Advantages of Adult Stem Cells in Stem Cell Therapy

Select reasons why adult stem cells might be better for use in stem cell therapy than embryonic stem cells

Option 1: Adult stem cells have higher differentiation potential.

Option 2: Adult stem cells are easier to isolate and less ethically controversial.

Option 3: Adult stem cells are pluripotent and can give rise to any cell type.

Option 4: Adult stem cells have greater self-renewal capacity.

Final answer: Adult stem cells might be preferred for stem cell therapy as they are easier to isolate, less ethically controversial, and have a greater self-renewal capacity. However, they do not possess the high differentiation potential or pluripotency of embryonic stem cells. Hence the correct option is (2, 4).

Explanation: The reasons why adult stem cells might be better for use in stem cell therapy than embryonic stem cells primarily include options 2 and 4. Option 2 states that adult stem cells are easier to isolate and less ethically controversial than embryonic stem cells. This is important because using adult stem cells bypasses the ethical issues of destroying potential life, as is the case with embryonic stem cells. Option 4 states that adult stem cells have greater self-renewal capacity; this aspect is advantageous in treating diseases requiring prolonged cell production. However, adult stem cells aren't pluripotent like embryonic cells (Option 3) and don't have a higher differentiation potential (Option 1); those traits characterize embryonic stem cells.