There's nothing like the promise of eternal life to give a stock price a boost. Wired News delivered to your inbox or hand-held device. A stem cell can develop into a variety of other types of cells, such as those that form body organs and tissues.
Normal cells can only serve one function.
They will live forever. Thus far they are four to five times beyond their normal life span and they continue to grow in culture. Stem cells could be grown into heart muscle cells to repair damaged hearts, or create neurons to combat Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, or Alzheimer's disease, Okarma said. Cancer and diabetes might be treated, too. But analysts warned that it could be years before the research can lead to practical applications.