MadSci Network: General Biology |
-I am a graduate law student currently writing about the international regulation (generally and from a trade perspective) of therapeutic cloning. -Is my understanding of therapeutic cloning correct? This involves transplanting a patient’s DNA (nucleus of a body cell) into an unfertilized egg in order to grow stem cells, which have the ability to become any type of cell in the body. The nucleus of the egg cell is removed and after being shocked the egg will begin to divide so as to form an early stage embryo. This embryo will have the same DNA as the patient. Scientists can compel the stem cells to become the cells that they desire. -Now my question: Tumour cells have the ability to stimulate the growth of blood vessels. So could one possibly abuse these tumour cells for their ability to create new blood vessels so as to treat arteriosclerosis? Could therapeutic cloning engineer the artery cells so they contain this mechanism and thus grow new ones once current ones get blocked? What would be the implication for the blood circulatory system/body? -Question/answer applied to trade: If this technology would work, would a company produce a drug that allows the creation of new blood vessels on the basis of this mechanism or would the medical professional transplant these engineered cells? After all, this is done with bone marrow transplantation, i.e. blood stem cells. Could this ability to create new blood vessels also be reversed slightly so that maybe non-vital blood vessels are temporarily inactivated as opposed to allowing blood flow? This could be of use for surgeries in that only inner blood vessels have blood going through them. Many thanks for your very appreciated answer.
Re: Can therapeutic cloning grow new blood vessels to treat arteriosclerosis?
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