Stem cells are the body's raw materials — cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. Under the proper conditions within the body or a laboratory, stem cells divide to make more cells called daughter cells. These daughter cells either become new stem cells (self-renewal) or become specialized cells (differentiation) with a more specific function, like blood cells, brain cells, cardiac muscle cells or bone cells. No other cell within the body has the aptitude to get new cell types. becoming specific cells which will be wont to regenerate and repair diseased or damaged tissues in people. People who might benefit from stem cell therapies include those with spinal cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, stroke, burns, cancer and osteoarthritis. Stem cells may have the potential to be grown to become new tissue to be used in transplant and regenerative medicine. Researchers still advance the knowledge on stem cells and their applications in transplant and regenerative medicine. Before using investigational drugs in people, researchers can use some sorts of stem cells to check the drugs for safety and quality. This type of testing will presumably first have an immediate impact on drug development first for cardiac toxicity testing. New areas of study include the effectiveness of using human stem cells that are programmed into tissue-specific cells to check new drugs. For the testing of new drugs to be accurate, the cells must be programmed to acquire properties of the type of cells targeted by the drug. Techniques to program cells into specific cells still be studied. For instance, nerve cells might be generated to check a replacement drug for a nerve disease. Tests could show whether the new drug had any effect on the cells and whether the cells were harmed.