A few days after fertilization, human embryos are taken and used as a blank slate for cells. These cells could turn into any of the 200 mature cell types in the body. They can also be used to study and treat diseases. Yet the point of these facts result in the use of human embryos, also destroying them. The scientist who started the stem cell research, Dr. James Thomson, used embryos that are going to be destroyed either way to see if he would get any results pertaining to helping others. Because the use of embryos were not encouraged, scientists wondered if they could create embryonic stem cells without the embryos. A group of researchers a few years ago, let by Dr. Thomson, found a way by adding four genes and the cell would reprogram back to its original state. But because it wasn't an upright procedure, there can still be some mishaps resulting in the fact that people would still need to use embryos for a bit longer to figure out the exact procedure in creating an embryonic stell cell without the embryo.
This deals with science concepts because stem cell research is breaking down embryos and cells until the scientist can reach the very main cell that makes things happen. Stem cell research goes under the category of biology since it pertains with the human body.
This is important because stem cell research is used to help people in trying to understand how to fix injuries. People keep up with stem cell research news since it is a very difficult procedure to do and it also kills the embryos causing people to not support its case.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/health/research/25cell.html?_r=1
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