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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Adult and Embryonic Stem Cells?

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The main differences between adult and embryonic stem cells are their origin, potency, and potential applications. Here are the key differences:

Origin:

  • Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells found in various tissues throughout the body, including skin, heart, brain, liver, and bone marrow.
  • Embryonic stem cells are found in embryos that are 3 to 5 days old.

Potency:

  • Adult stem cells are multipotent, meaning they can develop into several different cell types, but they are usually restricted to the tissue or organ they reside in.
  • Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they can develop into any cell type in the body.

Potential Applications:

  • Adult stem cells are used for therapies that aim to heal diseases and regenerate missing cells within damaged tissues. They are often isolated from the tissue and grown outside of the body in cultures.
  • Embryonic stem cells have the potential to develop into any type of cell, making them valuable for research and potential treatments for various diseases. However, their use raises ethical concerns due to the destruction of human life during their isolation.

Research involving adult stem cells does not raise the same ethical issues as embryonic stem cells, making them a more accessible and widely studied option for potential therapies. Combined with efforts involving induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, research in this area aims to develop treatments for various diseases and conditions.

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  • What is the Difference Between Adult and Embryonic Stem Cells?
  • Comparative Table: Adult vs Embryonic Stem Cells

    • Comparative Table: Adult vs Embryonic Stem Cells

    Here is a table summarizing the differences between adult and embryonic stem cells:

    Feature Adult Stem Cells Embryonic Stem Cells
    Origin Found in fully-grown adult organs and tissues, such as bone marrow and brain Found during the early blastocyst stage of embryonic development
    Potency Multipotent, meaning they can develop only into closely related cell types Pluripotent, meaning they can develop into any cell type in the body
    Use Can repair and regenerate damaged or diseased tissues in the area where they are located Play a vital role in developing the fetus and can differentiate into any type of cell
    Totipotent, Pluripotent, Multipotent, Oligopotent, Unipotent Adult stem cells are multipotent Embryonic stem cells can be totipotent, pluripotent, oligopotent, multipotent, or unipotent
    Regulated Gene Expression Variations in differentiated cells derived from adult stem cells are regulated by gene expression Embryonic stem cells have the potential to become specialized cells in the body, such as brain or blood cells
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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.