Stem Cell - Research Paper Example

The stem cells have been used in the medical fields to rectify conditions, and its application in treating Epydermylosis Bullosa is a good example. Successful gene therapies and treatments in the management of the condition were realized in 2010 and 2013. The stem cells were also used earlier and by 2009, bone marrow transplants were used to remedy conditions. Research is also being furthered to establish whether the stem cells can be used in the treatment of leukemia, brain injuries, and cancer among others.

Stem cells provide a positive prognosis if well applied and intensive research done before the use. For instance, advice is given that one should select a sustainable and appropriate stem cell for any therapy and treatment. Though there are fears that stem cells cause cancer if the build up and differentiation is too much, there is no doubt that stem cells promise a better future in therapy and treatment of illnesses and malfunctions. The human body is made up of millions of cells that perform many specialized functions.

The cell has been defined as the basic unit of life, which translates to showing the paramount importance of the cells in our bodies. These cells are differentiated and they carry out specialized functions, perfect examples being the blood cells and the liver cells (Dittmar and Zanker, 2009). In the body, there is also another type of cells which are referred to as stem cells. Stem cells are cells with the ability to differentiate and develop into other specialized types of cells. They can be termed as the raw materials for the body due to their importance and unique aspect of replicating cells.

These stem cells are distinguished from the rest by three very special and unique characteristics. First, these cells are unspecialized and undifferentiated, as opposed to the other body cells that are highly specialized and differentiated. This means that they can reproduce cells that can perform any function, from the heart cells, blood cells, liver cells among others. The fact that they are undifferentiated means that they do not have a defined or particular line of role that they become. They usually become any cell type once they differentiate (Lanza and Atala, 2013).

The second characteristic is that stem cells can be induced to produce and become cells with special functions, this being the main reason why they are used in the laboratory for experiments. The last unique characteristic is that whereas the other cells in the body differentiate to replicate themselves, the stem cells do not differentiate to reproduce themselves. Instead, they produce daughter cells which can either become stem cells yet again or become specialized and differentiated cells. These stem cells do not have such a limited life span as compared to the other cells.

The stem cells are also very important since they help in renewing, repairing and replacing all dead and worn out tissues and cells in the body (Eapen and Nandini, 2011). Types of stem cells There is no single form of classifying then types of stem cells that has been conventionally agreed on, but one of the most known and classification of types is based on their potency. This results to having five types of stem cells (Lanza and Atala, 2013). The totipotent stem cell type is the first type.

These are stem cells that are formed