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Stem Cell Stories : Morality, Ethics & Views on the Issue
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Stem Cell Research Basics

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are cells found in all multi-cellular organisms. They retain the ability to renew themselves through mitotic cell division and can also differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cell types. Research in the stem cell field grew out of findings by Canadian scientists Ernest A. McCulloch and James E. Till in the 60's. The two broad types of mammalian stem cells are: embryonic stem cells that are found in blastocysts, and adult stem cells that are found in adult tissues.

Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.

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Human Embryonic Stem Cell Colony on mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layer.

Stem Cell Differentiation

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Embryonic stem cells, are derived from embryos. These stem cells are derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized from a invitro fertilization clinic—and then donated for research purposes. However, they are not derived from eggs fertilized in a woman's body. The embryos from which human embryonic stem cells are derived are typically four or five days old and are a hollow microscopic ball of cells called the blastocyst. The blastocyst includes three structures: the trophoblast, which is the layer of cells that surrounds the blastocyst; the blastocoel, which is the hollow cavity inside the blastocyst; and the inner cell mass, which is a group of approximately 30 cells at one end of the blastocoel.




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