The stem cells are then encouraged to grow into whatever tissue or organ is needed to treat the patient. Stem cells are a unique form of human cell that can theoretically develop into many organs or body parts of the body. The end result is not a human being, rather a replacement organ, or piece of nerve tissue, or quantity of skin. Because the stem cells have come from a cloned embryo they are an identical genetic match to the person, which means they could then be used in transplant procedures or for treatments of that person, without fear of tissue rejection, which is a common problem of transplant procedures. .
The reason therapeutic cloning is so unique and phenomenal is that it would allow the creation of a perfect match tissue for patients. At the moment, if you have a transplant, your body will try to reject the donated cells because it sees them as foreign. Doctors discourage this immune response by prescribing powerful anti-rejection drugs that patients must take for life. Although the cells created through therapeutic cloning would not have this problem, they would be derived from the patient and the immune system would recognise the cells as the body's own. .
How is it currently being used?.
Therapeutic cloning may one day revolutionise medical treatment in respect to damaged tissues and organs. At present, one human organ, skin, can be grown in the laboratory to provide self-compatible skin grafts for burn's victims. The possibility of growing other self-compatible cells, such as nerve cells for patients with spinal injuries or muscle cells for heart attack victims etc, could one day be a reality, albeit within an unknown timeframe. Although this new medical technology provides us the opportunity to do some amazing things and save countless numbers of people whom never before could be saved. It also presents us with some grave economical, moral and religious dilemmas, and therefore the research into this procedure is not currently being conducted to its fullest potential until these issues are resolved.
