Name one medical condition that could be treated using heart cells created from an embryo.
How to approach this question
Think about conditions where the heart muscle is damaged and cannot function properly. How could new, healthy heart cells help in such a situation?
Full Answer
Heart failure / Heart attack / Damaged heart
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can develop into various specialised cell types. In this case, embryonic stem cells can be stimulated to differentiate into cardiac (heart) muscle cells. These new cells could then be used to treat conditions where the patient's own heart muscle is damaged and unable to repair itself, such as after a heart attack. The new cells could replace the damaged tissue, strengthening the heart and improving its ability to pump blood, thereby treating heart failure.
Common mistakes
✗ Naming a condition unrelated to the heart muscle, like a blocked artery (though this can cause a heart attack, the treatment here is replacing the muscle).
Expert