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Stem cells: What they are and what they do

What is stem cell therapy (regenerative medicine), and how does it work? Content What are stem cells? Why is there such an interest in stem cells? Where do stem cells come from? Why is there a controversy about using embryonic stem cells? Where do these embryos come from? Why can't researchers use adult stem cells instead? What are stem cell lines and why do researchers want to use them? What is stem cell therapy (regenerative medicine) and how does it work? Have stem cells already been used to treat diseases? What are the potential problems with using embryonic stem cells in humans? What is therapeutic cloning, and what benefits might it offer? Has therapeutic cloning in people been successful?

What are the potential problems with using embryonic stem cells in humans?

For embryonic stem cells to be useful in people, researchers must be certain that the stem cells will differentiate into the specific cell types desired.

Researchers have discovered ways to direct stem cells to become specific types of cells, such as directing embryonic stem cells to become heart cells. Research is ongoing in this area.

Embryonic stem cells can also grow irregularly or specialize in different cell types spontaneously. Researchers are studying how to control the growth and differentiation of embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells might also trigger an immune response in which the recipient's body attacks the stem cells as foreign invaders, or the stem cells might simply fail to function normally, with unknown consequences. Researchers continue to study how to avoid these possible complications.

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