http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2008/08/01/scientists_
report_a_breakthrough_in_stem_cell_production/

What i learned from the article

Because of the controversy when dealing with stem cell research, reaserchers have begun to figure out new ways of obtaining these cells without involing human eggs and hard to find adult stem cells. "Researchers at Harvard and Columbia have generated embryonic-like stem cells using skin samples from an elderly ALS patient." (http://www.boston.com/news) Thanks to this new discovery it will be easier for researchers to get a hold of stem cells, and will accelerate the speed at which they can experiment. This research will then hopefully lead to further advancements in the stem cell field. The rearch also helps scientits by allowing them to compare "diseased cells to normal cells in a Petri dish, scientists hope to better understand what causes disease and test new drugs." (http://www.boston.com/news)

Questions this article raised
When was this new method discovered?

What is the difference between these stem cells and other stem cells?

Is there a difference at all?

Can we use these cells the same way embryonic stem cells could be used?

Helpful definitions

Petri Dish

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/innovation/episode6_essay1.html

What i learned from the article

Controversy
There are three main kinds of stem cells, they are "embryonic stem cells, embryonic "fetal" germ cells, and adult stem cells" (PBS.org). The most commonly used types of stem cells are the embryonic and adult cells.Stem cells may be useful but many people disagree with the idea of using them to fix the human body. People that disagree with stem cell researchers question the ability to use stem cells safely. Others argue that the use of stem cells is unethical and the idea of using human stem cells to treat wounds should not be aloud. Stem cells may be capable of changing the medical field forever but some question if it is moral to go as far as using human embryonic stem cells to save lives.

Adult Stem Cells
Adult stem cells are unlabeled cells that are located throughout the adult body. The adult stem cells work the same as all other stem cells and can change into any desired cell. The reason why adult stem cells are not widely used is because they are hard to find and there are not very many of them in a body. There are many attempts being made to farm the cells. These cells are farmed in either the human body or a specially made cell culture.

Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem cells come from two different places. The cells are either taken from eggs left over from vitro fertilization, or are cloned using nuclear transfer.

Questions this article rose...
If the leftover eggs from vitro fertilization are donated to researches then why do people diasagree with the use of leftover or designated eggs?

What is unsafe about the use of stem cells?

why not just use nuclear transfer to avoid angering anyone?

Helpful definitions
Vitro fertilization

Moral

Cell culture

Ethical

http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/knights-code-of-chivalry.htm