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Stem Cell: 1. Use of Embryos For Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can develop into specialized cell types and serve as a repair system for the body. They have two key characteristics: they can renew themselves through cell division and can be induced to become specific cell types. Some ethical considerations around stem cell research include the use of embryos, mixing human and animal cells, and ensuring stem cell therapies are properly regulated by organizations like the FDA.

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37 views1 page

Stem Cell: 1. Use of Embryos For Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can develop into specialized cell types and serve as a repair system for the body. They have two key characteristics: they can renew themselves through cell division and can be induced to become specific cell types. Some ethical considerations around stem cell research include the use of embryos, mixing human and animal cells, and ensuring stem cell therapies are properly regulated by organizations like the FDA.

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Antonov Vodka
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Introduction

Cells in the body have specific purposes, but stem cells are cells that do not yet
have a specific role and can become almost any cell that is required.

Stem cell
- Undifferentiated cells that can turn into specific cells, as the body needs
them.
- Also show promise for treating some diseases that currently have no
cure.
- A cell with the unique ability to develop into specialised cell types in the
body.
- Serves as a repair system for the body

2 important characteristics of stem cells


1. They are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through
cell division, sometimes after long periods of inactivity.
2. Under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be
induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special
functions.

e. ethical considerations
1. Use of embryos for stem cells
- The argument against using embryonic stem cells is that it destroys a
human blastocyst, and the fertilized egg cannot develop into a person.
- Nowadays, researchers are looking for ways to create or use stem cells
that do not involve embryos.

2. Mixing humans and animals


- Stem cell research often involves inserting human cells into animals,
such as mice or rats. Some people argue that this could create an
organism that is part human.
- In some countries, it is illegal to produce embryonic stem cell lines. In the
United States, scientists can create or work with embryonic stem cell
lines, but it is illegal to use federal funds to research stem cell lines that
were created after August 2001.

3. Stem cell therapy and FDA regulation


- Some people are already offering "stem-cells therapies" for a range of
purposes, such as anti-aging treatments.
- However, most of these uses do not have approval from the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA). Some of them may be illegal, and some
can be dangerous.

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