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Spinal-Injury.net : Spinal Cord Injury Research / Cure
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Nov 2000:
"Scientists announced that they had restored movement to
paralysed mice by injecting stem cells into their spinal fluid"
Feb 2004: " Korean
Scientists claim to have cloned 30 human embryo's"
Aug 2004: "
British scientists get ok to clone human embryos"
Christopher Reeves
Interview about stem cell therapy
Other Interesting Cloning Viewpoints
(Ethical Debate)
Books:
Spinal Cord Injury -
Continence -
Emotional Support
Discuss Research/Cure on the
Message Boards
 There have been many advances recently in this field of
research. There is also much debate as to whether this may
ultimately yield a 'cure' for spinal cord injury. I personally
hope that this research will be successful in the future and
improve the lives of many people worldwide. There are also many
who object to this type of genetic research on moral grounds.
Below is a short guide about the main field of research 'Stem
Cell's' I'll leave you to make your own analysis. Quite often
periods of time like 5 years and ten years are mentioned for
when the research might lead to actual benefits to human
conditions and injuries. Whilst I like to believe that
this 'cure' will come in time I honestly think it is a very long
way off."
Cloning humans for stem cells:
There is a very important reason why we might want to
clone humans. It has nothing to do with producing babies.
Scientists have discovered that there are cells of unbelievable
power which could one day be used to cure a range of diseases,
produce new organs and rejuvenate almost any part of our body.
These cells are found in human embryos. This potentially could
work to help regrow spinal nerves in those with spinal cord
injury
What are stem cells? Embryonic stem cells are
nature’s way of making a human and have the ability to develop
into virtually every other cell type in the body. Very young
embryos have plenty of these special cells, which have not yet
differentiated into more specialised types like heart, brain and
nerve cells. ES cells first appear about a week after
fertilisation and they are the 'parents' of all the cells of the
adult body.
 What can embryonic stem cells be used
for? ES cells have amazing potential because they can
develop into any cell type, whether it is a new muscle cell
which contracts or a new nerve cell which conducts electrical
impulses. In animal experiments, stem cells placed inside
damaged areas of the body seem to 'know' where they are and turn
into new cells of the appropriate type. Scientists are
investigating their potential to treat a myriad of human
diseases including diabetes (a disease of the Pancreas),
Parkinson's (a brain disease) and spinal paralysis. Eventually
it might be possible to grow whole ‘spare part’ organs from
them.
Where do stem cells come from and why
might cloning be necessary? Embryonic stem cells have
to be harvested from early embryos. However, if you were ill, it
would be probably be safer to treat you with ES cells that were
genetically identical to you so that there was no chance of your
immune system rejecting them. In theory, these could be
harvested from an early embryo which was a cloned version of
you. This embryo would then be discarded.
The deliberate wastage of embryos is one reason therapeutic
cloning is controversial. On the other hand, the technique
offers such important live-saving treatments that its use is
considered justified by many people. Research into therapeutic
cloning is allowed in the UK, but it is illegal to put any
cloned human embryo into a womb. This is intended to prevent
anyone trying to create a living clone.
Where else could we get stem cells?
Adult stem cells: Stem cells
can also be found in adult bodies where they provide ongoing
maintenance and repair. Adult stem cells are said to be
partially differentiated - that is, they have made part of the
journey towards becoming a particular cell type. They
nevertheless show great flexibility - for example, turning from
brain into blood cells. Many people who are worried about
wasting embryos would much rather see the development of
treatments which use adult stem cells.
Stem cells from cord blood:
Another possibility is use stem cells in the blood collected
from a baby's umbilical cord just after birth. Some parents are
choosing to freeze and store this blood so their baby will be
able to call on a supply of its very own stem cells later in
life.
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