1. STEM CELL OVERVIEW
Stem Cells are primitive cells that are found in animals and humans.They have the capacity to:
- 1. Become another type of cell with a more specialized function such as a blood cell, muscle or nerve cell; or
- 2. Remain in their current stem cell state and replicate
Embryonic Stem Cells:
Embryonic stem cells are derived from the inner mass of an early stage human embryo that consists of 50 – 150 cells.ADVANTAGES
Believed to have the most differentiation potential
Highly proliferative Little risk of viral contamination
DISADVANTAGES
Ethical issues and religious objections due to destruction of human embryos Limited supply of embryos No clinical experience on humans May be difficult to “turn off’ replication of cells
