and then inserted into the patient. Cells used for this purpose are typically derived from early-stage embryos, masses of cells that have not yet differentiated that are left over from in vitro fertilization procedures performed by fertility clinics (Shuklenk and Ashcroft, 2000). Once cultured in a lab, early-stage embryo cells are immortal, meaning they can continue to produce new cells indefinitely (Coalition for the Advancement of Medicine, 2003). This reduces the need to utilize large numbers of embryos to produce the cells.
However, if cells from only a small number of embryos are used, there are problems with scaling up the use of the cells for research and treatment. For example, the embryonic cells currently in use in research laboratories and treatment facilities come from embryos of limited racial and genetic backgrounds. Therefore, results obtained from working with these cells may not be equally applicable to all races. Also, research looking into diseases more prevalent in certain races, such as sickle cell anemia, which is more characteristic o
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