Question

Stem cells may prove useful in the treatment of Type 1 diabetes because

A) they form enzymes that remove excess glucose from the body.
B) they help the body to breakdown glucose into a simpler form.
Eliminate
C) they can be differentiated to form insulin-producing cells.
D) they can be differentiated into cells that can be used to make a new liver.

Answer 1

Stem cells could be used to treat Type 1 diabetes by differentiating them into insulin-producing cells, offering a potential alternative to insulin injections, and addressing the shortage of donor cells. So the correcct option is C.

Step-by-step explanation:

Stem cells may prove useful in the treatment of Type 1 diabetes because they can be differentiated to form insulin-producing cells. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the pancreas's inability to produce sufficient insulin, a hormone vital for regulating blood sugar levels. Stem cells, thanks to their capability to divide and specialize, can potentially be induced to become pancreatic islet cells, which are responsible for insulin production. This form of cell-based therapy offers a hopeful alternative to conventional treatments and could address the shortage of donor cells available for transplant. However, the therapeutic use of stem cells faces challenges, including immune rejection and ethical considerations surrounding embryonic stem cell research.

Answer 2

The answer is C) they can be differentiated to form insulin-producing cells.

Diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar level. In normal condition, insulin secreted from pancreas maintain blood sugar level by decreasing it. In Type 1 diabetes beta cells of a pancreas which produce insulin are destroyed. Thus, if there is no enough insulin, the level of sugar in the blood remains high. Therefore, stem cells can be used as precursors of pancreatic cells in order to differentiate into insulin-producing cells. This would provide enough insulin to maintain blood sugar level.