Prathinav Allena

Induced pluripotent stem cells are a powerful therapeutic alternative to ESCs that do not overstep ethical boundaries

Started Nov. 24, 2021

Abstract or project description

Abstract: Stem cells are believed to show much promise in treating human diseases by the scientific community even though there are no cures have been realized, no major disease mechanisms have been uncovered, and no new drugs have been developed. For at least now, human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can only be attained by destroying live human embryos. This leads to a fascinating question of considering allowing the destruction of live human embryos in the hope of finding a cure for many diseases for the existing human population and at what point of development of an embryo do we deem it human. However, a viable alternative to ESCs with equal therapeutic potential exists which is the Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). IPSCs offer a new approach to regenerative medicine because they can provide personalized-medicine therapies that other technologies cannot and avoid the ethical conundrum that surrounds ESCs.Recent work showed that the signaling pathways controlling pluripotency in IPSCs and ESCs are remarkably similar. Since embryonic stem cell research is very controversial and restricted, It is widely believed in the medical community that Induced Pluripotent Stem cells will be able to act as a viable replacement since IPSCs provide a unique approach to disease modeling and other medicine-related therapies areas without having any ethic issues. Induced pluripotent stem cells are derived from adult somatic cells and are reprogrammed through inducing genes and factors for their pluripotency. IPSCs also have a high replicative capability and can potentially regenerate all the tissues in the human body