Stem+Cell+Research

Stem Cell Google Doc
 * Stem Cell Research

What is it? - Relatively new technology that takes primitive human cells and develops them into most any of the 220 varieties of cells in the human body, including blood cells and brain cells. - Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.

Adult vs. Embryonic vs. Cord Blood Stem Cells: Embryonic stem cells can become all cell types of the body because they are pluripotent. Adult stem cells are generally limited to differentiating into different cell types of their tissue of origin. However, some evidence suggests that adult stem cell plasticity may exist, increasing the number of cell types a given adult stem cell can become.

Benefits/Uses: Human stem cells could also be used to test new drugs. • They can develop into any cell type in the body. • They can form unlimited quantities of any cell type in the body. • They will help us understand inherited diseases by allowing us to study human cells bearing the exact genetic defects that cause disease in patients. • They will allow us to discover safer and more effective drugs by making it easier to screen drug candidates Stem cells differ from other kinds of cells in the body. All stem cells—regardless of their source—have three general properties: they are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods; they are unspecialized; and they can give rise to specialized cell types. Success and Failures in Research/Case Studies: • Adult stem cells fully cured type 1 diabetes in mice, and rebuilt immune systems for Chron’s patient. Cured a man with a fatal skin disease.
 * Cures red blood cell diseases, white blood cell diseases, cancer, and repairs damaged tissue.

• Embryonic stem cells have no known effects, but have killed a patient in China where they used it in his brain, but they became hair and muscle cells and killed him.

When does life begin? -Life begins when the baby makin' ends -When the fetus is old enough to live without the mother

What are the current laws? Federal research is limited 64:1 existing stem cell lines that were derived with the informed consent of the donor

Any overview of the state of human stem cell research under the current federal funding policy must begin with a thorough understanding of that policy. This is not as simple as it may sound. From the moment of its first announcement, on August 9, 2001, the policy has been misunderstood (and at times misrepresented) by some among both its detractors and its advocates. Its moral foundation, its political context, its practical implications, and the most basic facts regarding the policy’s implementation have all been subjects of heated dispute and profound confusion.

What are the side effects?
 * Loosing weight can help reduce side effects.
 * Eating problems due to a lack of appetite, nausea, or a sore mouth due to ulcers or a fungal infection may require that the patient consume nutritional beverages.
 * A patient may experience diarrhea or a sore bottom following the stem cell transplant
 * bone marrow failure
 * Veno-Occlusive Disease (VOD) affects the liver and in some cases can be fatal.

Cost: the state of california took out 3 billion dollars to fund embryonic stem cell research in their state.

Where is it done within the United States? World? United States: Georgia, California, Wisconsin World: Sweden, Australia, India, Israel

Can it be used repeatedly?

How are they testing it? Geron's trial will involve 8 to 10 people with severe spinal cord injuries. The cells will be injected into the spinal cord at the injury site 7 to 14 days after the injuries occurs, because there is evidence the therapy will not work for much older injuries. The study is so-called Phase 1, aimed mainly at testing the safety of the therapy.

How long does the process take?

How many cells do you need? To treat, for example, the 17 million diabetes patients in the United States will require a minimum of 850 million to 1.7 billion human eggs. Collecting 10 eggs per donor will require a minimum of 85 to 170 million women. The total cost would be astronomical, at $100,000 to $200,000 for 50 to 100 human eggs per each patien

Why not use adult stem cells only? No one want to give up their stem cells, they'd never get any to research. What are the risks of using adult stem cells? Development of cancer, tumors, and heart disease.

Resources: http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/Genetics/embfet.htm [] http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2005/05/federal-stem-cell-research-what-taxpayers-should-know