Question

Discuss the importance of Stem cells in the body and in scientific research. Why is it important for Stem cells to express Telomerase enzyme?

Answer 1

Stem cells have the potential to develop into many different or specialized cell types. Stem cells are important for living organisms for many reasons. In the blastocyst, the inner cells give rise to the entire body of the organism, including all of the many specialized cell types and organs such as the heart, lung, skin, sperm, eggs and other tissues. Stem cells are "unspecialized" cells that are able to divide and become specialized cells of the body such as liver cells, muscle cells, blood cells, and other cells with specific functions. Stem cells are "undifferentiated" cells because they have not yet committed to a developmental path that will form a specific tissue or organ. The process of changing into a specific cell type is known as differentiation. In the body, stem cells divide regularly to renew and repair the existing tissue. The bone marrow and gastrointestinal tract are examples of areas in which stem cells function to renew and repair tissue.

Scientific research on stem cell is important because of their unique regenerative abilities, stem cells offer new potentials for treating diseases such as diabetes, and heart disease. However, much work remains to be done in the laboratory and the clinic to understand how to use these cells for cell-based therapies to treat disease, which is also referred to as regenerative medicine. Research on stem cells enable scientists to learn about the cells’ essential properties and what makes them different from specialized cell types. Scientists can usestem cells in the laboratory to screen new drugs and to develop model systems to study normal growth and identify the causes of birth defects.

Telomerase, an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, synthesizes telomeric DNA. Through the lengthening of telomeres the lifespans of cells are extended, or indefinite proliferation is conferred; this is intimately associated with stem cell phenotype