Induced Pluripotent cells (IPS) are non-embryonic cells and can replace damaged cells in a person’s body and can act like embryonic cells, but this is a relatively new field of stem cell research. For example, cells can be taken from the nose (olfactory) as it reproduces very fast It was also explained that we can now make cells from a person’s own cells so that there is less chance of immune mismatch and less risk to the person’s immune system. Recent trials at Geron were stopped by the FDA when they found transplants were forming clusters in the spines of the animals they were testing. Millions of cells are used to help the neurons connect to each other and to repair the shredded network of nerves that traverse the spinal cord and carry the messages to the body, arms and legs.Įmbryonic cells are known to grow indefinitely and the downside here is that, if unmonitored, they can form growth cells in different parts of the body, like tumors, which are called teranomas. These cells can grow in every part of the body. Cells are extracted from these human embryos and encouraged to grow where they are transplanted by injection. ![]() Embryonic stem cells (each the size of a pinhead) are taken from embryos that are to be discarded in fertility clinics. While stem cell therapy is seen as having revolutionary possibilities for disease and for people who have spinal cord injury, peoples’ expectations are running high and it was often the topic of discussion when my son was in rehab.ĭr Munsie gave a concise yet thorough background to the nature of stem cells that are used in therapy. The main speakers were Professor Rasko, Dr Megan Munsie and Dr Mackay Simms, whose research work I had recently read Japanese workers have shown in 2006 that an adult cell could be genetically manipulated to turn on pleuripotent condition in the cell.I represented the Ben Kende Foundation at the Australian stem cell conference in August 2011 which took place in several venues around Australia (I attended the session held in Brisbane) ![]() ![]() Scientists are also studying potentiality of embryonic cells derived from amniotic fluid. Umbilical cord is a potential source of undifferentiated embryonic cells and hence companies have come up which store such tissues (=cord tissue banking) for future use: in case the person needs stem cell therapy for degenerative/genetic conditions. Such cells may improve motor activity of the patient with SCI, but extent of damage in SCI varies widely and thus results could be promising in one case but may not be so in others. It is important to note that spinal cord injuries are treated by multipotent cells collected from patient's own bone marrow (injected in injured spinal cord site) or by embryonic cells derived from umbilical cord tissue. So all aspects of stem cell research and therapy come under the purview of bioethics: it is important to strike a balance between demands of natural justice and aspiration of scientific achievement. Even then there are other unresolved issues, such as over-promising by doctors or over-expectations by patients. Though human cloning is banned almost in all countries, cloning for harvesting of stem cells used in therapeutic purpose is allowed in most. ![]()
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