Stem cells are undifferentiated cells — they can then divide and specialise into different cell types.

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Medical Uses of Stem Cells  

1. Treat diabetes (grow insulin-producing cells)  

2. Repair spinal injuries (regrow nerves)  

3. Therapeutic cloning:  

     ◦ Create embryo with patient’s DNA  

  ◦ Use this to grow replacement organs → no rejection as its patient’s own DNA 

 

Risks:

1. Possible viral infection

2. Ethical concerns

 

Plant Cloning (using meristems) has many uses:  

1. Grow identical copies of rare or high-value plants  

2. Protect endangered species  

3. Mass-produce disease-resistant crops