Question

Medical science took a giant step forward when it declared its capability to store stem cells. Stem cells can be used later to treat certain diseases if need arises. Along with many Western countries. India also has the facility for storage of stem cell and for use of the same for therapy. Scientists' are trying their best to maximize the benefit from storage of stem cells.
What are the diseases that can be treated by storing stem cells ?

Answer 1

The stem cells can be used in all type of tissues, cells in our body like they can help in forming nervous tissues for patients with neurological disorders, pancreatic cells for patients with pancreatic diseases and cardiac muscles for patients with heart issues. They can also be used to compensate the loss of blood cells in the human body for example in diseases like thalassemia in which a lot of RBCs get destroyed and in leukemia and lymphoma, a lot of WBCs die losing the ability to protect body thus causing blood cancer. Now a day’s stem cells are also used in transplants for curing stem cells.
EXPLANATION: When a baby is born, the placenta/umbilical cord blood is stored as it is rich in stem cells. The stem cells in the spongy part of bone marrow can also be stored for the future cure. These bone marrow and cord blood transplants can provide life to severe life-threatening diseases which are leading to heavy loss of blood cells from the body thus making the immune system weak. These stored stem cells can be used to generate new cells in cancer patients whose own cells are damaged or are not functioning. They also help to regenerate damaged tissues and hence may benefit in several disease cure. For example: if a person has cardiac disease, then these stem cells be inserted in the heart muscle so that it can lead to repairing of the defective heart cells.