Embryonic Stem Cell

Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos and can be described as the master cells of the human body. Not only can they self-renew, they can develop into just about any type of cell, even in a fully grown body. In contrast, adult stem cells can renew, but can’t generate beyond their tissue types. For example, an adult heart cell cannot become a brain cell. While embryonic stem cell harvesting is controversial, the thought is that stem cell therapy offers significant potential for regenerating diseased or damaged tissues, offering hope for treating conditions such as Alzheimer’s, heart diseases or spinal cord injuries.

Thirteen Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Approved for Use in U.S.

During his campaign, President Obama pledged to remove the stem cell restrictions imposed by the Bush administration. Initial progress in this regard is underway as thirteen embryonic stem cell lines were approved for use by U.S. funded researchers yesterday. Human embryonic stem cells are controversial because the embryos are destroyed in the process of extraction. On the other hand, researchers and other advocates believe that the benefits to society--including the use in regenerative...

Glossary:

Regenerative Medicine

Embryonic Stem Cell