Common to all living beings is our starting point. No matter our species, origin or sex, we all develop from a single cell. Acting as the basis for our growth and development, it is the ability of cells to develop into other cells that could hold the key to the future of medicine. With current technology, common ailments such as diseases and injuries are cured through direct approaches and treatments such as medicine. While this approach has significantly increased humanity's health and well-being, it has its flaws. The research and development of these drugs and solutions has become a multi-billion dollar industry with drugs and treatments easily costing thousands of dollars. In an attempt to achieve a more indirect and more universal approach, scientists are now examining the capabilities of the single cell that serves as the starting point of growth, the stem cells. With the ability to develop into multiple cell types that allow for regenerative healing, stem cells are capable of not only developing treatments for simple diseases but also for more advanced problems such as physical injuries and diseases including diabetes and heart disease (Keirstead et al. 2005). every thirty-four seconds, cardiovascular disease kills another American. With a death toll of around 2,600 people per day, the disease has established itself as the number one cause of death since 1918. Extraordinary cardiovascular diseases have the ability to deprive heart tissue of oxygen, killing heart muscle cells. With the loss of these cells comes a number of other problems, including the formation of scar tissue and increased blood pressure. Over time, these conditions develop into eventual heart failure and, in many cases, death. Yep......half of the article......all the ability of stem cells. Works Cited Keirstead HS, Nistor G, Bernal G, Totoiu M, Cloutier F, Sharp K, Steward O. Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Oligodendrocyte-Derived Progenitor Cell Transplants Remyelinate and Restore Locomotion After Spinal Cord Injury, The Journal of Neuroscience 2005; 25(19): 4694-4705. Available from: http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/full/25/19/4694. Accessed 1 February 2010. National Institute of Health (USA) [NIHS]. Stem cell basics. Bethesda (MD): US Department of Health and Human Services; April 28, 2009. Wade N. The New York Times. 2007 June 06; Available from: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/06/science/06cnd-cell.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2. Accessed February 19, 2010. Weiss R. The Washington Post. 2007 June 07; Available from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/06/AR2007060601345.html. Accessed in February 2010. 17.