Editor: Ahmed El-Hashash

Developmental and Stem Cell Biology in Health and Disease

eBook: US $39 Special Offer (PDF + Printed Copy): US $151
Printed Copy: US $131
Library License: US $156
ISBN: 978-1-68108-220-2 (Print)
ISBN: 978-1-68108-219-6 (Online)
Year of Publication: 2016
DOI: 10.2174/97816810821961160101

Introduction

Research into stem cells started in the 1960s with experiments on spleen cultures. Evans and Kaufman made a breakthrough in mouse embryo culturing and embryonic stem cell extraction in 1981, followed by the work of Thomson in 1998 on the technique for extracting human embryonic stem cells. Since then, stem cell research has rapidly expanded as a therapeutic avenue for different diseases in humans. This book explains the basic developmental biology of stem cells including the development of stem cells during the implantation stage in utero to the regulation of stem cell division. Medical applications of stem cells in the therapy of diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and bone diseases are also explained in subsequent chapters. The book also explains the effect of parasitic cells on stem cell growth. Concepts in the book are explained in a simple clear manner, making this book an informative reference for non-experts, students and professionals in the field of biology and medicine.

Preface

Stem cell research can be traced back for more than 20 years when scientists first isolated embryonic stem cells from mouse blastocysts, and a research article announcing the discovery of human embryonic stem cells emerged in 1998. Stem cell research field has rapidly expanded as new research and experience broaden our knowledge about different aspects of stem cell biology and applications. In the past decade, the stem cell field has grown very rapidly, and continues to be one of the most exciting aspects of biomedical research. This book brings together a number of topics that are related to stem cell development and behavior as well as stem cell applications in the treatment of different human diseases.

Although we could not hope to be comprehensive in the coverage of stem cells of different tissues, our main aim in compiling this book was to bring together a selection of the current progress in understanding stem cell biology and development as well as potential applications of stem cells in the treatments of different human diseases.

In preparing this book, we aimed at making it accessible to not only those working in stem cell biology field, but also to non-experts with a broad interest in stem cells and in human health. Our hope is that this book will be of value to all concerned with stem cell biology, development and application in medicine.

Ahmed El-Hashash
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Keck School of Medicine and Ostrow School of Dentistry
University of Southern California
USA

RELATED BOOKS

.Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, Vol. 11.
.Stem Cells in Clinical Application and Productization.
.Stem Cell Delivery Routes: From Preclinical Models to Clinical Applications.
.The Regeneration Promise: The Facts behind Stem Cell Therapies.