10.3 Stem Cell Therapy

. Stem Cell Therapy Stem cells are undifferentiated cells found in most of the multi cellular animals. These cells maintain their undifferentiated state even after undergoing numerous mitotic divisions. Stem cell research has the potential to revolutionize the future of medicine with the ability to regenerate damaged and diseased organs. Stem cells are capable of self renewal and exhibit ‘cellular potency’. Stem cells can Bacterium carrying plasmid with cloned normal human ADA gene Genetically disabled retrovirus T cells with disabled ADA gene isolated from SCID patient Cloned ADA gene is incorporated into virus Genetically altered cells are reimplanted to produce ADA Cells are grown in culture to ensure ADA gene is active Retrovirus infects T cells, transfer ADA gene to cells