What can embryonic stem cells be used for?
ES cells have amazing potential because they can develop into any cell type, whether it is a new muscle cell which contracts or a new nerve cell which conducts electrical impulses. In animal experiments, stem cells placed inside damaged areas of the body seem to ‘know’ where they are and turn into new cells of the appropriate type. Scientists are investigating their potential to treat a myriad of human diseases including diabetes (a disease of the Pancreas), Parkinson’s (a brain disease) and spinal paralysis. Eventually it might be possible to grow whole spare part organs from them. Where do stem cells come from and why might cloning be necessary? Embryonic stem cells have to be harvested from early embryos. However, if you were ill, it would be probably be safer to treat you with ES cells that were genetically identical to you so that there was no chance of your immune system rejecting them. In theory, these could be harvested from an early embryo which was a cloned version of you. Th
