Occasionally we come across technology that’s not really technology in its truest sense. Sometimes, technology is really an assistant to nature. This is particularly evident in certain functions of the human body.
The human body has an amazing ability to repair and regenerate itself. You might be thinking right now, ‘no it doesn’t, we’re not salamanders.’ But believe me, there’s plenty in the body that can regenerate, though not in the sci-fi sense that many people think.
The terms ‘regrow’ and ‘regenerate’ often make people think of regrown limbs. Agreed, that’s not entirely possible…for now. But the body can regenerate thanks to ‘wonder-cells’ known as stem cells.
Although stem cells are naturally occurring, the latest technology is maximising their potential. Thanks to scientists and researchers we can do more now with stem cells than ever before.
It All Just Works Like Magic!
Stem cells can repair and regrow vital systems in our body. And encouragingly stem cells occur naturally in all of us. In fact the reason we are who we are is because while we’re embryos stem cells chop and change about to make all the bits that make us human.
Without getting too bogged down in the biology and science, there are effectively two types of stem cells. The first kind is embryonic stem cells, also known as pluripotent stem cells. These have the ability to become every type of cell in the body.
The second kind is adult stem cells, also known as multipotent stem cells. These have the ability to become only certain types of cells in the body.
These wonder-cells are vital to the future of regenerative medicine. That is the practice of medicine that repairs and regenerates the body. The potential lies in the ability to one day rewind the entire process of aging.
Stem cells are so important for a few key reasons. The Australian Stem Cell Foundation outlines these on their website,
‘Stem cells are different from other cells in the body in three main ways:
‘1. Stem cells are unspecialised. They have not developed into cells that perform a specific function.
‘2. Stem cells can differentiate. This means they can divide and produce cells that have the potential to become other more specific cell types, tissues or organs. These new cells and tissues are used to repair or replace damaged or diseased cells in the body. Once cells have differentiated, they have less capacity to form multiple different cell types, and become ‘committed’ to becoming a particular cell type. Skin stem cells, for example, give rise to new skin cells when needed, to assist regeneration after damage and as part of the normal ageing process.
‘3. Stem cells are capable of self-renewal. Stem cells are able to divide and produce copies of themselves which leads to self-renewal. Once a cell has become specialised (has differentiated) to a particular tissue or organ, it has a very limited capacity to self-renew (produce new stem cells) but instead produces only cells relevant to that organ.‘
Medical technology means scientists and researchers can use stems cells in a number of ways to cure disease and ailments like what I’m about to explain below. In what seems like a magical trick, scientists have even brought ‘dead’ organs back to life using stem cells.
And there’s growing evidence that stem cells hold even more potential than first thought.
The Human Element of These Amazing Cells
David Pyne is 60 years old. He lives in Manchester, England. He has four children and is a Grandfather. David got the worst news of his life in August 2012. He had leukaemia. He had about 12 to 18 months to live.
One way to treat leukaemia is to get a bone marrow transplant. However a global search resulted in no match for the required transplant. Time was running out and so were his options to stay alive.
Thankfully two babies were born. One in America, one in France. And even better was both mothers had decided to donate their umbilical cord blood.
This was so significant because one of the richest sources of stem cells is umbilical cord blood. It also just happened that these two donors were a good match for David.
With no other option the doctors treated him with the new stem cells. He spent six weeks in hospital hoping this would be the solution he so desperately needed.
As reported in The Mirror, the director of the hospital where David was treated said,
‘Umbilical cord blood is very rich in stem cells, which being so immature have phenomenal regenerative powers. These were a great alternative source of cells for David, in fact the only option, as after a worldwide search he had no other donor.‘
The stem cells worked, and David is now in remission. The regenerative powers of the stem cells have literally saved his life.
With more and more research every year, there’s seemingly endless potential in what stem cells are capable of treating. And in some cases stem cells might even improve parts of the body better than they were before.
Think about it like this. Over time, as you get older you reach a point where perhaps your joints aren’t what they used to be. And it’s impacting your day to day life. Your GP says you’ve got Osteoarthritis.
However your local GP has a ‘bank’ of stem cells. With the right stem cells injected into the joint, not only does your hip get better, but it now has the same flexibility as when you were a teenager.
This isn’t fanciful dreaming.
One relatively unknown Aussie company is working on stem cell technology that’s going to change the lives of millions. In Revolutionary Tech Investor we uncovered this amazing company and their regenerative medicine technologies back in November. Since then the stock has climbed over 70%.
Companies with technology like this can change people’s lives. They hold the key to improving the health of millions. And they also have the potential to completely change the financial lives of smart investors.
But financial glory aside, the impact of stem cell technology is turning the practice of medicine on its head. Continued advances in the use of stem cells means there’s much more to come from these wonder-cells.
Already research is underway for the treatment of everything from cardiac problems to orthopaedic issues and even eye and brain disease. Such is the reach of stem cells that they could be the single most important medical treatment in the history of mankind.
Editor, Tech Insider