Stem Cells Explained: Today's Standard, Tomorrow's Promise, Forever Banned

Added: 2026-05-07

[00:00:00]We're going to talk about types of stem cells because it's out there. A lot of people know about stem cells, but at the same time, a lot of people don't know which stem cells to use, what are clinically used, what are used in humans, what are in trials. So, there's so much confusion. So, I want to make it a little simple. So, let's say there are four kinds of stem cells.

[00:00:23]Number one is embryonic stem cells. The name itself tells it's coming from the embryos. That means a baby that's being born, right? So, there are a lot of ethical issues because it's a life.

[00:00:35]That's how the research started. It is not used nowadays for humans. So, like if you're getting a stem cell treatment or a bone marrow treatment or any of that nature, nothing is coming from the embryo. So, it is unethical. So, most of the countries banned it.

[00:00:53]Only places embryonic uh stem cells are used is mostly in the research or any drug development uh situation. So, those are the uh places that they're doing it, but not in clinical use. The the upside to an embryonic cell is that cell is pluripotect. That means it can produce anything in your body. So, for example, it can produce your kidney, liver, heart, lung, skin, almost 200 tissues that can produce. But unfortunately, we cannot use it. It is unethical to use it. So, that's one. So, the number two is called iPS C cells. So, that means a genetically modified stem cell.

[00:01:37]From an adult source. That means you or me or other people. So, that's a good thing. But the problem is will it cause cancer if you use or modify your own genetic cell into doing something. Those issues are there. But the advantage of these iPS C cells is you can modify a cell. You can take your skin cell and you can modify into a nerve cell, a brain cell, or heart cell, kidney cell.

[00:02:07]So, there are multiple things you can do it. That's called pluripotency.

[00:02:11]So, that is a great innovation. So, there's a scientist in Japan called Yamanaka. So, what he did is like he changed the regular cell of yours into reprogrammed genetically to make into a cell of either a neuron or a cardio or or renal or any of the other tissues.

[00:02:30]So, that's the greatest thing. But the problem is will it cause cancers? Will it cause teratomas, tumors? Because you're modifying a cell. But that has been in the labs all these years until now. What happened now is last month, Japan has approved two of these things. One for Parkinson's, uh brain cells, neuronal cells. One is for heart, cardiomyocytes.

[00:02:55]So, these can be programmed from other people's cells.