1. What are stem cells? What are the various types of stem cells? How are stem cells being used in medicine today? Can stem cells be packaged into pills and taken orally?
2. Stem cells are basically undifferentiated cells found in various organs of the body. Almost every organ has a reserve quantity of cells that are capable of maturing and replacing already existent cells in that organ.
3. There are different types of stem cells based on their origin and method by which they can be derived. There are embryonic, adult, tissue specific,multipotent, pluripotent, totipotent and induced pluripotent stem cells. See graphics below.
4. Stem cells are used in a variety of ways in medicine today. For instance, when a person has a blood or bone marrow disorder, they may receive a stem cell transplant. There is also a lot of work being done using stem cells on neurodegenerative disease research.
5. Stem cells, human stem cells need to be viable to be used in therapy. There is no way one can package then into capsules and administer them orally to a human being and immediately they find their way to a target organ 😂😂. Hakuna zvakadero. 6