On March 15, the federal government plans to announce its first grants for studying human embryonic stem cells, which can form almost any type of human cell. In theory, stem cells could treat or even cure many gruesome diseases. The stakes are huge.
Stem cells can transform themselves into literally any cell in the body.
They could be more important to medicine than impact wrenches to a grease monkey. Once controlled and fathomed, stem cells could make drugs seem as antiquated as horseless carriages. Stem cells might simply replace them. Rather than giving insulin to diabetics, we'd give them new cells to make insulin as needed. To get more mileage from our motor metaphor, we would quit fixing leaky fuel-pump gaskets and simply bolt down a shiny new pump.