Importance of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Breakthrough - Essay Example

However, the use of embryos arouses important ethical questions since most of these embryos are from humans. The discovery that it is possible to reprogram somatic cells to return to their earlier pluripotent state has, however, offered a way around some of these ethical concerns. These reprogrammed somatic cells are referred to as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) and they show remarkable similarities to embryonic stem cells. In addition, they also present a new and exciting research area, especially since it has the potential to transform fields such as regenerative medicine and developmental biology (Yildirim, 2013: p.16).

ES and iPS cells show remarkable similarities in that they are self-renewing, which means that they can divide and indefinitely produce other copies of themselves (Yildirim, 2013: p.42). Therefore, iPS cells can be used for the derivation of all types of specialized cells in the lab under conditions that are precisely controlled. Just like ES cells, iPS cells can aid in the understanding of how pluripotent cells develop into specialized cells and, in the future, they may provide unlimited supplies of tissues and cells to replace diseased ones in patients with diseases that are currently incurable. However, unlike ES cells, the generation of iPS cells is not dependent on cells from embryos created earlier (Yildirim, 2013: p.42). This means that the biggest barrier to stem cell research, i.e. the ethics of using live embryos for research, can be circumvented.

In the development of disease therapy, the most important step involves understanding the exact workings of the disease, as well as the exact aspects of bodily functions that go wrong. To do this, tissues and cells are required for study, especially those that are diseased. However, it is very difficult to obtain genuine cells from the brain of a Parkinson’s disease patient, particularly in the earlier stages during which the patient is unaware of their symptoms (Yildirim, 2013: p.47). By reprogramming somatic cells, researchers can now access numerous brain cells with Parkinson’s disease. This can be achieved by making iPS cells from the skin biopsies of patients and then using them in the lab to create brain cells by reprogramming. Because the brain cells will have a similar genetic makeup to the cells of the patient, the researcher can work directly with brain cells afflicted by Parkinson’s disease. This means that they can learn more about the cells and what goes wrong in their functions and why to result in Parkinson’s (Yildirim, 2013: p.47). Such types of disease models are also potentially useful in searching for new drugs and testing them to protect or treat patients at risk of getting Parkinson’s disease.

Induced pluripotent stem cells have great potential in cell replacement therapies and other similar medical applications. Because they can be created using the skin of a patient, they can also be utilized in growing specialized cells that are a perfect match for patients, reducing the likelihood that organs or tissues will be rejected by the patient’s immune system (Yildirim, 2013: p.51). Where patients suffer from genetic diseases, iPS cells in the lab can be corrected and used to produce a batch of healthy transplantable specialized cells specific to the patient.