Opportunities in Stem Cell Research and Commercialization...

Full Title: Opportunities in Stem Cell Research and Commercialization: Technology advances, regulatory impact and key players

Executive Summary

Stem cell transplants are routinely used to treat patients with cancers and other disorders of the blood and the immune system and may hold the key to repairing or replacing tissue cells damaged in many devastating diseases. Thus, proven and potential clinical benefit underpins the vast interest in stem cell research. Stem cells have both the capacity to self-renew (by cell division) and differentiate into mature, specialized cells. Differentiation describes a process of development with an increase in the level of organisation or complexity of a cell, accompanied with a more specialized function. During differentiation, certain genes become activated and other genes become inactivated in an intricately regulated fashion. As a result, a differentiated cell develops specific structures and performs certain functions.

Pages: 207

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