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| − | '''Stem cells''' are one of several varieties of [[cell]] that have the ability to renew themselves through division, and differentiate themselves into specialized cell types. There is a gradient that corresponds to how well a particular stem cell can differentiate. The two most common types, adult and embryonic are multipotent and pluripotent respectively. Multipotent means that a stem cell can differentiate into similar types of cells, for instance blood cells only. Pluripotent means that they can turn into any of the 3 germ layer types.<ref>http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/sctypes/</ref> Even though embryonic stem cells can differentiate into more cell types than adult, they require the destruction of an embryo. This is why there is such an ethical controversy over them. The pro-life movement says it is akin to abortion.<ref>http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=WU09C06&f=PG07J01</ref> That being said there is some research that shows that embryonic stem cells might be obtainable without destruction of the embryo, though this research is not definite yet.<ref>http://www.cmda.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Stem_Cell_Research&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=12577</ref> | + | '''Stem cells''' are one of several varieties of [[cell]] that have the ability to renew themselves through division, and differentiate themselves into specialized cell types. |
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| | + | There is a gradient that corresponds to how well a particular stem cell can differentiate. Adult stem cells are multipotent and helpful to many medical cures, though thwarted by the [[anti-life]] [[FDA]]. |
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| | + | Stem cell treatments are predicted to expand rapidly: |
| | + | {{cquote|The market is estimated to garner a revenue of USD 17 billion by the end of 2035, up from a revenue of USD 3 billion in the year 2022, owing to its growing demand for treating degenerative and rare diseases, such as osteoporosis, cancer, spinal cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, cartilage infections, and ischemic heart diseases.<ref>https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mesenchymal-stem-cells-market-revenue-105000534.html</ref>}} |
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| | + | A scientifically unjustified push for non-adult [[embryonic stem cells]] occurred beginning around 2001, to provide an indirect justification for [[abortion]]. Use embryonic stem cells requires destroying a living being, while achieving nothing worthwhile from it. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent and typically develop in ways unhelpful to any medical cure. |
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| | There are five categories of stem cells that correspond to their origin in the body: | | There are five categories of stem cells that correspond to their origin in the body: |
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| | *[[embryonic stem cells]] | | *[[embryonic stem cells]] |
| | *[[induced pluripotent stem cells]] | | *[[induced pluripotent stem cells]] |
| − | [[Category:Biology]][[Category:Medicine]] | + | |
| | + | == See also == |
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| | + | *[[autologous stem cells]] |
| | + | *[[Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant]] |
| | + | *[[Stem cell decisions]] |
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| | == References == | | == References == |
| | <references/> | | <references/> |
| | + | [[Category:Biology]] |
| | + | [[Category:Stem cells]] |
| | + | [[Category:Medicine]] |