Stem Cells

Definitions

Cell-based Therapies- Treatment in which stem cells are induced to differentiate into the specific cell type required to repair damaged or destroyed cells or tissues.

Differentiation- The process where by an unspecialized embryonic cell acquires the features of a specialized cells. (heart, liver, or muscle cell)

Embryonic Stem Cell Line- Primitive cells that are derived from preimplantation-stage embryos, are capable of dividing without differentiating for a prolonged period in culture, and are known to develop in cells and tissues of the three primary germ layers.

Proliferation- Expansion of the number cells by the continuous division of single cells into two identical daughter cells.

Plasticity-

Pluripotent- The state of a single cell that is capable of differentiating into all tissues of an organism, but not alone capable of sustaining full organismal development

QUESTIONS

1) The unique properties of all stem cells are; capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods, they can give rise to specialized cell types, and they are unspecialized. 

2) The two different types of stem cells are adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. These stem cells are different by the number and type of differentiated cells. Adult stem cells are more limited in what they can become while, Embryonic stem cells can become all kinds of cells in the body.  

3) The diseases that scientists are looking at to be cured by stem cells are the serious diseases, such as birth defects and cancer. Replacement cells for extreme burns could also be a use for stem cells. 

4) To be useful in curing any kind of disease the stem cells needs to be able to do a lot of things, like avoid harming the recipient in anyway, or differentiate into the desired cell types, and survive in the surrounding tissue after transplant.

http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/defaultpage.asp