Uses of Stem Cells
Biology: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 2.1.10
Uses of Stem Cells
Stem cells can be used for many different medical purposes:
Stem cell treatments
- Stem cells may be able to replace damaged cells in the body.
- For example, stem cells may replace the damaged cells that cause diabetes or paralysis.
- They can also be used to treat patients with burn injuries, arthritis and Parkinson's disease.
Therapeutic cloning
- Therapeutic cloning is a process that produces (creates) an embryo with the same genes as the patient.
- Stem cells taken from this embryo will have the same DNA as the patient. This means that the patient's body will not reject the stem cells or body cells made from the embryo's stem cells.
- This is ideal for use in stem cell medical treatments.
Test yourself on Uses of Stem Cells
How could stem cells be used to help treat diabetes or paralysis?
Stem cells are used in cloning. Why must we use stem cells, rather than normals cells, to clone an animal?
Therapeutic Cloning