Why Does the Difference Matter?

Unlimited stem cells offer significantly more promise in curing diseases and injuries than many limited stem cells can.

Unlimited stem cells can develop into any kind of cell type or tissue and therefore have the potential to reverse numerous diseases and injuries. In addition, they can give scientists clues that will help them develop drugs that may help reverse or stop certain diseases.

Limited stem cells have been successfully used for some time now and still have great further therapeutic potential. However, limited stem cells can only be used to repair the types of organs or tissues from where they came, and not every organ has been shown to contain them (and they are often difficult to obtain.)

Also, unlimited stem cells can be replicated outside the body in a lab, so that they can ultimately help many patients, whereas limited stem cells cannot grow outside the body and have to be immediately frozen or transplanted into the patient.

How can stem cell research affect me?