Stem cell revolution

Stem cell was discovered around 1988.

It is beginning to transform regenerated medicine.

It could potential to become the all purpose tool for repairing the body.

This is possible due to rapid and precise genome editing tools, such as CRISPR.

Several obstacles in stem cell technology - high cost, safety concerns and bioethical considerations,

are beginning to fade away.

Induced pluripotent stem cells or IPSC eliminated many of the initial bioethical concerns.

Stem cells exists in a state of possibility.

Two key markers of stem cells are:

1. The ability to self renew.

2. The ability to become any specialised cell.

Broadly speaking the stem cell could evolve, into any of the about 200 specialised human cell types.

Directing stem cells to become one of the 200 stem cells is very challenging. 

Embryonic stem cells are totipotent.

Totipotent stem cells can transform to three types of pluripotent stem cells.

The ectoderm line.

The mesoderm line.

The endoderm line.

Pluripotent stem cells give rise to multipotent stem cells.

Multipotent stem cells give rise to precursor cells.

Precursor cells form parts of the organ.

The ectoderm cell line gives rise to multipotent cells, 

which can become precursor cells for neurons and glial cells.

The mesoderm cell line gives rise to multipotent cells,

which can become precursor cells for muscles and adipose tissue.

Another multipotent cell in this line, gives rise to precursors for blood cells.

The endoderm cell line gives rise to multipotent cells,

which can become precursor cells for pancreatic cells and intestine cells.

Breakthroughs in low cost rapid genome editing, has invigorated momentum in stem cell research.

The discovery of CRISPR in 2012 was the turning point in this progress.