I just received an email and phone call from Canada Blood Services letting me know that I am a possible match for stem cell donation. Just curious how stem cells help.
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Stem cells are cells that can change into other cells as necessary for the body. They’re very good at signaling and aiding in healing, and because they are living cells they’re much more adaptable than traditional medicine (which is usually just one or a few chemicals). A big use for them is that the body will decide certain chronic wounds (i.e. wounds that have been open a long time) aren’t worth trying to heal anymore, but stem cells can be used to help turn the body’s healing process back on.
Additionally, as previously stated they can become a bunch of different cell types. This includes nerve cells, so they can possibly be used to bridge the gap in cases of paralysis or neuro-degenerative diseases (though these are still being tested and not publicly available).
The one issue with stem cells is that, while they do seem to behave the way researchers want them to in the body with shocking consistency, a mistake or lack of understanding could see the stem cells accidentally start forming the wrong tissue, which isn’t great (we don’t want bone where muscle or fat is supposed to be, for example).
Did that help at all?
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