Embryonic stem cells
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Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells which are undifferentiated and therefore can differentiate into all the different cell types of the human body (Cohen, 2005; Stem, 2005). They can also be coached into differentiating into particular cell types, such as beating heart cells or insulin-producing cells under certain physiologic and experimental conditions. These two properties set them apart from other cells. Embryonic stem cells are obtained from a three- to five-day-old embryos, known as blastocysts. In 1998, it was announced that James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin had grown human embryonic stem cells in culture for the first time. The lab had produced embryonic stem cell lines which could propagate indefinitely in culture, where most cell types die off after a few generations. This held tremendous potential for research because it meant scientists could have a continuous supply of cells with exactly the same make up and characteristics to work with. A company was formed at the University and the cell lines were sold to scientists around the world. Embryonic stem cells could be used to produce cells which have ceased to function in the body, for example the insulin-secreting cells in diabetes, and the dopamine producing cells in Parkinson's disease (Stem, 2005). They can be used to screen new drugs and toxins, and to understand how birth defects occur. Stem cells can be used to determine how unspecialized cells can remain self-renewing for many y
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stem cell research outright, but has banned the use of federal funds for such research.
Most embryos used in stem cell research come from fertility clinics, with the permission of their donors (Cohen, 2005; Stem, 2005). Usually when couples use in vitro fertilization techniques, many more embryos are produced than are actually used and the rest remain frozen for some time and are then destroyed. Although most people do not see a problem in using these embryos for research which might save lives since they are going to be destroyed anyway, the Right-to-Life people and the Bush Administration object, saying it devalues life. Why they believe it is wrong to use these embryos for research but not wrong to destroy them is never explained. Funding for stem cell research in the United States comes from private sources, but the vacuum caused by a lack of federal funding has left the United States far behind the rest of the world in stem cell technology and research.
In 2004, California passed Proposition 71, allocating state funds for embryonic stem cell research (Cohen, 2005). Proposition 71 provides funds for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and the agency makes grants to train scientists and clinicians in st
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Approximate Word count = 1788
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
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