STEM CELL RESEARCH By: Reba Hamlin

ABOUT STEM CELLS Stem cells are very small cells that

are not visible to the naked eye In order to be seen under a

microscope they must be stained with a fluorescent or glowing dye and magnified from twenty to forty times in order to be visible

STEM CELLS CONTINUED… Stem cells can become bone, muscle,

cartilage and other specialized types of cells, they have the potential to treat many diseases, including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and a lot more.

Eventually, they may also be used to regenerate organs, reducing the need for organ transplants and related surgeries.

WHAT DO STEM CELLS LOOK LIKE UNDER A MICROSCOPE?

PROS OF STEM CELLS RESEARCH Stem cells are believed to be able

to treat any disease, treat all cancers, and replace any cell in the human body.

Scientist believe that they can treat baldness, missing teeth, blindness, hearing impaired, and even reversing the affects of aging (making us look and feel younger) therefore helping extend life.

CONS OF STEM CELLS RESEARCH The main con or disadvantage of stem

cell research it that in order to use embryonic stem cell a fetus must be destroyed, in other words, killing of a human being.

This issue is what caused the main controversy of this topic. But according to new research a fetus

doesn’t not have to be destroyed because of other methods of obtaining stem cells.

OTHER METHODS CONTINUED…

Skin cells Fat Cells Adult Cells Cord Cells

TYPES OF STEM CELLS There are two types: mature and

early. Mature stem cells are found in specific

mature body tissues as well as the umbilical cord and placenta after birth.

Early stem cells, often called embryonic stem cells, are found in the inner cell mass of a blastocyst after approximately five days of development.

KEY FACTS Only embryos up to 14 days old

can be used for research Research can only take place on

embryos created in the laboratory, that is, embryos that have developed from eggs fertilized outside the body

FACTS CONTINUED… Bone marrow transplants and skin

grafting are examples of stem cell replacement therapies. For example, during a bone marrow

transplant stem cells are removed from the bone marrow of a donor and transplanted into the patient to generate new blood cells.

FACTS CONTINUED…

Stem cell transplants could offer potential therapies for degenerative diseases.

Stem cells could also be used as a source of healthy human cells for testing the effects and side-effects of potential new drugs, providing an alternative to some animal testing.

CONTINUED…. Stem cell replacements face the

problem of being rejected by the patient’s immune system.

CONTINUED….

Researchers at UCLA are working on ways to arm blood stem cells in the bone marrow against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

It is not a cure, but it may be more effective than current anti-viral treatments and may have the potential to immunize people against the virus.

STEM CELL RESEARCH VIDEOS

http://www.redorbit.com/news/video/top_news/2/embryonic_stem_cell_research_new_hope/27255/index.html?src=mrss

http://www.redorbit.com/news/video/science/5/obama_lifts_stem_cell_ban/27220/index.html

VIDEOS CONTINUES….

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=stem+cells&docid=1086508106493&mid=22B275B8CD51E173F03222B275B8CD51E173F032&FORM=VIVR10#