Cassidy
I was wondering what kind of program or field of study within biology might deal with researching and experimenting with STEM cells and what progress is being made?
We have just been learning about STEM cells in my honors bio class, and just the thought that these cells can become anything is incredible to me, and it reminds me that i also can become anything, maybe even a biologist. #biologist
2 answers
James Constantine Frangos
James Constantine’s Answer
Exploring and Experimenting with Stem Cells in Biology
Stem cells are a captivating subject in biology with enormous potential for uses such as healing damaged tissues, modeling diseases, and discovering new drugs. The specific area of biology that concentrates on exploring and experimenting with stem cells is often referred to as Stem Cell Biology or Regenerative Medicine. This field covers a broad spectrum of disciplines, including developmental biology, genetics, molecular biology, and bioengineering.
Different Kinds of Stem Cells:
Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs): These stem cells come from embryos and can transform into any cell type in the body.
Adult Stem Cells: Also called somatic or tissue-specific stem cells, these are located in different tissues and can develop into specific cell types.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs): These are adult cells that have been modified to act like embryonic stem cells.
Advancements in Stem Cell Research:
Healing Medicine: Stem cells offer great hope for healing damaged tissues and organs. Scientists are investigating methods to use stem cells to treat conditions like spinal cord injuries, heart disease, diabetes, and brain disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Disease Modeling: Stem cells are a useful tool for studying diseases in a controlled setting. By creating disease-specific stem cell lines, researchers can gain a better understanding of various disorders and test potential treatments.
Drug Discovery: Stem cells are being utilized to test potential drugs for effectiveness and safety. This method can help find new treatments for diseases more efficiently than older methods.
Obstacles and Ethical Issues:
Tumor Formation: A hurdle in stem cell research is the possibility of tumors forming when stem cells are implanted into patients.
Ethical Concerns: The use of embryonic stem cells brings up ethical issues because it involves the destruction of human embryos. This has led scientists to concentrate on alternative sources of stem cells, like iPSCs.
In summary, stem cell biology presents thrilling opportunities for scientific exploration and medical progress. As you delve deeper into your biology studies, further investigation in this area could potentially guide you towards a career as a biologist specializing in stem cell research.
Top 3 Reliable Sources Used:
National Institutes of Health (NIH): The NIH is a top authority on biomedical research, including stem cell biology.
Nature Communications: A trusted scientific journal that publishes innovative research in various fields, including stem cell biology.
The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM): A respected medical journal that includes articles on clinical research and advancements in healing medicine.
MAY YOU BE BLESSED, CASSIDY!
JC.
John Gianaris
John’s Answer
STEM cells are something that can affect a vast variety of medicine. While largely unrelated to fields in Biology like Ecology or Animal Behavior, you may want to look into molecular biology, genetics, or contact researchers at your local university. As far as progress, originally STEM cells had to be gathered from human and mouse embryos. This caused a lot of controversy over the ethics how these could be gathered. Now we are able to gather them from amniotic fluid and from umbilical cords, which is both cheaper, and less problematic. While STEM cells are not largely sued at the moment, they are currently being researched in a vast variety of diseases from autoimmune to degenerative diseases. They truly are a new and growing field that will pave the way for medical advancements.