Stem Cell Research
Stem Cell Research
Stem Cell Research (pronunciation: /stɛm sɛl rɪˈsɜːrtʃ/) is a branch of Biomedical Research that involves the study of Stem Cells and their potential use in regenerative medicine.
Etymology
The term "Stem Cell Research" is derived from the English words "stem" and "cell", referring to the basic, undifferentiated cells from which other cell types develop, and "research", indicating the systematic investigation into this field.
Overview
Stem Cell Research focuses on the investigation of stem cells, which are unique cells that have the ability to develop into many different cell types in the body. They serve as a sort of internal repair system, dividing essentially without limit to replenish other cells. Stem cells can become cells of the blood, heart, bones, skin, muscles, brain etc.
There are two main types of stem cells: Embryonic Stem Cells and Adult Stem Cells. Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos. Most embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized in vitro—in an in vitro fertilization clinic—and then donated for research purposes with informed consent of the donors. Adult stem cells are found in small numbers in most adult tissues, such as bone marrow or fat.
Related Terms
- Regenerative Medicine: A branch of medicine that develops methods to regrow, repair or replace damaged or diseased cells, organs or tissues.
- Therapeutic Cloning: Also known as somatic cell nuclear transfer, it is a strategy for creating patient-specific stem cells.
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: These are a type of pluripotent stem cell that can be generated directly from adult cells.
See Also
This WikiMD.org article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.