DEBUNKING MYTHS ABOUT STEM CELLS
Stem cell research is one of the fastest growing fields of medical science, however, it's still held back by a number of ungrounded myths about stem cells. Most stem cell research controversy stems from these false stem cell myths. Don't be taken in by reactionary media personalities, here are the real facts behind stem cell myths. STEM CELL MYTH 1: STEM CELLS ONLY COME FROM EMBRYOS One of the most nefarious myths about stem cell research, the stem cell research controversy over embryonic stem cells in the mid-2000s [...]
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REGENERATIVE MEDICINE AND TISSUE ENGINEERING?
Many people believe regenerative medicine and tissue engineering are just different words for the same thing: replacing dead or damaged tissue with biologically engineered replacements. While the two methods share the same goal, they use fundamentally different means to achieve it. TISSUE ENGINEERING Tissue engineering is a process wherein fibroblasts are extracted from a patient and then used to artificially grow cells and tissues in a lab setting using the principles of the body's own tissue growth. This is done using "tissue scaffolds" which encourage cells to develop [...]
THE PROTEIN THAT CAN UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF IPSCS
Since 2006, the cornerstone of many stem cell studies have been induced pluripotent stem cells, or IPSCs. Pluripotent stem cells are essentially immature cells that can differentiate into many different types of cells. Pluripotent stem cells are key to regenerating organs and tissues, however their use was decked in controversy for many years because the main source of them was embryonic stem cells, creating ethical issues lampooned in popular culture like South Park. However, in 2006, Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka changed the game with a method that reprogrammed mature [...]
PRP (PEE R PEE?): THE POWER OF URINE DERIVED STEM CELLS
In 2006, scientists discovered that it was possible to isolate stem cells found within urine and use them to differentiate into different types of autologous cells. When you put aside your natural revulsion, you can see that these types of stem cells have a variety of benefits, since harvesting them is as easy as filling a cup We are now seeing the fruits of this stem cell research into urine derived stem cells. In the past year, there have been a new frontier of stem cell studies into [...]
3 REVOLUTIONARY STEM CELL STUDIES ON THE HORIZON
Every day, scientists are working to make the future better by testing the reaches of the almost limitless potential of stem cells. It seems like every there's constantly news about the latest advances in stem cell research, but here are the three upcoming stem cells studies we think you should keep your eyes out for. SAVING THE NORTHERN WHITE RHINO WITH STEM CELL RESEARCH The staff at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research are gearing up for a stem cell studystraight out of Jurassic Park. They plan [...]