Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Adult Human Fibroblasts by Defined Factors,” scientists do the research on how to develop the pluripotent stem cells from somatic cells (Takahashi et al. 2007). Induction of Pluripotent Stem cells is the process that reprograms human somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells so that they…

Words 765 - Pages 4

Essay on Stem Cells

Stem cells are special cells that have not decided what they are yet. Stem cells can form any body part, including body parts that normally don't regenerate. If you can control the stem cells and inject them then you can do things like re-grow kidneys or a liver, or make better bone and skin repairs. Or more scientifically put: Stem cells are cells found in most, if not all, multi-cellular organisms. They are characterized by the ability to renew themselves through mitotic cell division and…

Words 609 - Pages 3

Stem Cell Essay

I have chosen to do my research of news articles on stem cell research, an often controversial, but necessary topic. In my first article, from, The New York Times, titled, “Cloning and Stem Cell Work Earn Nobel,” by Nicholas Wade, I learned that stem cells generated by the induced pluriponent cells (IPS) will enable replacement tissue to be generated from a patient’s own cells for use against a vast variety of degenerative diseases. Though this breakthrough is still in the distant future…

Words 696 - Pages 3

Essay on Stem Cells

The Incredible Cell Stem cell research is relatively new but offers the potential to yield a cure for some of the most tragic diseases of our world. Stem cell research was initiated in the early 1900s. Since then, stem cell research has expanded significantly as researchers search for cures, but it has also generated huge public resistance to using embryonic human cells for research purposes on moral and ethical grounds. In this research paper, stem cells will be explained and an argument…

Words 1595 - Pages 7

Essay on Stem cell

Stem Cell Research Stem cells were originally discovered in 1981, scientists found a way to derive embryonic stem cells from early mouse embryos. Another breakthrough discovery was made in 1998 that took stem cells from human embryos and grew them in a laboratory. Stem cells have the possibility to save hundreds of thousands of lives, scientist work every day experimenting and learning about the affects of heart disease, discovering answers to questions that may save lives, and being able to apply…

Words 742 - Pages 3

Stem Cell Research

Stem cells have the great potential to be very beneficial to scientist in finding treatment for diseases like Parkinson’s Disease (PD). This research has so much potential because they have only just begun working with stem cells. With the great potential that stem cells hold there is still a large barrier between the promise of stem cells and the realization of their use. Looking into human stem cells, scientist are able to come up with new ways to create neurons that produce dopamine from our stems…

Words 886 - Pages 4

Stem Cell Research

Introduction Stem cells are undefined cells with the potential to become any type of specialized cells. Stem cells can be derived from embryos, fetuses, and even adult cells. Stem cells can be used to replace tissue that is damaged, or even destroyed. If used to its full potential stem cells can help to fight the effects of aging. Stem cells draw in a mass of controversy and issues on many fronts both scientific, and moral. Stem cells could eliminate the problems thought to be unsolvable, and better…

Words 580 - Pages 3

Stem Cell Research

Stem Cells are the blank cells that can be inserted into an organism that would ultimately help produce more cells. There are people who believe that Stem cells should be used for medical purposes and those who believe it should not. I believe that Stem cells should be used for medical procedures because it helps make more cells. It also helps cells repair damaged tissue. Not only do I believe that stem cells should be used in Medical purposes but EU as well. ( http://www.stemcellresearchfacts…

Words 670 - Pages 3

Essay on Stem Cells

Stem cells are the basic building blocks of life. They have the most amazing abilities and qualities, with the potential to become different types of cell in our bodies. That's why they offer us the greatest potential to treat conditions that affect us all. For many people in the general public, however, the topic is a confusing one and it can be difficult to understand and interpret information about stem cells. You may still be unsure just what stem cells are or what relevance they have to your…

Words 1002 - Pages 5