Stem Cell Research

Been doing some research for the Stem Cell Paper and found this article that really interested me and has possibly inspired me to take the 'Stem Cells Being Used To Grow Organs' research route.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/8584443/Pigs-could-grow-human-organs-in-stem-cell-breakthrough.html

Essentially, it's an article explaining how stem cells from one species can be injected into another species and will then grow the organs of the species that the stem cells originally came from.

To begin with, scientists created genetically modified mouse embryos, designed to have an inability to produce their own organs.  These genetically modified embryos were then injected with the stem cells of rats, producing mice with the internal organs of a rat.

Scientists also tried this technique on mice that were unable to grow their own pancreas, and found that as the mice matured, they showed no signs of diabetes and had fully functional rat pancreas'.  And scientists are now travelling down the route of 'curing' diabetes, a previously controlled, but not curable condition.

This is of particular interest to me, because there could be the possibility of growing other vital organs, potentially saving patients and reducing transplant lists.

The current trend in the number of cases of diabetes, that are diagnosed, is significantly rising and the ability to be able to grow patients new organs could prevent the complications associated with diabetes, such as: Blindness, Heart Attacks and Heart Disease, Strokes, Kidney Failure, Blood Vessel Disease and Amputation of the Extremities (especially the feet) and Nerve Damage.  These problems are usually as a result of patients improperly treating themselves and research has shown that patients who manage their blood sugars at a normal level reduce their chances of developing such complications by almost 50%.  However, if these patients were offered a new pancreas, patients could lead a much more normal life and be free of complications, especially if the organ was grown from their own stem cells, as their body is less likely to reject the new organ.