Stem cells are unique, undifferentiated cells capable of both self-renewal and differentiation into specialized cell types, making them fundamental to biological development and regeneration. They are classified into several types based on their potential to differentiate. Embryonic stem cells, derived from early-stage embryos, are pluripotent, meaning they can develop into almost any cell type in the body. Adult stem cells, found in tissues like the bone marrow and brain, are typically multipotent, capable of transforming into a limited range of cells related to their tissue of origin.
Stem cells are pivotal in medical research and therapies due to their regenerative potential. They hold promise for treating a wide range of diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, diabetes, and spinal cord injuries, by potentially replacing damaged or diseased cells. Research is also focused on their role in understanding disease mechanisms and drug testing. However, the use of especially embryonic stem cells raises ethical issues, prompting ongoing debate and research into finding more acceptable alternatives, like induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are adult cells genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state.
University of Montana researchers have developed a new method using stem cells to create craniofacial cartilage, potentially revolutionizing treatments for craniofacial defects and injuries. Researchers…
Exploring the ethical and legal implications of developing brain organoids from human fetal brain tissue. Brain organoids, commonly called “mini brains,” are not actual human…
Mayo Clinic researchers have uncovered molecular signatures of blood-brain barrier dysfunction in Alzheimer’s, offering new avenues for diagnosis and treatment based on extensive tissue analysis…
Research teams have successfully regenerated mouse brain circuits using rat stem cells, showcasing a new method for restoring brain function and studying interspecies brain development….
New study could improve the ability to make genetic diagnoses and treat neurodevelopmental disorders. Regulation of isoforms — varied versions of RNA and proteins that…
Columbia University’s research has uncovered a longstanding error in identifying gut stem cells, finding the true stem cells in a different site, which could revolutionize…
New IVG research offers promising methods for creating human germ cells from stem cells, potentially transforming fertility treatments. According to the World Health Organization (WHO),…
Study finds that vitamin D boosts gut health and cancer treatment success in mice, indicating new avenues for enhancing immunotherapy. A recent study in mice…
Researchers at USC have advanced kidney research by developing a new method to cultivate nephron progenitor cells from human stem cells. This method simplifies the…
Researchers at Columbia University have engineered mice with part-rat, part-mouse brains that allow them to smell as rats do. This breakthrough demonstrates the brain’s capacity…
Researchers unveiled a novel therapy for diabetic wound healing. The new research highlights the use of exosomal miR-4645-5p from hypoxic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells…
NTU Singapore’s groundbreaking study on ‘mini kidneys’ offers new hope for treating polycystic kidney disease, with minoxidil emerging as a promising therapy. Scientists at Nanyang…
It’s one of life’s most defining moments—that crucial step in embryonic development, when an indistinct ball of cells rearranges itself into the orderly three-layered structure…
Scientists have discovered a technique to boost the regenerative properties of stem cells present in umbilical cord blood, potentially improving bone marrow transplant outcomes. A…
The ability of intestinal stem cells to preserve the cellular equilibrium in the gut diminishes with age. Scientists at the University of Helsinki have identified…
When a child falls off her bike and scrapes her knee, skin stem cells rush to the rescue, growing new epidermis to cover the wound….
TU Wien has pioneered a novel method for generating artificial tissue: Cells are grown in microstructures created in a 3D printer. Is it possible to…
A new method has been developed to generate canine-induced pluripotent stem cells from urine samples in dogs without the need for feeder cells. Dog owners…