Stem cells are basic cells that can change into any other type of cell that our body needs. Most cells in the body begin as stem cells. Then, they grow into tissue of other body parts.
Cells in adults have a certain function. Most of these cells, for example, heart or liver cells cannot be changed. Scientists think that they can cure certain diseases by using stem cells. For example, a person who suffers from Parkinson’s disease could have stem cells turned into cells that replace damaged tissue. Stem cells can also be turned into healthy tissue to cure heart disease, diabetes, or a damaged backbone.
Today, research is concentrating on stem cells of embryos. Scientists create embryos in a lab by injecting a man’s sperm into a woman’s egg. Embryos can also be implanted into a female’s womb in order to make her pregnant.
Towards the end of the last century, scientists achieved a major breakthrough in stem cell research. For the first time they were able to grow stem cells from a human embryo that was only a few days old. The use of embryos to produce stem cells, however, is much debated. Those in favour say that embryonic stem cells can be used to grow any tissue that the body needs. They can also be used to test new medicine without putting humans in danger.