• June 25, 2013

35. Is embryonic stem cell research ethical? (proposed — Bill)

Embry­on­ic stem cell research may offer rev­o­lu­tion­ary med­ical treat­ments because the embry­on­ic stem cell is the only cell we know of that can dif­fer­en­ti­ate itself into any oth­er type of cell, and can repli­cate itself indef­i­nite­ly. How­ev­er, embry­on­ic stem cell research is con­sid­ered con­tro­ver­sial because some con­sid­er that a blas­to­cyst (a fer­til­ized egg), from which embry­on­ic stem cells are obtained, is a human being.

One thought on “35. Is embryonic stem cell research ethical? (proposed — Bill)

  1. In fact, research method­ol­o­gy may have already made this dilem­ma redun­dant. It seems that oth­er kinds of stem cells can also be made to dif­fer­en­ti­ate. On a issue like this it is a good idea to note the year of research you hap­pen to be read­ing.

    A use­ful source for non-spe­cial­ists to keep track of what is hap­pen­ing in a wide range of research fields is Sci­ence Dai­ly at http://www.sciencedaily.com/

    Some rel­e­vant read­ing:

    1. Stem cell arti­cles from Sci­ence Dai­ly: http://www.sciencedaily.com/search/?keyword=stem+cells

    2. “The secret to run­ning repairs” http://www.theage.com.au/technology/sci-tech/the-secret-to-running-repairs-20130207-2e18h.html#ixzz2KG5XTpaT

    3. “Stem-cell tourists report lit­tle remorse” http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/health/stemcell-tourists-report-little-remorse-20130413-2hs7y.html

    4. “Why Most Pub­lished Research Find­ings Are False” http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.0020124

    5. “Could a hair­less African rodent be our secret weapon in the war on can­cer?” http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/the_mouse_trap/2011/11/naked_mole_rats_can_they_help_us_cure_cancer_.html

    6. “How to mend a bro­ken heart” http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/sci-tech/how-to-mend-a-broken-heart-20130130-2dkxl.html#ixzz2JVMSpaZp

    7. “Cloning break­through to gen­er­ate “tai­lor made” stem cells” http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/cloning-breakthrough-to-generate-tailor-made-stem-cells/story-e6frgcjx-1226643351425

    8. “Virus rebuilds heart’s own pace­mak­er in ani­mal tests” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20713986

Leave a Reply