Stem cells.
Stem cells are a resource only recently tapped by modern scientists. What are they? What do they do?

They have the ability to change into any cell in the body.  They have the ability to repair and replace damaged tissue. They replicate
without end to replace tissue until the job is done. When they replicate, they have the potential to become a muscle cell, blood cell, or brain cell. They reproduce through cell division, even after long periods of not being active. For a more complete summary of stem cells click here.

Research is being done to use stem cell to fight disease. Lynn M. Matrisian, Ph.D. says, “As the community of scientists on the front lines of the battle against cancer, we are firm in our belief that continued experimentation with human stem cells is necessary to improve evaluation of anti-cancer drugs, to identify markers for early detection of cancer, and to illuminate the path to novel, targeted treatments.”

Hans Keirstead and his colleagues in the Reeve-Irvine Research Center at UC Irvine put some human embryonic stem cells were used on two rats with damaged neurons. The first rat received the treatment seven days after the injury had restored insulation tissue. Soon, motor skills came back. With the second rat the treatment was given ten months after the injury. The treatment didn’t work on the second rat. This means the treatment doesn’t always work.

Stem cells hold a great future in science. They hold many secrets scientists will continue discover for years to come. When you get the chance donate or fundraise to help support stem cell research.

Why are stem cells so different from others? What do they do? What is their potential in the future of science?

See how they treat cancer here.