Models of Human Disease that are Constrained by Current Animal and Cell Culture Models

Investigation of a number of human diseases is severely constrained by a lack of in vitro models. A number of pathogenic viruses including human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus grow only in human or chimpanzee cells. ES cells might provide cell and tissue types that will greatly accelerate investigation into these and other viral diseases. Current animal models of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease give only a very partial representation of the disease’s process.

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