The increased understanding of stem cells is one of the major breakthroughs in life sciences of the last decade.
Stem cells have particular properties that allow them to differentiate into various types of mature cells found in all vertebrate animals, including human beings.
This ability to divide into identical or different types of cells is a feature of stem cells that, surprisingly, allows them to repair the necessary tissues to treat deteriorating diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and diabetes, as well as damage caused by strokes, spinal cord injuries, bone diseases and birth defects such as heart failure or congenital blindness.
These cells are also considered as key research tools for gaining important scientific insight into embryonic development and evaluating in vitro drugs, such as anticarcinogens, for the treatment of diseases.
Stem cells, patenting