Promising Medical Applications for Embryonic Stem Cells Essay -- Explo

Promising Medical Applications for Embryonic Stem Cells Special cells that are taken from human embryos, called embryonic stem cells (ES cells), actually possess the power to save your life. The importance of embryonic stem cells rests in their lack of specialization. These basic cells are present in the earliest stages of developing embryos and are able to develop into virtually any type of cell and tissue in the body. Being self-renewing, they offer a potentially limitless source of cells and tissue. The versatility of these unique cells is what makes them so valuable and vital to human existence. These cells can serve many medical purposes and have the ability to benefit people in infinite ways. a. Joint replacement? There is great potential for stem cell use in joint repair and replacement as several recent studies have shown. For instance, a team of researchers at the University of Calgary used embryonic stem cells to create osteoblasts, or bone producing cells. The osteoblasts were generated in culture at a limited scale. The team cites the limited availability of embryonic stem cells as a major limiting factor to future studies. Most scientists are avoiding the ethical issues surrounding embryonic stem cell research by studying the potential uses of adult stem cells. In January of 2004, Dr. Michael Longaker of the Stanford University Medical Center and a team of doctors published their findings on bone replacement using adult stem cells in mice. They used adult stem cells derived from subcutaneous fat to create bone on premolded scaffolds. These bone structures were used to repair congenital craniofacial deformations in mouse subjects. An extension of this procedure to humans could result in monumental advanc... .... â€Å"Researchers Aim To Create â€Å"Living Glue† For Replacement Joints.† Stem Cell Research Foundation. September 2004. â€Å"Stem Cells Regenerate Injured Heart Muscle.† Stem Cell Research Foundation. August 2004. . â€Å"Stem cells therapy ‘may grow tissue’.† BBC News. 11 February, 2002. . â€Å"Stem Cell Research Targets Cerebral Palsy.† Stem Cell Research Foundation. August 2004. . Warren, Stephen M. MD; Nacamuli, Randall K. MD; Song, HanJoon M. MD; Longaker, Michael T. MD, FACS. â€Å"Tissue-Engineered Bone Using Mesenchymal Stem Cells and a Biodegradable Scaffold.† Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. January 2004: Vol. 15: 1.