By: Anant Naik
In November 1998, professor James Thompson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison isolated and cultured human stem cells, making a discovery that would revolutionize the future of genetics research and open a window to potential cures for diseases.
Stem cells — preliminary cells that have the ability to turn into other cells through a process called differentiation — are being used to study a plethora of diseases. For the past several years, scientists have explored how to use stem cells to treat both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.