Medical Science
Wade Manske
Stem Cell Research
A Look Into the Future
Or
The Future of Controversy
What is a Stem Cell
• Stem Cell - cells that
have the ability to
divide for indefinite
periods in culture and
to give rise to
specialized cells
How do we get Stem Cells
• Through fertilization of an
egg and a sperm the
fertilized egg transforms
into totipotent cells.
• A totipotent cell has the
key to harvesting the stem
cells
• Totipotent cells have the
capacity to specialize into
membranes and tissues,
the embryo, and all post
embryonic tissues and
organs.
What are the Benefits of Stem
Cells
• Because stem cells have the capability of
transforming into any type of tissue or cell the
possibilities are endless.
• A stem cell can be transformed to bone cells to
help a person with bone cancer.
• It can be made into cardiovascular tissue to aid a
person with a failing heart
• It can be used on the nerves of a patient with a
spinal cord injury
http://play.rbn.com/?mda/mda/demand/stemcell.rm
How Stem Cells are Obtained
The Nations Decision
• President Bush made the decision to allow
for federal funding for research or existing
stem cells.
• In existence there are 60 stem cells in research
which are derived from human embryos
• However he has stopped the funding for
research on frozen embryos
• There are approximately 100,000 frozen cells in
fertility labs across the nation
What to do with Embryos
• One option is to donate extra embryos to
fertility clinics in order to provide couples
the opportunity to have children
• The other option is to donate the embryos to
stem cell researches
The Future
• With the worlds never ending advances
in technology and research the debate
of stem cells will be an issue that
continues to grow as long as there is
life. But with the ever advancing of
diseases and illnesses stem cell could
be the answer to a better life for all.
Works Cited
The Ethics of Stem Cell Research. MacDonald, Chris. Ethics Institute in Canada. 15
Oct. 2001. www.ethicsweb.ca
Stem Cells: A Primer. May 2000. Nation Institute of Health. 15 Oct. 2001. www.
nih.gov/news/stemcell/primer.htm.
Bush to allow limited stem cell funding. 10 Aug. 2001. CNN. 16 Oct 2001.
http://www.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/08/09/stem.cell.bush/index.html
Reaves, Jessica. “The Great Debate Over Stem Cell Research.” Time. 2 Sept. 2001: 41.