How might embryonic stem cells be used to treat disease?
The ability to grow human tissue for transplantation of all kinds opens the door to treating a range of cell-based diseases. Stem cells can be used to generate healthy and functioning specialized cells, which can replace diseased or dysfunctional cells through transplantation. • Heart Damage: Beating-heart cells could be grown to make a patch and fix damaged heart tissue. • Parkinson’s: Dopamine-producing brain cells could replenish those destroyed. • Spinal Cord Injury: Oligodendrocyte cells, the building blocks of myelin, could re-insulate nerve fibers. This is critical for electrical conduction in the central nervous system to restore sensory and motor function.
