Stem Cells

Paper Summary:

This paper explains the potential benefits of stem cells result from the fact that they can transform themselves into literally any cell in the body, thus replacing the injured or damaged organs, which will render today's medicines obsolete. The author points out that there are formidable challenges to be overcome; the most serious is the 'ethical' opposition to stem cell research led by pro-life advocates who consider the use of embryos for creating stem cell lines as the killing of potential human beings. This has resulted in restriction of federal funding for stem cell research. The paper states that there are several formidable scientific barriers, such as the tendency of the immune systems to attack transplanted cells, which have to be crossed; therefore, the author believes that stem cell research deserves full support.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Types of Stem Cells
How Are Stem Cell Lines Created?
Sources of Stem Cells for Research Purposes
Fertility Clinics
Aborted Fetuses
Cloning
Made to Order
The Ethics of Stem Cell Research
Arguments Against Stem Cell Research Arguments for Stem Cell Research
Other Ethical Concerns
Issue of Federal Funding
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"One of the most dramatic breakthroughs in the history of biological research occurred in November 1998, when two independent teams of American researchers managed to isolate and grow a special kind of human cell called the stem cell. Until then, scientists had struggled long and hard to isolate the elusive cells but capturing them had proved difficult. One reason for this difficulty was that most stem cells only exist in their original form for a short time before turning into the various specialized cells of the body; the other was that the cells need a highly specialized environment to keep them alive outside the body. Other scientists had previously succeeded in culturing stem cells for only short periods; the 'breakthrough' accomplishment was that the pioneering scientists successfully created conditions under which the stem cells could replicate over time without specializing."

More papers on Stem Cells:

• Analytical Essay # 89513 : "Stem Cells"
• Research Proposal # 125790 : "Embryonic vs. Adult Stem Cells"
• Analytical Essay # 126427 : "The Use of Stem Cells"
• Research Paper # 110050 : "Stem Cells"

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