Advantages of Cell Regeneration

Cell regeneration involves the growth of new cells to replace damaged cells. Although cell regeneration takes place in other animals, such as a lizard regrowing its tail, most cell regeneration in humans seemed impossible until recent decades. Scientific research has begun to challenge that belief; cell regeneration, with all of its advantages, may become a reality.

Eliminate Disease

• Destruction of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas as a result of autoimmune system malfunction signals the onset of type 1 diabetes. Without cell regeneration, the only remedy involves a transplant of cells. Cell regeneration offers an opportunity to restore the organ to its original condition. The cells in the pancreas display the ability to regenerate, according to the Diabetes Research Institute. Researchers face the problem of preventing the autoimmune system from destroying the regenerated cells. Research continues to move closer to solving this issue, as cell regeneration may offer the best option.

Regrow Skin

• Severely burned skin is treated with skin grafts from cadavers, donors or the burn victim's own skin. All these methods create problems with immune system rejection, tight skin, multiple operations and infections. Cell regeneration offers a new method that eliminates all these problems. Physicians remove a small patch of the patient's skin, treat it with a special enzyme and protein solution, then place it in a syringe with a nozzle. After treating the burn wound, the physician sprays the solution from the syringe over the wound. The skin cells take to the wound and grow new cells. The idea is to cover the burn wound with a new growth of regenerated skin cells.

Reverse Hearing Loss

• The current treatments for hearing loss include mechanical devices such as hearing aids and implants, neither of which restores fully the ability to hear. Regeneration of the hair cells in the inner ear offers the possibility to restore human hearing. Research in this area is based upon the discovery of birds' ability to regenerate hair cells. Scientists at the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center at the University of Washington and other locations focus on determining how birds regenerate hair cells and then apply this knowledge to human hearing. This research could lead to cell regeneration in humans.

Regrow Tissue

• Two areas of the body where cell regeneration offers great advantages are the heart and spinal cord. A spinal cord injury damages nerve cell tissues, and the corresponding scar tissue prevents cell regeneration. The cancer drug Taxol reportedly aids spinal cord nerve cell regeneration by allowing regrowth through scar tissue. For heart cells, Mayo Clinic reports that stem cells have regenerated heart tissue and repaired damage through cell regeneration.