On all sides in recent years and only heard a new word "nanotechnology". Nano - is millirdnaya of a meter, something very microscopic, tiny. The technology - a set of methods for processing during production. So, nanotechnology Nanotechnology: Science Fiction in the service of the Ministry of Health?   - The creation of ordered structures at the level of atoms and molecules and the creation of their any kind of technology. It is a branch of molecular technology, where the atom by atom, molecule by molecule get materials and supplies, minirobotov with desired properties.

Why is the development of nanotechnology receives government support in the advanced countries of the world? For them the future, it is through these innovations can bring the country to the leaders of a production.

These modern technologies have already found applications in many areas of life and sectors of industry and production and transport. In health care, nanotechnology used in surgery when using microscopic nanorobots can change the structure of human cells. Prospects for the development of medicine suggest creating mini nanovrachey - robots that will "live" within the body of the sick person, eliminating any damage or be prevented in order to prevent them.

However, the most promising area of ​​application of nanotechnology in medicine is their participation in gerontology - the science of the biological mechanisms of aging. It nanorobots capable today to slow aging and extend human its biological youth. Molecular robots can work together (and often instead of) genetic engineering to reprogram the human genome, translate hours of time ago. Changing the genome of individual cells, you can pre-set the desired improved features, and thus transform the body of criteria. In fact, this repair human cells at the level of atoms and molecules.

Nanotechnology in the coming years will help to create such nanobots, which will increase life expectancy, improve its quality and to expand physical capabilities.

It sounds like science fiction, but soon enough the reprogramming of cells for given functions can return the elderly and the sick person in the state of his young body. There will be no operations on the organs, leaving only operations on the cells, the molecules of the human body. Will people immortal? This is a question not only medical but also ethical. Human immortality must be supported by the biological environment. Can the planet feed the increasing number of inhabitants?

You should not look so far, today we stand at the open door, on the threshold of a wonderful transformation. Create nanomanipulator, fully manned and programmable computer scientists plan for the year 2050. Before that, we all need to live in a sound mind and clear memory to nazhelat new features updated its body.

Restoration of the cells and the development of nanotechnology methods of genetic engineering to help defeat the incurable disease of mankind today, and thus significantly increase the life expectancy. Is this not dreamed of writers - fiction writers in the last century? Man becomes the creator himself, is able to control his body.

So far, only going research and to experiment on the application of nanotechnology in animals. The inhabitants of the planet has not yet formed their attitude to these innovations, since few people understand them. Today, all the stories about the future seems almost a fairy tale. The only plus is that the population of the planet is much more positive to nanotechnology than other transnational "knowledge-intensive" campaign type of swine flu Swine flu: a new global threat to health or panic?   or global warming.

Let today it is incomprehensible and fantastic, as was once the human genome, or hydrogen power, more importantly, it brings the benefit of humanity and relief, extends life and promises a significant expansion of the usual features of physiology.

Quote of scientific books «Nanotechnology: Social Implications»   (Springer, 2007, p.23): "Nanotechnology in combination with traditional technologies in the foreseeable future will help ... to increase the length and quality of life through repair, and ultimately replacing the weakening of ... eliminate hunger ... to enable the blind to see and the deaf hear ... "

Jeanne Pyatirikova

Most of the embryonic stem cells are obtained from embryos resulting from in vitro fertilization. You do not use eggs fertilized in a woman's body.

Embryonic stem cells

Cultivation of cells in the cell culture laboratory called. Human embryonic stem cells were generated by placing cells of embryo located at preimplantation development in a special container with the nutrient medium. The cells divide and spread over the surface of the container. The inner surface of the container is usually covered with mouse embryonic stem cells that were pre-treated so that they can not divide. Mouse cells provides a surface to which may be attached human stem cells, as well as the necessary nutrients. Now scientists have found a way to grow human stem cells without using mouse cells. This reduces the risk of transmission of viruses and other microorganisms from the mouse cells to human cells.

The process of generating human embryonic stem cells is ineffective - that is, as a result of this process isolate stem cells is not always possible. However, if cells survive, multiply and divide so that they no longer enough space, they are placed in several containers, and so can be repeated many times over a long time. From a small initial number of cells may turn out millions of new stem cells. Embryonic stem cells that have proliferated in vitro for a long time without being differentiated, and which have not developed genetic abnormalities are called embryonic stem cell line.

At any stage of the process of the cells can be frozen and transported to other laboratories for further culture and experimentation.

What laboratory tests are used to identify embryonic stem cells

At various stages of the cultivation of stem cells Stem cells: on the edge of scandal   scientists have conducted tests to verify whether the cells have the basic properties of embryonic stem cells.

Standard tests for this has not been established, but it is usually used in laboratories more of the following tests:

• Stem cells are grown for several months to ensure that they are capable of continued growth and self-renewal. During this time, scientists regularly studying cells under a microscope to make sure that they are healthy and undifferentiated;
• Using special techniques to identify transcription factors, which are generally produced by undifferentiated cells (the most important of these are Nanog and Oct4). Transcription factors help to "turn on" and "off" genes at the appropriate time, which is very important in the process of differentiation during embryonic development. In this case, the transcription factors Oct4 and Nanog associated with retaining the undifferentiated state of stem cells and their ability to self-renew;
• Study chromosomes under the microscope. This method allows to identify chromosomal damage and changes in their number, but not the genetic mutation of cells.

Test to determine the pluripotent stem cells in the following ways:

• allow cells to differentiate spontaneously;
• cells are manipulated so as to differentiate into specific cell types;
• cells injected mice with suppressed immune system The immune system - how it works? To see whether they lead to the formation of benign tumors A benign tumor - is not always safe   - Teratoma.

Because the immune system is suppressed mouse, it does not reject the human stem cells, and scientists can observe their growth and differentiation. Teratomas usually contain a mixture of many differentiated or partially differentiated cells - this is a sign that embryonic stem cells can form cells of different types.

It stimulates the differentiation of embryonic stem cells

While embryonic stem cells are in a growth medium and growing in suitable conditions, they remain undifferentiated. But if the cells will be able to connect to form embryoid bodies, they begin to differentiate spontaneously. In this case, they may form a muscle, nerve, and many other cells. Although spontaneous differentiation - is a sign that the cultured cells are healthy, it is not an efficient way to create specialized cells.

To produce certain types of specialized cells - for example, muscle, blood, nerve - researchers try to control the differentiation of embryonic stem cells. They alter the chemical composition of the medium in which the cells multiply, or modified cells themselves, by introducing certain genes in them. During the years of experiments, scientists have developed several basic protocols or "recipes" for the directed differentiation of embryonic stem cells into specialized cells of some types. If the established mechanisms are created that will guide the differentiation of cells in a certain way, it will provide an opportunity to receive future cells for the treatment of many diseases. Among the diseases that can theoretically be treated by transplantation of cells derived from embryonic stem cells - Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease - where the nerve endings are destroyed Diabetes, spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, heart disease, loss of vision and hearing.