Articles
Stem cells: What they are and what they do
What is stem cell therapy (regenerative medicine), and how does it work?
Content
What are stem cells?
Why is there such an interest in stem cells?
Where do stem cells come from?
Why is there a controversy about using embryonic stem cells?
Where do these embryos come from?
Why can't researchers use adult stem cells instead?
What are stem cell lines and why do researchers want to use them?
What is stem cell therapy (regenerative medicine) and how does it work?
Have stem cells already been used to treat diseases?
What are the potential problems with using embryonic stem cells in humans?
What is therapeutic cloning, and what benefits might it offer?
Has therapeutic cloning in people been successful?
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are the body's raw materials — cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. Under the right conditions in the body or a laboratory, stem cells divide to form more cells called daughter cells.
These daughter cells either become new stem cells (self-renewal) or become specialized cells (differentiation) with a more specific function, such as blood cells, brain cells, heart muscle cells or bone cells. No other cell in the body has the natural ability to generate new cell types.
