What is it?
Origins
"Uses" of...
Ethics and Morals
Role of Government
100
What is stem cell research?
Research on stem cells and their use in medicine.
100
True or false: Stem cells were discovered recently because scientists were trying to clone food.
False, stem cells can be traced back to two scientific discoveries.
100
What is the main use of stem cells today?
Discovering new medical treatments.
100
What is the big controversy of using stem cells?
Embryonic stem cells are obtained from early-stage embryos — a group of cells that forms at conception.
100
When did the U.S. Government begin to regulate stem cell research?
Weather or not the federal government provides funding for research using cells from developing humans began in the late 1980s. Since then, there have been many laws and acts put in place that either allow or prohibit certain forms of stem cell research.
200
True or false: There are only a few stem cells in both adults and embryos.
False. They have the potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. In addition, in many tissues they serve as a sort of internal repair system, dividing essentially without limit to replenish.
200
When were stem cells first researched? (Year)
1996
200
True or false: Stem cells researchers have found a cure for type 1 diabetes and there are no obstacles to overcome (human lives destroyed) to obtain the treatment.
False. Although there may be insight to a cure in the future, stem cell research has not proven to be effect as a cure. There are many problems when trying to find a cure for this specific disease such as: - immune system rejection - complex cell types in insulin-producing cells - wide variety of testing methods; inconsistent application and results both can harm an embryo.
200
If everyone is so fed-up with embryonic stem cell usge, why can't researchers just use adult stem cells instead?
Adult stem cells may not be as versatile and durable as embryonic stem cells are. Adult stem cells may not be able to be manipulated to produce all cell types, which limits how they can be used to treat diseases, and they don't seem to have the same ability to multiply that embryonic stem cells do.
200
What was the government's stance on embryonic stem cell research until 2001?
Congress prohibited funding for any research that harms an embryo- blocking all federal funding for the initial stem of stem cell research, where stem cells are extracted from embryos.
300
What are Adult Stem Cells?
An undifferentiated cell found among cells in a tissue or organ. It can renew itself, and the tissue or organ. They maintain and repaire the tissue in which they are found.
300
How were they first discovered?
Researchers in Scotland witnessed the birth of a lamb that was mistakenly created from an udder cell of an adult sheep. She was the first mammal cloned from an adult cell.
300
Does human cloning produce an actual human being?
No, it reproduces a new, artificial human intended to be virtually identical to the cloned subject. The clone is simply grown in a laboratory for a few days either implated in a surrogate mother, or destroyed for researchers to use its embroynic stem cells for more experiments.
300
Does a human embryo have the same intrinsic worth as a five-year old child or a 50-year old man?
Yes, every life is created equal, which is even stated in the Declaration of Independece. Not every person is the same and can be evalutated on the same scale, but humanity and the protection of it is a right for everyone.
300
What happened on August 9, 2001?
This is the day President George W. Bush made an announcement stating, "I have concluded that we should allow federal funds to be used for research on existing stem cell lines, where the life and death decision has already been made."
400
What are embryonic stem cells?
Stem cells that are derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized in-vitro.
400
When was the second significant discovery of stem cells made? (Year)
1998
400
Do stem cells have a promising future to cure heart disease in a way that will not harm any human lives?
No. Cardiovascular disease is a condition in which a disease kills cardiac muscle cells, which can lead to heart failure. Scientists have found out that bone marrow cells could potentially regenerate damaged heart tissue; but where does this bone marrow come from? 1. Endothelial progenitor cells (cells in the interior lining of blood vessels) 2. Umbilical cord blood cells
400
True or false: A method has developed in which embryonic stem cells can grow in a way that does not induce significant chromosomal abnormalities.
False. This is a problem with emryonic stem cells that is rarely mentioned.
400
True or False? Most Americans oppose embryonic research and cloning?
True. According to Richard M. Doerflinger, Deputy Director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, "Most Americans do not support federally funded research that requires destroying human embryos. Many of those who against us have false public statements and misrepresent what this research involves, while irresponsibly hyping its potential for miracle cures."
500
What are induced pluripotent stem cells?
They are adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell–like state by being forced to express genes and factors important for maintaining the defining properties of embryonic stem cells.
500
What was the second major scientific discovery of stem cells?
Researchers at the Univeristy of Wisconsin extracted stem cells from a human embryo and had kept the cells alive and growing in a petri dish.
500
Does embryonic stem cell research have a high potential to cure Alzheimer's Disease?
No, embryonic stem cells have a small chance of repairing Alzheimer's brians and other therapies for Alzheimer's will most likely appear sooner. Alzheimer's is a very complex disease that involves many nerve cells. Stem cells could help provide some insight to a cure, but will probably never produce a cure on their own.
500
Scientists used to manipulate and shape the world around us for the benefit of man; is it now okay to manipulate and shape man?
No. Technological advancements have skyrocketed since the scientific revolution, but we have taken advantage of to what extent we should use these new techonologies. Although there are many wonderful things that can come out of stem cells, it is not destroying a human life.
500
What is the difference between stem cell research in the U.S. compared to abroad?
Stem cell therapies offered in other countries are unregulated and not confirmed to work. Leaving the country to seek experimental treatments abroad is common because other countries are becoming more advanced in the field. In the United Kingdom, the bank will fund cell research that meets a set of ethical standards, which is making sure that the cells are carefully studied and grown to ensure they are scientifically useful before they are available for researchers.
M
e
n
u