Nov 18, 2010 Posted Under: Other

What Are Stem Cells

The question of stem cells happens to be one of the dominant subjects in the debate over biotechnology and human genetics: Should we use embryonic stem cells or adult stem cells for future medical therapies?

So what are Stem Cells, Exactly?

It’s appropriate here to sketch the characteristics of stem cells, and also the overthrow of some dogmas of developmental biology. Broadly speaking, a stem cell is one that-in the course of cell division and rise in the amount of cells – is able to reproduce itself and also mature into various specialized kinds of cells.

Embryonic cells are obtained from a growing embryo in the blastocyst stage, destroying the embryo, a developing human life. Adult cells, however, are found in most tissues of the growing human being and, based on latest reports, also have the possibility to transform themselves into practically other cell types, or revert to being stem cells with greater reproductive capacity. Embryonic cells have yet to be used for even one therapy, while adult stem cells have already been successfully used in numerous patients, including for cardiac infarction (death of an area of the heart tissue).

These cells are of wide interest for medicine, simply because they have the possibility, under suitable conditions, to build up into almost all of the different types of cells. They should therefore be able to repair damaged or defective tissues (for instance, destroyed insulin-producing cells in the pancreas). Most of the so-called degenerative diseases, for which you will find as yet no effective therapies, could then be alleviated or healed.

The cell with the greatest potential (totipotential) may be the fertilized ovum, which is effective at developing right into a complete organism. Tissue-specific stem cells have the ability – as may be impressively demonstrated in experiments with animals – to “transdifferentiate” themselves when in a different environment – that is, to take on the cell functions of the new tissue. Thus, neuronal cells of mice have transformed themselves into blood stem cells and then produced blood cells.

Indeed, you will find indications of some other capability of adult stem cells: Apparently they have the potential to become “reprogrammed.” Not only can they adjust to the particular conditions of the new tissue environment, but they can even assume more generalized, earlier levels of development, so that it even appears entirely possible that they become totipotent again.

It has been noted for about 30 years that these cells can be found within the tissue from the adult, but it was assumed that they could only form cells of a particular tissue. That is, reprogramming them was considered impossible. Recently, however, pluripotent stem cells were found in a variety of human tissues – in the spinal-cord, within the brain, within the mesenchyme (connective tissue) of various organs, and in the blood from the umbilical cord. These pluripotent cells can handle forming several cell types – principally blood, muscle, and nerve cells. It has been possible to recognize, select, and develop them to the point that they form mature cell types with the help of growth factors and regulating proteins.

It is becoming clear from transplantation experiments with animals, that stem cells of a particular tissue can develop into cells of a different kind. Thus, bone marrow cells have been induced to become brain cells, but additionally liver cells.

Once you know how your natural renewal system works, it’ll become obvious for you why increasing the number of circulating adult stem cells has become the best thing you can do to maintain optimal health. This exciting information was discovered so recently that most people – even many doctors – don’t know about it yet!

Essentially, some tips about what happens when a necessity develops within your body…

1. The tissue or organ in need of assistance sends chemical messengers out to the bloodstream,
2. These chemical messengers then prompt the release of cells from the bone marrow.
3. While another group of chemical messengers sent through the tissue in need of assistance prompts the circulating stem cells to…

a. Migrate to the tissue
b. Profilerate ( make more) and
c. Then transform themselves into healthy cells of this tissue.

This information is very exciting but where to from here for the average person in the street? A company was formed in 2005, headquartered in the USA, and are now trading in 14 countries, that has developed a patent pending product that assists you to maintain optimal health. The company is marketing the products through the MultiLevel Marketing concept where distributors are reported to be making substantial incomes from their downlines. People like yourself are reporting amazing results after a short period of time taking the capsules daily.

Could this be the next big thing to hit the medical world? The company cannot give any guarantees that their product will cure anything, but suggest that people try the product and see what results they get.

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