in the movie:
Mr. Nobody is set in the year 2092. Everyone who lives on earth, except Nemo Nobody, has been made immortal through quasi-immortality, or the endless renewal of cells, through their stem cell-compatible pigs. They are able to have pet pigs to harvest stem cells from to renew their own cells. Would this idea be possible in the real world?
the science behind stem cells:
The biotechnology field has been focused more on the engineering side through the years and has blossomed with its new study of genetics. There are two types of stem cells that they have primarily focused on: embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and adult stem cells (ASCs). ESCs are more effective because they are omnipotent - able to be changed into any specialized cell in the body, whereas ASCs are only semi-potent - able to be changed into only a few types of cells. Scientists have discovered ways to make them pluripotent -able to derive into almost any cell. These are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Due to ethical issues, however, these are debated and are not able to be used to their full potential.
ESCs are the most powerful type of stem cells. They are the creators of every cell in the body. Being able to extract and use them would be incredibly beneficial. They could cure diseases, heal injuries, and regenerate organs. ESCs only exist for two days during the first few divisions of an embryo when it is three to five days old. However, its extraction also destroys the embryo. People who believe life begins at conception, therefore, are against this because the destruction of an embryo is murder in their eyes. This is why the study of ESCs has not gone as far as one would think, so scientist turn to other alternatives that are more acceptable.
ASCs are the least controversial stem cells being researched. However, they are less popular than ESCs because they are less powerful due to the fact that they can only differentiate into only a few different types of cells. Although very few of them are found in the body, and their main purpose is to repair and maintain skin and bone cells, they also have the ability to create advances in medicine. Because they have the ability to grow to exactly match patients' existing cells, the immune system will not reject the cells. ASCs are the closest thing to ESCs that can be safely obtained. But since ECSs are the origin of all cells, could scientists find a way to turn back time and change ASCs back to ESCs?
Well, researchers are finding ways to do that. They are finding ways to make the ASCs into iPSCs. Scientists could use these iPSCs to study diseases, their effects on the body, and possible cures without putting anyone at risk. However, reversing these cells make them become more unstable, resulting in mutations. If this happened and people found out, they would become "anti-stem" and would further delay stem cell research.
Overall, the possibility of the endless renewal of cells through the use of stem cells is highly probable but very controversial.
ESCs are the most powerful type of stem cells. They are the creators of every cell in the body. Being able to extract and use them would be incredibly beneficial. They could cure diseases, heal injuries, and regenerate organs. ESCs only exist for two days during the first few divisions of an embryo when it is three to five days old. However, its extraction also destroys the embryo. People who believe life begins at conception, therefore, are against this because the destruction of an embryo is murder in their eyes. This is why the study of ESCs has not gone as far as one would think, so scientist turn to other alternatives that are more acceptable.
ASCs are the least controversial stem cells being researched. However, they are less popular than ESCs because they are less powerful due to the fact that they can only differentiate into only a few different types of cells. Although very few of them are found in the body, and their main purpose is to repair and maintain skin and bone cells, they also have the ability to create advances in medicine. Because they have the ability to grow to exactly match patients' existing cells, the immune system will not reject the cells. ASCs are the closest thing to ESCs that can be safely obtained. But since ECSs are the origin of all cells, could scientists find a way to turn back time and change ASCs back to ESCs?
Well, researchers are finding ways to do that. They are finding ways to make the ASCs into iPSCs. Scientists could use these iPSCs to study diseases, their effects on the body, and possible cures without putting anyone at risk. However, reversing these cells make them become more unstable, resulting in mutations. If this happened and people found out, they would become "anti-stem" and would further delay stem cell research.
Overall, the possibility of the endless renewal of cells through the use of stem cells is highly probable but very controversial.