Stem cellsStem cells are characterized by the ability to self-renew, or divide without senescing, and to differentiate into specialized somatic cells. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into specific cell types. The two defining characteristics of a stem
Genetics and stem cell biologyStem cell genomics analyzes the genomes of stem cells. The study of stem cell genomics has wide reaching implications in the study of stem cell biology and possible therapeutic usages of stem cells. Application of research in this field could lead to drug
Cancer stem cellsCancer stem cells are cancer cells (tumor cells) that possess characteristics associated with normal stem cells, specifically the ability to give rise to all cell types found in a particular cancer sample. CSCs are therefore tumorigenic (tumor-forming), p
Tissue engineeringTissue engineering is the use of a combination of cells, engineering and materials methods, and suitable biochemical and physicochemical factors to improve or replace biological tissues. Tissue engineering involves the use of a scaffold for the formation
Stem cell therapyStem Cell Therapy (SCT) is the treatment of various disorders, non-serious to life threatening, by using stem cells. These stem cells can be procured from a lot of different sources and used to potentially treat more than 80 disorders, including neuromusc
Stem cell transplantationStem cell transplantation, sometimes referred to as bone marrow transplant, is a procedure that replaces unhealthy blood-forming cells with healthy cells. Stem cell transplantation allows doctors to give large doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy to
Stem cell nicheThe stem cell niche is the in vivo microenvironment where stem cells both reside and receive stimuli that determine their fate. Therefore, the niche should not be considered simply a physical location for stem cells, rather as the place where extrinsic si
Regenerative MedicineRegenerative medicine is a broad field that includes tissue engineering but also incorporates research on self-healing where the body uses its own systems, sometimes with help foreign biological material to recreate cells and rebuild tissues and organs. T
Adult stem cellsAdult stem cells, like all stem cells, share at least two characteristics. First, they can make identical copies of themselves for long periods of time; this ability to proliferate is referred to as long-term self-renewal. Second, they can give rise to ma
Embryonic stem cellsEmbryonic stem cells are obtained from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst. They can give rise to every cell type in the fully formed body, but not the placenta and umbilical cord. These are incredibly valuable because they provide a renewable resource
Stem cell apoptosis and signal transductionSelf renewal and proliferation of stem cell populations is controlled, in part, by induction of apoptosis. The number of stem cells is therefore a balance between those lost to differentiation / apoptosis and those gained through proliferation. Apoptosis
Computational biology in stem cellsComputational biology, a branch of biology involving the application of computer science to the understanding and modeling of the structures and processes of biology, that referred to as bioinformatics. It entails the use of computational methods for the
EpigeneticsEpigenetics is the study of potentially heritable changes in gene expression that does not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence - a change in phenotype without a change in genotype -which in turn affects how cells read the genes. Gene expression
BiobankingA biobank is a type of biorepository that stores biological samples (usually human) for use in research. The wide array of biospecimens (including blood, saliva, plasma, and pure DNA) maintained in biobanks is delineating as libraries of the human organis
Biobank ethicsEthical issues are commonly present in many aspects of Biobanking. The fact that Bio banks deal with human samples, invading an individual autonomy or limiting self-control, provokes a number of ethical issues. Who is actually competent to give informed c
Stem cell in drug developmentStem cell therapy has opened a new avenue in the area of drug discovery and development. Biopharmaceutical companies have been working in deciphering vital applications of stem cell technologies in the drug development processes so as to reduce the high a
Cell and gene therapy Cell therapy or cryotherapy is the transfer of cells into a patient with a goal of improving the disease. From beginning blood transfusions were considered to be the first type of cell therapy to be practised as routine. Later, Bone marrow transplantati
Stem cell biomarkersBio marker is a biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease. A bio marker may be used to see how well the body responds to a treatment for a disease or cond
Stem cell nanotechnologyHuman beings suffer from a myriad of disorders caused by biochemical or biophysical alteration of physiological systems leading to organ failure. For a number of these conditions, stem cells and their enormous reparative potential may be the last hope for
Molecular Microbiology & BiologicsMolecular biology is a branch of biology that concerns the molecular basis of biological activity between biomolecules in the various systems of a cell, including the interactions between DNA, RNA, proteins and their biosynthesis, as well as the regulation of these interactions.