What does this mean? What would be a good reasoning behind this.
Sometimes during therapeutic cloning stem cells have been mutated and then become rejected by the patients body.
One of the advantages of therapeutic cloning of skin or organs is that the stem cells come from the patient's own body. But, occasionally these cells may change or mutate, and the body will not accept them. In that case the patient's body rejects them. The cloning was a failure.
A patient’s body is less likely to reject an allograft if it comes from a close relative. Why do you think this is true?
The statement is referring to a situation in therapeutic cloning where stem cells are mutated and subsequently rejected by the patient's body. To understand why this happens, we need to delve into the process of therapeutic cloning and how the immune system functions.
Therapeutic cloning involves creating embryonic stem cells that are genetically identical to the patient. These stem cells can then be used for medical treatments or research purposes. However, during the cloning process, genetic mutations can sometimes occur, leading to altered stem cells.
When mutated stem cells are introduced into a patient's body, the immune system recognizes them as foreign invaders. The immune system plays a crucial role in defending the body against harmful substances, including bacteria, viruses, and abnormal cells. It does this by using specialized cells and proteins to identify and destroy foreign entities.
In the case of mutated stem cells, the immune system identifies them as different from the healthy cells in the body. It activates an immune response to eliminate these foreign cells, leading to rejection. This rejection can manifest in various ways, such as inflammation, tissue damage, or other adverse effects.
The reasoning behind this rejection is rooted in the immune system's ability to distinguish between the body's own cells (self) and foreign cells (non-self). This is primarily mediated by a group of proteins called human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), which are present on the surface of cells. HLAs serve as identification markers, allowing the immune system to recognize self from non-self.
Normally, when the immune system encounters cells displaying foreign HLAs, it triggers an immune response to eliminate them. In the context of mutated stem cells, the altered HLAs act as signals for the immune system to recognize these cells as non-self, leading to rejection.
It is important to note that this is a simplified explanation of a complex biological process. The specific reasons behind stem cell rejection can vary based on numerous factors, including the type and extent of genetic mutations, the immune system's response, and the overall health of the patient.