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Human embryos in medical research (view source)
Revision as of 14:34, April 26, 2007
, 14:34, April 26, 2007no edit summary
'''Embryonic stem cell''' research is the utilization of [[stem cells|stem cells]] from [[embyro]]s which can then be grown laboratory culture and produce specialized cells supposedly to treat [[disease]]s or used for research purposes. A common source of such cells is discarded embryos at [[fertility clinic]]s. The use of embryonic stem cells in medicine has met with some controversy, particularly from the [[pro-life]] movement that is concerned about the destruction of embryos that they believe constitute human lives.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/29/AR2005072900158.html</ref>
'''Embryonic stem cell''' research is the utilization of [[stem cells|stem cells]] from [[embyro]]s which can then be grown in a laboratory culture and produce specialized cells supposedly to treat [[disease]]s or used for research purposes. A common source of such cells is discarded embryos at [[fertility clinic]]s. The use of embryonic stem cells in medicine has met with some controversy, particularly from the [[pro-life]] movement that is concerned about the destruction of embryos that they believe constitute human life.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/29/AR2005072900158.html</ref>
Adult stem cell research is similar except it does not use or destroyed embryos, and instead is based on stem cells that can be taken from adults. These cells so far have proven less potent than those harvested from discarded embryos, but they do not raise the associated [[ethics|ethical]] dillemas.<ref>http://www.isscr.org/science/faq.htm</ref>
Adult stem cell research is similar except it does not use destroyed embryos, and instead is based on stem cells that can be taken from adults. These cells are less versatile than those harvested from discarded embryos, but they do not raise the associated [[ethics|ethical]] dilemas.<ref>http://www.isscr.org/science/faq.htm</ref>
The primary reason for wanting to use embryonic stem cells is that they are capable of producing any type tissue in the body. Thus, theoretically, a stem cell could be used to generate a new liver, or that same cell could be used to generate brain tissue. The failure of this argument lies in the fact that no one knows how to control the cell and make it create the desired tissue. Thus it becomes hit or miss, and there is a tendency for stem cells to create "monsters" commonly found in humans and called "teratomas". These mostly consist of hair and teeth. Only when "control" of the cells can be estabalished can there be reliable use of any kind of stem cell. If and when that "control" is established, it would make more sense to use adult stem cells from a persons own body so there would be no problem with foreign body DNA.
== Arguments for and Against Embryonic Stem Cell Research ==
== Arguments for and Against Embryonic Stem Cell Research ==