While the majority of the cells in your body is created to service specific purposes, stem cells are cells that has not yet been assigned a specific role and can become almost any cell that is needed. These cells, which have been a topic of medical innovation in the last couple of years, constitute the undifferentiated cells which are able to turn into specific cells where the body needs them. Stem cells are a topic of great interest to scientists and doctors as they help to explain how some functions of the body function, and how they sometimes go wrong. Some diseases that currently show no cure have also seen hope with stem cell treatment. So where do these miraculous cells come from? There are two main stem cell sources used in regenerative therapy that we will discuss below. Stem Cell Miami is a top provider of regenerative medicine with stem cell treatment in the Miami area. Call us today to schedule an appointment!
Where Are Stem Cells From?
There are two main sources from which stem cells originate and which factor into regenerative medicine. The first source is adult body tissues, and the second are embryos. There are also ways scientists are working on so that stem cells can be developed from other cells through genetic “reprogramming” techniques. Adults stem cells come from those of developed humans. There are stem cells contained in every person’s body throughout their life. The body calls on these stem cells whenever they need them. These types of stem cells are also termed tissue-specific or somatic stem cells. These adult stem cells exist throughout the body from the very beginning they start developing as an embryo. While adult stem cells remain in a non-specific state, they are still more specialized than those that come from embryos. These types of stem cells will remain in a non-specific state until the body calls on them for a specific purpose during day-to-day processes. Every single day, the body is constantly renewing its tissues. Some parts of the body, such as the gut and bone marrow, stem cells are required regularly in order to produce new body tissues for repair and maintenance.
Stem Cell Sources
Different types of tissue contain stem cells, including the brain, bone marrow, blood, blood vessels, skeletal muscles, skin, and the liver. The second main source where stem cells come from are in embryos. An embryo forms at the very earliest stage of pregnancy following the fertilization of the egg by the sperm. Embryonic stem cells generally come from extra embryos that result from in vitro fertilization (IVF). They are formed within the blastocyst and are totipotent cells. Scientists use this term for embryonic stem cells because of the fact that they have the potential to develop into any cell within the body. This means that if the right stimulation is applied, the cells are able to form blood cells, skin cells, and all the other cell types the body requires. These types of stem cells are then able to differentiate into more types of cells than adult stem cells, which are already somewhat (though not totally specified).
Contact Us Today
There are two main types of stem cell sources that stem cells come from which are utilized in regenerative medicine. Stem Cell Miami provides regenerative therapy in the Miami area. Call us today for a consultation!