just want elementary terms please..
2006-11-28 08:42:20 · 7 answers · asked by ? 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
A stem cell is a basic cell that hasn't quite decided what to become yet. It is like a cell on standby waiting for orders from the body. Once the cell gets orders, it goes where it is needed and becomes whatever type of cell the body needs.
When a fetus is developing, stem cells become whatever the infant needs based on the DNA code that the mother and father provide. They become the bones, organs, muscles, brain, hair, etc. Later in life, stem cells work to repair damage to the body such as bone breaks, cuts, torn ligaments, etc. This does not mean that aborted fetuses are the primary source of stem cells; it's just one of the most visible ways of seeing how stem cells are used.
Most of the advancements in stem cell research are actually being done with bone-marrow or umbilical cords. By getting stem cells from adults or umbilical cords, no infants or fetuses need to be harmed.
The applications of the research are vast. Scientist hope to be able to repair damaged nerves to cure blindness, deafness and crippling injuries. There are also ways of using stem cells to stunt the growth of cancers or repair damage to organs.
I hope that was elementary enough. Stem cell research is really not as bad as everyone makes it seem. Think about it--if we can cure breast cancer without harming a single child (born or unborn), isn't it worth considering?
2006-11-28 09:06:36 · answer #1 · answered by Wiseass 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Basically there are adult stem cells, and embryonic stem cells. You probably want to know about embryonic stem cells.
As you know, all cells have the exact same DNA in them, but look at how different cells can be (bone cells, muscle cells, epithelial cells, liver cells, neurons, etc.). This is because our cells differentiate, even though we all start off as one single cell. A cell that has not differentiated into a specialized cell is called a stem cell. All cells "start off" as stem cells, and by various stimulating factors, develop down particular CELL LINEAGES (lymphoid lineage for example produces B and T cells) to become connective tissue, or red blood cells, or neurons, etc.
Adult stem cells are cells that have already started developing toward a particular lineage. EMBRYONIC stem cells have not developed toward ANY lineage!
What use do they have for researchers? Basically they can be manipulated in a laboratory environment to become specialized cells. The problems with stem cell research are that 1. Nothing extremely useful or productive has come from this field of research, and 2. ethical issues with harming (killing) an embryo to use its cells.
Hope this helps.
2006-11-28 09:09:58 · answer #2 · answered by Brian B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a stem cell comes to form within the first 3-4 days of blastocyte (early cell development). The reason why it is so important is that the stem cell is pluripotent, and can develop into ANY cell in the body. This is where all the debate comes in....stem cells at this stage can only come from embryonic cells....sooooo......the main ethical question is that of are we allowed to use/should we use, stem cells from embryo's at this stage to use in research for treatment of illnesses, etc.
2006-11-28 08:58:37 · answer #3 · answered by jerichofell0604 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
stem cells: The common, self-regenerating cells in the marrow of long bones that give rise, by differentiation and division, to red blood cells and all of the different types of white blood cells.
2006-11-28 08:47:41 · answer #4 · answered by Gardenia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a cell that upon division replaces its own numbers and also gives rise to cells that differentiate further into one or more specialized types, as various B cells and T cells.
2006-11-28 08:46:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The mommy cell that makes all other kinds of cells.
2006-11-28 08:50:10 · answer #6 · answered by stevehokie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An undifferentiated (non-specialized) cell.
2006-11-28 08:47:53 · answer #7 · answered by Shanna J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋