Q. In addition to potentially treating diseases, can stem cell research lead to new insights into disease?

A. Yes. If scientists can identify the genes that lead to the differentiation of a healthy stem cell, they will have an opportunity to identify genetic defects that sometimes appear instead. Examples include:

• Genetic defects that lead to some cancers and neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
  
• Genetic defects that impair the ability of pancreatic cells to produce insulin in people with diabetes.
  
• Genetic damage to sperm and egg cells that contributes to some cases of infertility and birth defects.

Research into the way neurons evolve and migrate to the brain's cortex is also expected to shed light on such developmental disorders as schizophrenia, epilepsy, learning disabilities and cerebral palsy.

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