Stem-cell basics
20 October 2005
Stem-cell research is never far from the headlines. But what's it all about?Antenna gets to grips with some stem-cell basics...
Image: Advanced Cell Technology
These stem cells were grown in a lab.
Image: Advanced Cell Technology
What are stem cells?Most of the cells inside you are highly specialised to do their job - being a heart cell, a skin cell or maybe a muscle cell. Stem cells are different - they're unspecialised, but have the potential to turn into many different cell types. |
Stem cells can grow into muscle cells like this one.
Image: Advanced Cell Technology
What do we want stem cells for?Scientists dream of using adaptable stem cells as personalised 'body repair kits'. They hope stem cells can be coaxed to become substitutes for a patient's damaged cells, then implanted into the right spot to treat problems from Parkinson's to spinal injury... but they're not there yet. |
Your bone marrow contains adult stem cells, which can specialise to become any kind of blood cell.
Image: CDC
Are there different kinds of stem cell?Yes - stem cells are found in adults and embryos, but scientists think stem cells from embryos may hold more promise. They can grow into a wider variety of specialised cells than adult stem cells can. |
Stem cells can come from very young embryos like this one, which contains only eight cells and is just three days old.
Image: RBM Online
Where do stem cells come from?Most embryonic stem cells come from embryos discarded during IVF treatment. They're used to investigate diseases and plan new treatments, but won't work for customised therapies. Only a trick called therapeutic cloning will produce embryonic stem cells that genetically match a living patient. |