What are the potential uses of human embryonic stem cells?
Most of the body’s specialized cells cannot be replaced by natural processes if they are seriously damaged or diseased. Stem cells can be used to generate healthy and functioning specialized cells, which can then replace diseased or dysfunctional cells. Replacing diseased cells with healthy cells, called cell therapy, is similar to the process of organ transplantation; however, the treatment consists of transplanting cells instead of organs. Some conditions or injuries can be treated through transplantation of entire healthy organs, but there is an acute shortage of donors. Stem cells can serve as an alternate and renewable source for specialized cells. Currently, researchers are investigating the use of adult, fetal and embryonic stem cells as a resource for various specialized cell types—such as nerve cells, muscle cells, blood cells and skin cells—that can be used to treat various diseases. For example, in Parkinson’s disease, a special kind of nerve cell that secretes the nerve sig
Related Questions
- What are the potential uses of human stem cells and the obstacles that must be overcome before these potential uses will be realised?
- What are the potential uses of human stem cells and the obstacles that must be overcome before these potential uses will be realized?
- What are the potential uses of human embryonic stem cells?
