stem cells-b1-cell biology

EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS CAN TURN INTO ANY TYPE OF CELLS.
*Undifferentiated cells (stem cells) divide to produce more of themselves.
*They can differentiate into different types of cells depending on what instructions they are given.
*They are found in early human embryos and can turn into any type of cells but to do so they have to come from those few cells in a early human embryo.
*Adults have stem cells, like in their bone marrow. they cant turn into any type of cells but can turn into specific ones like blood.
*Both types of stem cells can be cloned in labs by scientists and then made to differentiate into specilaised ones to use in med or research.

STEM CELLS ARE POWERFUL BUT CONTROVERSIAL
* Medicine already uses adult stem cells to cure some diseases. I.E. Stem cells transferred from bone marrow of a healthy person can replace faulty blood cells in patients who receive them.
* Embryonic stem cells are also used to replace faulty cells in sick people - you could make insulin-producing cells for people with diabetes, Nerve cells for people paralysed by spinal injuries, ETC.
* Therapeutic cloning is when an embryo can be made with the same genetic information as the patient so that the stem cells are not rejected by the patient's body if used to replace faulty cells.
* however research in stem cells and embryonic stem cells is a tricky ethical issue:
- some feel that human embryos should not be used for experiments since each one is a human life or has the potential to be human life.
- some feel that scientists should concentrate on finding and developing other sources of stem cells so people could be helped without having to use embryos.
- some believe curing patients who are suffering is more important than the rights of embryos.
- some argue that embryos used in research are usually unwanted ones from fertility clinics which would otherwise probably just be destroyed.

STEM CELLS CAN PRODUCE IDENTICAL PLANTS
* Stem cells in plants are found in the meristems. The part of a plant where growth occurs.
* Cells in the meristem tissues can differentiate into any type of cell throughout the plant's entire life.
* These stem cells can be used to produce clones of whole plants quickly and cheaply.
* This can be to:
- grow more plants of rare species (to prevent them being wiped out)
- grow crops of identical plants that have desired features for farmers, for example, disease resistance.