Difference between revisions of "Human embryos in medical research"
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(→Arguments for and Against Embryonic Stem Cell Research: -- Nose cells don't replicate into a human being; you took it too far) |
(Trim. Took out all the parthenogenesis stuff as some of it looks questionable. Rewrote cancer section in more scientific terms. Took out whole 'for/against' thing, as this is already covered elsewhere) |
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| − | '''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 | + | '''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 to treat [[disease]]s or used for research purposes. The most common source of such cells is discarded embryos at [[fertility clinic]]s - the process of [[IVF]] typicially produces two or three 'leftover' embryos for each treatment, which are usually dicarded. 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 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> | 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, | + | The primary reason for wanting to use embryonic stem cells is that they are capable of producing any type of tissue in the body. Thus, theoretically, embryonic stem cell treatments offer far greater potential than adult cells - while both are capable of repairing some damage, embryonic cells could go so far as to replace entire organs. Conversely though, the greater flexability of embryonic cells also makes them more difficult to control. A major obsticle to their use in humans is a tendency to form tumors. Much research is being carried out to better understand the cellular processes which cause this. |
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== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 11:20, July 12, 2007
Embryonic stem cell research is the utilization of stem cells from embyros which can then be grown in a laboratory culture and produce specialized cells to treat diseases or used for research purposes. The most common source of such cells is discarded embryos at fertility clinics - the process of IVF typicially produces two or three 'leftover' embryos for each treatment, which are usually dicarded. 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.[1]
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 ethical dilemas.[2]
The primary reason for wanting to use embryonic stem cells is that they are capable of producing any type of tissue in the body. Thus, theoretically, embryonic stem cell treatments offer far greater potential than adult cells - while both are capable of repairing some damage, embryonic cells could go so far as to replace entire organs. Conversely though, the greater flexability of embryonic cells also makes them more difficult to control. A major obsticle to their use in humans is a tendency to form tumors. Much research is being carried out to better understand the cellular processes which cause this.
