Growing new organ tissue can help combat heart disease[GETTY]
Adult embryonic stem cells have been produced from which new tissue genetically identical to a patients own cells could be grown.
It theoretically makes it possible for human tissue and organs to be grown to order to combat a huge range of age-related illnesses.
These include heart problems, strokes, Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis and diabetes.
In theory you could use those stem cells to produce almost any kind of cell and give it back to a person as a therapy
Paul Knoepfler, stem cell expert
The breakthrough has also brought the prospect of a laboratory-made human clone which is outlawed in Britain a step closer.
A series of space-age experiments saw adult human skin cells turned into stem cells, a repair system for the body. In theory, they can be grown into any type of body tissue.
Renowned stem cell expert Paul Knoepfler, of the University of California, described the development as exciting, important and technically convincing. He added: In theory you could use those stem cells to produce almost any kind of cell and give it back to a person as a therapy.
The world-first tests were carried out at the Research Institute for Stem Cell Research at CHA Health Systems in Los Angeles.
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