BRAINCAKEStem Cell Success
Although many stem cell treatments are still experimental, some are established and successful.
Bone marrow transplants
The most successful stem cell therapy is the transplant of bone marrow stem cells, which make all the types of blood cell. It has been used since the late 1960s to treat blood cancers such as leukaemia and lymphoma, and inherited disorders such as sickle cell disease and severe combined immunodeficiency. Blood from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby is another rich source of blood stem cells and can be stored for later use.
Skin and eyes
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Key terms in this lesson
- limbus
- The edge of the cornea, a source of stem cells used to restore damaged corneas.
- clinical trial
- A study that tests a new treatment's safety, dose and effectiveness on increasing numbers of patients, ideally against a control group.
- macular degeneration
- A condition in which the macula of the retina deteriorates, causing loss of central vision.
More in Gene Expression
- Diseases that Could Be Treated
- Type I Diabetes
- Damaged Nerves
- Organs for Transplants
- Ethical Questions
- Using Embryonic Stem Cells
- Advantages of Therapeutic Cloning
- Advantages of iPS Cells
All 39 lessons in Gene Expression · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics