Stem cells: An undifferentiated cell of a multicellular organism which is capable of giving rise to indefinitely more cells of the same type, and from which certain other kinds of cell arise by differentiation. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into specific cell types. The two defining characteristics of a stem cell are perpetual self-renewal and the ability to differentiate into a specialized adult cell type.
Origins and Characteristics Signalling Pathways and Molecules Breast Cancer Metabolism Therapeutic Implications Origin of stem cells in organogenesis
Gene therapy is a way to treat genetic disorders. The variation in gene therapy is focused on somatic gene therapy and germline gene therapy relating to viral and non-viral vectors. Nano therapy is a new trend in the field of medicine which uses nanoparticles to deliver drugs to the targeted body part.
The procedure in which the cells are grown in an artificial environment separate from the body is called tissue engineering. It is an improvisation of growing cells than methods of 2D cell culture. The cells growing in a 3D artificial environment are more relevant and effective than the cells growing on the 2D surface.
Aging is the complex process of deterioration of body functions through the involvement of body cells and organs. Basically, the aging theory can be divided into two types – hematopoietic stem cell aging and hair follicle stem cell aging. Besides these two theories, the other theories of aging are evolutionary theory, cellular theory, system theory, and molecular theory. With aging the bone marrow cellularity decreases.
In a typical stem cell transplant for cancer terribly high doses of chemo are used, sometimes in conjunction with radiotherapy to undertake to kill all the cancer cells. This treatment additionally kills the stem cells within the bone marrow. Soon after treatment, stem cells are given to exchange those that were destroyed. These stem cells are given into a vein, very similar to a blood transfusion.