Just last week, we published a news article on Biggani.org. And this week, stem cells are making headlines again. This time, the news is even more exciting.
Let’s start with what stem cells are.
We know that when a sperm and an egg unite, they form a single cell, which gradually divides into many more cells. Over time, these cells slowly transform into skin and other organs. These initial embryonic cells are called stem cells. The transformation into organs is quite complex, and scientists have been trying to understand this process thoroughly for the past 40 years. Since these stem cells can transform into organs and tissues, if we can program them properly, we could use them to create organs. Based on this idea, many scientists have successfully demonstrated promising experiments.
Scientists are very hopeful about stem cells. Extensive work has been done—and is ongoing—on how stem cells can be used to cure diseases, especially those that humans haven’t yet been able to conquer. Scientists dream of defeating such diseases by utilizing stem cells. Early research has yielded very encouraging results.
In 1962, John Gurdon from the United Kingdom discovered how stem cells could be made from body cells. Afterwards, scientists carried out much work on its application. However, progress was slow in figuring out how to create stem cells easily. Then came a groundbreaking discovery by Shinya Yamanaka. This researcher from Kyoto University in Japan amazed the scientific community. He demonstrated that creating stem cells isn’t that difficult. By altering just four genes in an ordinary cell, stem cells can be easily produced.
We know that when it comes to awarding the Nobel Prize, those who played the most crucial roles or did the groundbreaking original work are recognized. We’ve been hearing about the tremendous promise of stem cells, and scientists were hopeful that, if not this time, someone would soon be awarded a Nobel for work with stem cells.
We were very happy with the Nobel Prize announcement. As a result, interest in this field will increase, and those working in this area will receive funding for research, which will help scientists advance the field of medical science even further.
(Collected from a written interview transcript)
স্টেম সেল নিয়ে আরো বিস্তারিত জানার আগ্রহ প্রকাশ করছি, এ বিষয়ক বই, প্রবন্ধ, ব্লগ ইত্যাদির লিন্ক চাই
nice post