Adult stem cells

Adult stem cells, also known as somatic stem cells, have defining characteristics and different sources. These cells possess the same basic characteristic of all stem cells. Capable of long term renewal and differentiation into specialized cell types, this type of stem cells possess the same basic characteristics.
Therapeutic cloning

Key functions and benefits of adult stem cells

Maintenance and repair of specific tissues where they reside are the key functions of these stem cells. However, their origin in mature tissues is yet to be while embryonic stem cells are defined by their origin. Adult stem cells are discovered in more tissues than what was expected but their ability for self-renewal is inferior to embryonic stem cells. While usage of embryonic stem cells has produced a lot of controversies, these type of stem cells used for transplants open up a lot of possibilities.

For decades, it has been used for bone marrow transplants and is being tapped as a possible solution to life-threatening diseases. Appropriate conditions can lead to stem cell differentiation into different cell types. Cell differentiation process within laboratory setting has the possibility to become treatments to serious and widespread diseases such as cancer.

The replenishment of specialized cells in a person's body is the stem cells' primary function. Cell therapy of these stem cells replaces defective cells brought about by disease progression. For patients with Parkinson's disease, cell therapy controls and guides the growth of these stem cells which is used for cell replacement and dopamine cell reduction.

Diabetics and those with heart ailments can benefit from stem cells since they can be tapped as insulin source.

Stem cells do not transgress ethical issues since it does not involve the destruction of embryo and embryonic stem cells for therapeutically related purposes as well as they are easily compatible with the patient's own biological makeup.

Location of adult stem cells

While stem cells can be found in many tissues in the human body, however, their numbers are limited. Stem cells have the ability to remain concentrated at a particular area of a tissue without dividing. Stem cell division is usually triggered by tissue damage or a disease.
The following tissues are locations where stem cells are usually found: skin, bone marrow, brain, blood vessels, liver and skeletal muscle.
Isolation of stem cells has been done in humans and their origin is still under question whether they come from embryonic stem cells.