What Are Stem Cells | Genetics | Biology | FuseSchool

What Are Stem Cells | Genetics | Biology | FuseSchool

Our bodies are the ultimate factory. Every cell has its specific job to do, and is shaped to do that job perfectly. The fate of each cell is determined during the embryo stage, and then cannot be changed.

However, cutting-edge research made a major discovery for modern science: there are these wonderful cells that exist called stem cells. These cells have the ability to become any type of cell because they are not specialised.

Scientists were hugely excited by their discovery because they can be used to repair damaged organs, bones or cartilage. They could also be used to help treat diseases, such as by making new brain cells to treat people with Parkinson’s disease. Or they could be used to repair damaged immune systems, and even reverse paralysis or regrow lost limbs. The discovery of stem cells is huge for modern medicine, and could have a massive impact.

There are two types of stem cells in humans: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells are unspecialised cells that can develop into any type of cell. Adult stem cells are also unspecialised cells but whilst they can develop into many types of cell, unlike embryonic stem cells, they cannot develop into every type of cell.

Adult stem cells come from tissues such as bone marrow. As in the name, embryonic stem cells can be removed from unused embryos such as those left over from fertility treatments for example.

Whilst the discovery of stem cells offers huge potential for modern medicine, there are many social and ethical considerations that need to be taken into account. A lot of research was, and still is, needed to find out exactly how they work and how we can control them to do what we want; and not just grow uncontrollably.

Stem cells are already being used in treatments.

One big social and ethical debate around stem cells is therapeutic cloning. This is the concept of cloning a patient, growing an embryo from the cloned cells and then extracting stem cells from the embryo to grow the specific organ needed by the patient. The patient’s body would not reject this organ, as it is a made from the patient’s own cells.

Unspecialised stem cells also exist in plants and can develop into the cells of flowers, roots, or leaves. Unlike in animal cells, some plant cells do remain unspecialised and can then develop into any type of plant cell. The unspecialised plant cells group together into structures called meristems. Whereas animals stop growing in size when they are adults, plants do not. This is because meristems divide to produce cells thus enabling plants to continue to grow both in height and width throughout their life. They also produce cells that develop into flowers and leaves.

SUBSCRIBE to the FuseSchool YouTube channel for many more educational videos. Our teachers and animators come together to make fun & easy-to-understand videos in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Maths & ICT.

These videos can be used in a flipped classroom model or as a revision aid.

[atharvadhuri]

The most useful and informative video regarding stem cells in youtube

[renaruseva]

Currently revising from home because of quarantine and my test is tomorrow! This helps, you never fail to teach us!

[impix]

More Brain Cells... Give me some more of this stuff

[laurawojcikova]

thank you so much ! i tried revising stem cells from my revision book and it made no sense.your video however really helped me so thank

[mithildixit]

You also missed out on Induced pluripotent stem cells which are regular adult stem cells (cells from skin, fat, liver or other organs) that scientists have changed to behave like embryonic stem cells. Just like embryonic stem cells they can become into any other kind of cell in the body. These can prevent problems from adult stem cells whilst also not having to rely on donated embryonic stem cells.

[MVEATSROCKS]

Still hearting comments on this vid after over a year

[gamingcareer]

Who els his teacher told him to watch this

[layladavison]

I am home schooling and had no idea what a stem cell was this was really helpful

[ethanprosser]

thanks this really helped, because I sleep in biology too much lmao

[dum]

i had to watch this at school it's quite helpful

[emmalouisex]

thank you mr hensley for making me watch this 🕳🏃‍♀️

[haseebahmed]

I got v good understanding through this video..
Thank u

[benjaminmorgan]

Playing god, yeah right
I'm all for the science guys.

[manmute]

very well explained....stemcell therapy is the talk of the world now...

[random_gamer_guy]

I'm 38 years old and had no idea what they was ....thank you!

[-kenny-]

my biology teacher sent me here, this helps a lot, thanks

[Johnnyarsecraack]

Thank you mr crompton for making me watch this

[edithmarioncurran]

The pace is too fast. It should pause between important pointa.

[KintaroCellsPowerInternational]

Interesting video. How do you feel about mesenchymal stem cells therapy?

[lamondlense]

So, people are conflicted about the process of cloning, there's only one way to settle this...

...The Clone Wars