What are Stem Cells?

According to the National Academies of Sciences, every cell in the human body can be traced back to a fertilized egg that came into existence from the union of an egg and sperm. There are over 200 different types of cells in the body that evolve from an early embryo's identical, undifferentiated stem cells. During early development, as well as later in life, various types of stem cells give rise to differentiated cells that carry out the specific functions of the body, such as skin, blood, muscle, and nerve cells.¹ Over the past two decades, scientists researching stem cell health have been gradually deciphering the processes by which undifferentiated stem cells become the many specialized cell types in the body.

Stem cells can regenerate themselves and or produce specialized cell types. This property makes stem cells appealing for scientists seeking to create medical treatments that are used for replacing lost or damaged cells. There are two major categories of stem cells being considered for these research and therapeutic purposes. They are Embryonic Stem Cells and Adult Stem Cells.

Embryonic Stem Cells and Stem Cell Research

Embryonic Stem Cells are stem cells derived from embryos that develop from in vitro fertilized eggs donated for research purposes with the informed consent of the donors. The Embryonic Stem Cells are harvested within four to five days of fertilization when the embryo is a hollow microscopic ball of cells called the blastocyst. The harvesting process necessarily destroys the embryo. Researchers are very interested in studying embryonic stem cells because of their ability to reproduce indefinitely and because they are totipotent: an embryonic stem cell can become every single cell in the body.² Although much research is being conducted, to date, there are no successful therapies using embryonic stem cells. AssureImmune does not collect or use embryonic stem cells.³