Stem Cells: Explained in Simple Words

What are stem cells? How do they function? And how are they responsible for your existence, growth, and maintenance? Stem cells are a unique type of cell. They can self-renew to create more stem cells. They can differentiate into many different types of cells. Differentiation is like picking a career for a cell. Depending on how many types of cell a stem cell can become, there are different types. A totipotent stem cell is the zygote which can become any cell of your body. A pluripotent stem cell too can become almost any type of cell in the body. A multipotent stem cell can become several types of related cells. For example, hematopoietic stem cells are multipotent stem cells that generate RBCs, WBCs, and platelets. Finally there are unipotent stem cells that can only differentiate into one type of cell.

In 2006, researchers managed to convert a skin cell back into a pluripotent stem cell (induced pluripotent stem cells). We used to think that the process of ‘stem cells to specialized cells’ was irreversible. This research challenged that notion. Today, stem cells are part of therapies for diseases. Bone marrow transplant is given to patients with blood diseases. It introduces healthy stem cells in the patient.

#StemCells #CellRegeneration #Biotechnology

References:

https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-an...
https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics...
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yexcr.2007....
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2006.0...

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