Overview of Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapy is a set of techniques that aim to replace cells damaged or destroyed by disease with healthy functioning ones. The techniques themselves are still relatively new but their applications and benefits are broad. Some of the diseases they can help include:
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" Researchers and biotech executives foresee the day when the effects of many catastrophic diseases can be reversed. The damaged brains of Alzheimer's disease patients may be restored. Severed spinal cords may be rejoined. Damaged organs may be rebuilt. Stem cells provide hope that this dream will become a reality." - GEORGE WOLFF, The Biotech Investor's Bible
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Therapeutic cloning for stem cell therapy
Depending on it's purpose, cloning can be separated into reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning.
HOW IT WORKS These stem cells are intended for use in treating a patient who has a spinal cord injury or brain injury, has suffered a stroke or has a degenerative disease. The cell that provides the nucleus in therapeutic cloning is a healthy cell from the patient who is to receive treatment. As a result the embryo that is created us a genetic match to the patient and these cells do not cause an immune response. |