Oct 02 2008
Special Harvard Commentary: The Potential of Stem Cells
Most diseases are caused by the death of healthy cells in a particular organ. For example, diabetes is caused by the death of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas (an organ that lies beneath the stomach); Parkinson’s disease is caused by the death of brain cells that produce a chemical called dopamine; and heart attacks cause the death of heart muscle cells. Almost all the organs in our bodies cannot, on their own, replace the cells that die (the liver is an exception). Nor have we discovered medicines that prompt our bodies to replace dead cells.Stem cells have the capability to replace cells that have died, in different organs. In mice, stem cells have in fact replaced dead cells, and cured the mice of particular diseases (including heart muscle damage). That is why there is such excitement about using stem cells for what is called “cell therapy.”
* The Basics of Stem Cells
* The Unique Capabilities of Stem Cells
* How Stem Cells Help Treat Human Diseases
* Making Embryonic Stem Cells
* The Ethical Debate Over Embryonic Stem Cells
