| This article discusses the following
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| | cell, adult stem cells can only reproduce
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| topics in question format on stem cells:
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| | cells of their type. If they are muscle
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| What are stem cells?
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| | cells, they can be used to reproduce only
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| How are stem cells obtained?
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| | muscle cells. However, recent work has
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| What other potential stem cell sources
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| | indicated that some adult stem cells may
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| are there?
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| | be able to differentiate into other cell
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| Why are we and special groups interested
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| | types.
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| in stem cells?
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| | Why are we and special groups interested
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| What are the goals of stem cell research?
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| | in stem cells?
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| How will stem cells affect our future?
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| | Because stem cells can differentiate,
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| If you are deeply interested in stem
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| | that is, can be used to reproduce other
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| cells for the first time and want to go
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| | cell types, they have tremendous
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| beyond this article, go to the National
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| | potential for solving many human health
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| Institute site and read their very
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| | problems.
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| comprehensive list of frequently answered
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| | Some groups do not want scientist to take
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| questions (FAQs). The URL is
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| | human embryos for research in any way
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| If you are deeply interested in stem cell
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| | whatsoever. Because of this, President
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| research, go to:
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| | Bush restricted stem cell research to
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| What are stem cells?
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| | existing stem cell sources. Other
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| The question should be phrased in terms
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| | governments have stayed out of the
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| of embryonic stem cells because that is
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| | research arena and stem cells are
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| what we are talking about here.
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| | collected at the whims of the scientist.
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| A human embryo is obtained when a woman's
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| | Scientists argue that excess stem cells
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| egg is fertilized by a man's sperm. This
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| | are produced in fertility clinics and
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| occurs in the human body but it can also
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| | that they should be used to benefit
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| be done in a laboratory. The procedure is
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| | mankind.
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| often used in cases of infertility.
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| | So, what do you think?
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| I have three grandchildren formed in this
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| | What are the goals of stem cell research?
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| way. Their mother donated eggs, their
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| | First, scientists want to understand
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| father donated sperm, and the technicians
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| | differentiation. We all know that the
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| watched the fertilization take place
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| | human embryo creates all the cell types
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| under a microscope. The fertilized eggs
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| | in the human body. Scientists want to
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| were placed in the mother and she gave
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| | know how and when genes turn on and off
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| birth to triplets.
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| | to create a particular cell type.
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| If embryos formed in this way are not
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| | Abnormal cell divisions cause birth
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| placed in the mother they can be and are
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| | defects and cancer. Scientists want to
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| used for medical research. Often extra
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| | know what signals a change in the process
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| fertilized eggs are produced during this
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| | of cell development. This could lead to
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| process. Scientist would like to harvest
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| | cures for cancer and birth defects.
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| these extra eggs rather than discard
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| | Stem cells could be used to test new
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| them. They could then use them to obtain
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| | drugs rather than human guinea pigs and
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| stem cells.
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| | animals. Damage to the stem cells would
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| Stem cells are never obtained from
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| | eliminate the drug before it could do
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| fertilized eggs that reside in a woman's
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| | damage in the market place, as so many
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| body.
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| | drugs do now.
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| The embryos obtained after they are a few
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| | I would like to quote directly at this
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| days old are in the form of a mass of
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| | point: Perhaps the most important
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| cells called a blastocyst; the embryo of
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| | potential application of human stem cells
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| about 150 cells. The blastocyst consists
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| | is the generation of cells and tissues
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| of a sphere made up of an outer layer of
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| | that could be used for Cell-based
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| cells (the trophectoderm), a fluid-filled
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| | therapies-treatment in which stem cells
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| cavity (the blastocoel), and a cluster of
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| | are induced to differentiate into the
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| cells on the interior (the inner cell
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| | specific cell type required to repair
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| mass).
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| | damaged or depleted adult cell
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| How are stem cells obtained?
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| | populations or tissues.
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| Cell cultures are grown in the laboratory
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| | Today, donated organs and tissues are
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| by transferring the inner cell mass of
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| | often used to replace ailing or destroyed
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| about 30 cells into a culture dish which
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| | tissue, but the need for transplantable
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| has a nutrient broth. The cells quickly
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| | tissues and organs far outweighs the
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| multiply and fill the dish. They are then
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| | available supply. Stem cells, directed to
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| transferred to other culture dishes and
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| | differentiate into specific cell types,
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| the process goes on for months.
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| | offer the possibility of a renewable
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| Once the cells are obtained they can be
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| | source of replacement cells and tissues
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| frozen and shipped to other laboratories.
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| | to treat diseases including Parkinson's
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| What other potential stem cell sources
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| | and Alzheimer's diseases, spinal cord
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| are there?
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| | injury, stroke, burns, heart disease,
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| Adult stem cells are a potential source.
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| | diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid
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| They can be used to reproduce cell of
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| | arthritis.
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| their type. That is, while embryonic stem
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| | How will stem cells affect our future?
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| cells can differentiate into any type of
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| | Have you heard of the Fountain of Youth?
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