Stem Cells and Its Many Benefits
The Benefits of Stem Cell
The usage of stem cells has been filled with controversy, especially if we are talking about the embryonic stem cells. However, negative issues aside, there are actually a lot of health benefits that stem cells can provide. Further research is still needed, however, but one cannot deny the fact that they are too powerful to ignore.
That being said, what are the benefits that you can expect with the use of stem cells? Read on to find out.
1. Stem Cells Can Help Us Learn About Human Development
Embryonic stem cells are also known as Pluripotent Stem Cells because they can differentiate into the many different cell types that are found in the human body.
By using this power, researchers can learn more about how us, humans, develop.
This also helps us know how certain diseases such as cancers and genetic disorders come to be so that it will help us come up with a treatment plan to cure them.
2. Stem Cells Can Create New Treatment Plans
As of this moment, there are only ten approved stem cell therapies that can be done in humans and they are all with the use of adult stem cells. One of the most common procedures is the bone marrow transplant.
But, given the unique characteristics that stem cells possess, we are not limited to just treating Leukemia. These cells can also hold the promise of treating Parkinson’s Disease, Type 1 Diabetes, Arthritis, Spinal Cord Injuries, and many more.
3. Stem Cells Can Renew Damaged Tissue
The amazing benefit of using stem cells is that it can either trigger the production of new cells or it can even change to the specialized cells themselves.
Although it is still not available to this day, we might come up with a way to use stem cells to replace or renew damaged tissue.
For example, heart attack sufferers would have their damaged tissue renewed by infusing it with new and healthy stem cells.
4. They Can Help Treat Burn Victims
As of now, the only way for us to treat burn victims is by skin grafting and the use of antibiotics. Yes, they can be treated using this procedure, but it can take a lot of time and in some cases, people might not fully heal.
However, stem cells can probably change that.
Embryonic stem cells, for example, have the power to regenerate lost tissue and burn victims happen to have a lot of lost and damaged tissue in their body.
In the future, burn victims might not need to do skin grafting anymore as we can come up with a pain-free way to regenerate muscle tissue.
5. They Can Be Used for Drug Testing
Because stem cells have the ability to differentiate into other cell types found in the body, we can use it to test different drugs without having to use any animal or human subjects.
Not only would it save the researchers a ton of money, but it will also save them a lot of time as well as they do not have to look for test subjects anymore.