Stem Cells - Research Paper Example

Stem Cells are specialized and powerful cells found in the body. The stem cells are non-differentiated cells, and have the potentiality of differentiating to form other cells. In the process of differentiation of the stem cells, they divide through mitosis. The stem cells in adults can be harvested from three main areas. The bone marrow is a special area where the cells can be extracted. From the bone marrow, the cells are harvested by drilling through the bones of the iliac crest or the femur where the stem cells are in abundance.

Other than the bone marrow, adipose tissue (lipid cells) is another of the key areas where stem cells could be harvested. The stem cells from the adipose tissues are harvested through the means of liposuction. Additionally, the stem cells can be extracted from the blood tissues. The process of extraction of stem cell from the blood is called apheresis. In this process, blood is drawn from a donor similar to the typical blood donation mechanism, but in this procedure, the blood is flown through a specialized machine that separates the stem cells from the blood (Rodriguez et al., 2005). Apart from extraction of stem cells from mature adults, the cells can be gotten from the umbilical cord and are usually extracted immediately at birth.

Of all the means through which the stem cells can be harvested, it is safer when a stem cell from an individual is implanted to the same individual. In this means, a stem cell from one part of the body (bone) can be transplanted to another. Implantation of auto stem cells decreases the risk of immune sensitivity and immune rejection of the implanted stem cells (Blanpain et al., 2012). Contrary to other cells of the body, stem cells are unspecialized. In this essence, the stem cells are capable of self-renewal through cell division, especially after a long period of inactivity.

Another classical difference between stem cells and other cells of