What are the potential problems with using embryonic stem cells in humans?
To be useful in people, researchers must be certain that stem cells will differentiate into the specific cell types desired. Researchers, for instance, don’t want to transplant a stem cell into a person hoping it’ll become a heart cell only to learn that it’s become a bone cell, with potentially dangerous consequences. Researchers have found ways to direct stem cells to become specific types of cells, and research into this area has advanced significantly. Embryonic stem cells could also become tumor cells — something that’s happened in animal experiments — or travel to a part of the body where they’re not intended to go. They also might trigger an immune response in which the recipient’s body attacks the stem cells as foreign invaders, or simply fail to function normally, with unknown consequences. Researchers have found ways to avoid these complications and continue studying ways to control stem cells. They are also studying alternatives. What is therapeutic cloning and what benefits
