Can Stem Cells Cause Harm in the Fight Against Disease?

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In summary, an article from Science magazine discusses the potential side-effects of stem cell cures, particularly in the case of a young doctor who underwent a stem cell transplant to treat his cancer. While stem cell research holds promise, there is a concern that using non-self stem cells could lead to a battle between the body's own cells and the newer stem cells. However, there are methods to generate genetically identical stem cells from a patient's own body, such as therapeutic cloning or reprogramming adult skin cells. These technologies are still in the experimental stage, but ongoing research is being conducted to make them applicable for therapeutic purposes.
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An article from Science magazine on the potential side-effects of stem cell cures:

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/07/stem-cell-transplant-helped-beat-back-young-doctors-cancer-now-its-assaulting-his-body

A stem cell transplant helped beat back a young doctor's cancer. Now, it's assaulting his body

This is something I've not considered. Stem cell research is the next big thing but it seems we'll need to limit it to our own stem cells in order to avoid a battle for supremacy between the body and the newer stem cells.
 
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Luckily, there are means to generate genetically identical stem cells from a patient's body for potential therapeutic purposes – using therapeutic cloning to generate embryonic stem cells or reprograming adult skin cells into https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/Regenerative_Medicine/2006Chapter10.htm. Of course, these are still experimental technologies that still require much work before they can be applied in the clinic but that research is ongoing.
 
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1. What are stem cells?

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the potential to develop into various types of specialized cells in the body. They can also divide and replicate to produce more stem cells.

2. How are stem cells obtained?

Stem cells can be obtained from various sources, including embryonic tissue, bone marrow, and umbilical cord blood. They can also be generated in a laboratory through a process called induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) reprogramming.

3. What are the potential uses of stem cells?

Stem cells have the potential to treat a wide range of diseases and conditions, including Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and spinal cord injuries. They can also be used for tissue repair and regeneration.

4. What are the ethical concerns surrounding stem cell research?

One of the main ethical concerns surrounding stem cell research is the use of embryonic stem cells, which involves the destruction of human embryos. This raises ethical questions about the value of human life and the right to use embryos for scientific research.

5. What are the challenges facing stem cell research?

Stem cell research faces challenges such as the potential for rejection or immune responses when transplanted into a patient, as well as the risk of tumor formation if the cells are not properly controlled. There are also challenges in obtaining a sufficient number of high-quality stem cells for research and therapeutic purposes.

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