Stem cells for everything

2002/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

In recent years, researchers have stated that the cure of diseases can be the use of stem cells. In all tissues of the body there are such cells with tissue growth capacity. If an organ is damaged, healthy tissue can form with stem cells, but any stem cell does not cure any organ of the body.

Therefore, the first solution proposed by scientists was the use of embryonic stem cells, since in embryos many stem cells are not specialized. But these embryos should be cloned, so this solution is a very controversial issue. Therefore, having all stem cells in the hands of adults, many researchers are working on this path in search of other solutions.

In the issue of the journal Nature, of 20 June, two investigations were released that have identified stem cells that can serve to cure any tissue. In the first, a team of researchers from the University of Minnesota has used bone marrow stem cells for laboratory culture of all types of tissues. In the second, Maryland researchers have treated Parkinson's disease from stem cells that synthesize dopamine in the mouse. These research has opened the doors to improve understanding of stem cells.