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Understanding stem cells and their functions is important not only to give
us a greater understanding of early human development, including the development
of birth defects, but also for our comprehension of medical diseases such
as cancer that have their origins in abnormalities of cell division and
cell differentiation.
Finally, the most exciting potential use to which stem cells could be
put would be in "cell therapy," treatment of disease by replacing
damaged or dead tissue with stem cells. Currently, we employ transplantation
of organs and tissues to replace those that are damaged, but the supply
of donor organs is limited. Some of the diseases that scientists speculate
might be treated with cell therapy include neurological diseases like
Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, stroke and spinal cord injury; both rheumatoid
and osteoarthritis; heart disease and diabetes. If successful, this regenerative
approach would reduce the need for organ and tissue transplants.
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