Stem Cells: The Genesis of Life
Simply stated, stem cells are the genesis of human life. From the moment of conception
when the woman's egg is fertilized by her partner's sperm, a single stem cell
is created. Shortly thereafter, this single stem cell begins to multiply into
hundreds of millions of stem cells as the embryo develops during the early stages
of pregnancy. At around 120 days after conception, during the formative stages
of the fetus, stem cells begin the process of differentiation, at which time
they begin to transform into every other cell type in the body such as heart,
muscle, nerve, bone, etc. This process continues throughout the final stages
of pregnancy until the infant is born. Following birth and throughout adult life,
our bodies continue to produce stem cells that serve as a vital source of regeneration
and repair throughout our lifetime.