All About Stem Cells

By JK

. Scientists from all over the world are researching stem cells. A stem cell is a cell that can make exact copies of itself. It has the ability to make specialized cells for various tissues in the body like heart muscles and liver tissue  Scientist expect stem cell research will advance the curing of diseases like heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and cancer. Stem embryo cells were first isolated in 1981.  Since then scientists in every country have supported stem cell research. 

Following are some of the important events in stem cell research over the past two years.  In 2004 South Korean researchers created a process that uses fewer eggs to produce embryonic stem cells. They published two important papers in SCIENCE, an important scientific journal.   In 2005 the US created the Stem Cell Research Institute.  Also in 2005, some researchers in Pittsburgh alert SCIENCE (an important scientific journal) that there may be ethical problems in the landmark cloning paper published by South Korean scientist, Hwang’s paper.  The SCIENCE journal then retracted the papers Hwang submitted in 2004 and 2005. 

In July, 2006 President Bush vetoed a stem cell bill introduced in Congress. This action hurt American stem cell research.  Now they have to depend on private sources for money—unless supporters can override the President’s veto.

Sources: www.sciencecoalition.org and www.nih.org

 

Return to Home Page