Heathrow Nat. Food and Bev Inc. (fka HRNF)

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The Potential of Adult Stem Cell Research

Questions have been raised about the usefulness of adult stem cells in research and treatment, especially as compared to pluripotent stem cells derived from embryos or fetal tissue. Indeed, there is enormous potential for research using such cells. Human adult stem cells have been isolated from tissues such as blood, brain, intestine, skin, and muscle. Furthermore, some adult stem cells have been shown to be more "plastic" than first thought - that is, some of these stem cells appear to be capable of developing into different kinds of cells than first predicted.

There is, however, considerable evidence that adult stem cells may have limited potential compared to pluripotent stem cells derived from embryos or fetal tissue. Human adult stem cells have not yet been isolated from all cell and tissue types, and they have not been shown to be capable of developing into all of the different cell and tissue types of the body. Furthermore, adult stem cells are difficult to obtain, since they are often present in only minute quantities. They are difficult to isolate and purify, and their numbers appear to decrease with age. Moreover, adult stem cells may have more DNA damage, and they appear to have a shorter life span than pluripotent stem cells. For all of these reasons, and because of the enormous potential of stem cell approaches to research and treatment, it is vitally important that scientists study and compare both pluripotent and adult stem cells.

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/01fsstemcell.html