Potential Seen in Placental Stem Cells

Against a dictatorship of relativism correctly notes that stem cells derived from the human placenta would "be an ethically and morally legitimate alternative to embryonic stem cells." And, recent investigations suggest stem cells originating from the placenta have both scientific and therapeutic value:

University of Pittsburgh researchers have discovered that one type of cell in the human placenta has characteristics that are strikingly similar to embryonic stem cells in their ability to regenerate a wide variety of tissues.

The cells, called amniotic epithelial cells, potentially could be used to produce new liver cells to treat liver failure, or new pancreatic islet cells to cure diabetes or new neurons to treat Parkinson's disease.

Posted August 8, 2005 6:51 PM