Cord Blood Stem Cells Information

Where do researchers get they current stem cells to use for research?

What are some of the uses of stem cells being researched? what is the controversy about stem cell research?

Public Comments

1. Stem cell researchers are trying to find cures for cancer and map out the DNA in the human body. Some people donate their bodies to science in their will and that is where they get some of the cells. Not sure how they get others.
2. they can be developed in any form or as any kind of cell therefore it is really importan 4 research
3. Afterbirth,dead people ,some people donate stem cells
4. Researchers get human embryonic stem cells from pre-existing stem cells. Stem cells can reproduce indefinitly forming as many other stem cells as neccesary. Animal embryonic stem cells are taken from cloned animal embryos. All adult stem cells are located in specific regions of the body and can be taken from that region.
5. Embryonic stem cells are the cells usually used for research. The controversy stems from the fact that, in order to harvest stem cells, you have to get them from a morula, which is an early developmental stage of an organism, such as humans for example. Some people see this as killing babies, and thus stems the controversy. However, as none of the cells have differentiated into nerve cells, it is actually scientifically impossible for there to be any pain for the "baby". Stem cells can be used in a lot of research, and has huge therapeutic uses, such as regenerating blood cells in patient after chemotherapy, treating and curing parkinson's disease, and a number of other neurodegenerative diseases, as well as type I and II diabetes, and the list goes on and on. Currently, most researchers in the world are limited to existing human stem cell lines. This means that they have to get their stem cells from a few stem cells that were harvested several years ago. This is possible because stem cells, when cultured in the right medium, will continue dividing forever. Stem cells from other animals, however, such as mice, can still be harvested yb scientists, and still are all the time.
6. Stem cells can be found at birth or near birth. The baby has not stopped developing fully even after it has been born. There are plenty of stem cells that have to give rise to others. Professionals, with permission of the mother, collect stem cells from the amniotic fluid.