You will soon start the first ever human study using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Why is this such a big deal? Stem cells can become any other type of cell, If we can use them to replace damaged cells it has huge implications for treating degenerative diseases. Trials of embryonic stem cells are under way, but their use can be ethically controversial, Often, too, patients need to take drugs to prevent their immune systems from rejecting this type of cell, Since iPS cells are made from a patient's own body, it removes the ethical issues as well as the need for immunosuppressant drugs.
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