BRAINCAKEStem Cell Therapy
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can divide repeatedly and differentiate into specialised cells. Stem cell therapy uses them to replace cells that have been damaged or lost through disease or injury.
Stem cells for therapy can come from three main sources:
• embryonic stem cells, which are pluripotent
• adult stem cells, such as those in bone marrow, which are multipotent (they form only a limited range of cell types, such as blood cells)
• induced pluripotent stem cells, made by reprogramming adult body cells.
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Key terms in this lesson
- immunosuppressant drug
- A drug that reduces the activity of the immune system, used to prevent rejection of transplanted cells or organs.
More in Gene Expression
- Evidence for Cell Determination
- Development of an Organism
- Epigenetic Control of Development
- Epigenetic Control of Gene Expression
- Therapeutic Cloning
- Gene Editing
- Potential Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy
- Pitfalls of Stem Cell Therapy
All 39 lessons in Gene Expression · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics