Daniel LongMy Favorite Cell: Stem CellsStem cells are amazing cells that all humans have throughout their bodies. In today's world of science, stem cells have become important factors in scientific research. Stem cell research has increased exponentially over the last decade. Around the world, stem cells have been studied to help treat various health problems. The scope of what stem cell research can do is very broad. The existence of stem cells was theorized by Alexander Maximow in the late 1800s. He believed that cells came from one type of cell. He was not far from this theory. One of the facts that make stem cells so important and such a great resource for health research is that stem cells are not differentiated. Inside our body, the cells that compose it are programmed to become all the specific structures of our body such as blood cells or muscle cells. Stem cells do not have this intrinsic programming. They can therefore become any type of cell. When a sperm and egg combine to create a zygote, the zygote divides rapidly and will eventually develop into an embryo and, of course, a human. The cells that the zygote divides into are the first of these stem cells and develop into the cells that make up the body. When a baby is born, these excess stem cells are found in the baby's amniotic fluid and umbilical cord. However, stem cells still exist in adults, but they usually remain dormant for the rest of a person's life. Stem cells remain scattered throughout tissues, muscles, bones and blood. Although there is much that scientists do not know about stem cells, these stem cells can be activated by various factors such as disease and can serve to replace... middle of paper... cells to help solve numerous medical problems .In conclusion, there are endless possibilities with stem cells. Stem cells represent an exciting new field of science and can help cure diseases that were once thought to be incurable. It's an interesting field to be involved in. Who knows what is possible for stem cell therapy in the future. Hodgson D, A. Behfar, LV Zingman, etc. 2004: Stable benefit of embryonic stem cell therapy in myocardial infarction. American Journal of Physiology. vol. 287. page. 471-479Hiyama E and K. Hiyama. 2007: Telomeres and telomerase in stem cells. British Cancer Journal. 96.p.1020-1024 Lindvall L, Z. Kokaia and A. Martinez. 2004: Stem cell therapy for human neurodegenerative disorders: how to make it work. Nature medicine. 10. P. 42-50Potten CS 1997: Stem cells. Paterson Cancer Research Institute, Manchester, UK. P.275