Understanding the Ethics and Opportunity of Scientific Research
Senior Fellow for Life Sciences
Stem cells remain a mystery to most people, even though the debate over stem cell research, treatments, ethics, and funding has led to legal, legislative, scientific, religious, and policy debates.
This publication offers a general overview of stem cells-their sources, practical uses and potential, and ethical problems. Stem cell research is a subject with which everyone should be familiar, because the path we choose for stem cells has profound implications for medical research, health care innovations, and public policy.
What is a stem cell?
A stem cell is an unspecialized cell capable of giving rise to a specialized cell of the body, such as a skin cell, a blood cell, a muscle cell, or a nerve cell. A stem cell is also capable of renewing itself, ensuring the pool of stem cells in the body is not depleted. Stem cells fall into three main categories that we will explore below:
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Dr. David Prentice is Senior Fellow for Life Sciences at Family Research Council and Adjunct Professor of Molecular Genetics, John Paul II Institute, Catholic University of America. He was formerly Professor of Life Sciences at Indiana State University, and Adjunct Professor of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine. He is a Founding Member of Do No Harm: The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics and an Advisory Board Member for the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity.
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