3a.     Mechanisms for Disease: Nuclear Transplantation, Embryonic Stem Cells, and the Potential for Cell Therapy describes in depth the trials and tribulations associated with reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning. The article discusses the reasons as to why reproductive cloning is not a highly successful process and therapeutic cloning, also known as nuclear transplantation therapy, is. Embryos developed during the reproductive cloning process are likely to die within the gestation process, or shortly thereafter birth, and are likely to have abnormalities. Therapeutic cloning only targets cell function, therefore an embryo is not needed. Therapeutic cloning also has no risk of immune rejection since the cells are genetically identical to that of the patient. Also, the embryonic stem cells created through therapeutic cloning “provide a renewable source of replacement tissue, allowing therapy to be repeated whenever needed” (Konrad Hochedlinger, Ph.D., and Rudolf Jaenisch, M.D.).

3b.     Before reading this article, I was turned off by the idea of cloning because all I knew was that scientists were replicating cells to create embryos, babies, for the purpose of therapy to others. It didn't seem right to create life, if it's only purpose was to improve the life of another. However, after learning more from this article I was relieved to learn that no embryos are actually being created - only cells/tissues to replace other cells/tissues. I think that this type of science is terrific and it blows my mind that we as humans are able to do this. It's exciting to think about the possibilities of this research perfecting in order to help so many people that are suffering. After doing a little bit more research I learned that cell therapy not only can help people awaiting organ transplants, but so much more. Cell therapy has the potential to treat things such as: macular degeneration, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

References: 

3a.     http://web.mit.edu/7.31/restricted/pdfs/Jaenisch_03_NEJM.pdf

3b.     https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/7.htm

Photo Reference:

https://www.medgadget.com/2018/11/global-stem-cell-therapy-market-latest-therapeutics-and-developments-comprehensive-research-insights-2018.html