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Stem Cell Term Paper

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Submitted By ncousar
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An Analysis of the
Emerging U.S Stem Cell Industry
Management of Technology - MGMT 620 (EMBA)
Professor – Dr. Gopalakrishnan

Norman Cousar
Draft Version 3
December 16, 2011

Due to previous government regulations, US companies have not used embryos for stem cell research, and international companies have gained a first mover advantage in commercializing stem cell treatments and therapies.
The use of stem cells has opened up a new field called regenerative medicine or cell therapy, which replaces damaged or diseased cells that are in the body with new ones. Stem cells have the ability to develop into many different cell types within the body during the early life and growth cycle. Stem cells repair internal system, by dividing and replenishing other cells. They distinguish themselves by being unspecialized cells, renewing themselves through cell division and under certain physiologic conditions, be chemically induced to become tissue or organ-specific cells with particular functions.

There are several different types of Stem Cells: Embryonic Stem Cells (hES), which are derived from embryos, mostly from eggs fertilized in vitro and donated for research with the donor’s permission. Adult Stem Cells (hES), are undifferentiated cells found among differentiated cells in tissue and organs, which can differentiate themselves to yield some or all of the major specialized cell types of that tissue or organ. iPSC Stem Cells: Are also adult cells, genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem-cell like state and forced to express genes and factors to define the properties of the embryonic stem cells.

Stem Cell applications can be classified into several categories, one is research: research in developmental Biology, which are models of human disease constrained by animal and cell cultures. Two is transplantation, three, is gene therapy and development of

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