Part II-Definition of the Issue
A stem cell is a generic cell that can make exact copies of itself indefinitely. A stem cell has the ability to make specialized cells for various tissues in the body, such as heart muscle, brain tissue, and liver tissue. Stem cells can be saved and used later to make specialized cells, when needed. There are a couple of basic types of stem cells: Adult stem cells: these are not usually used for research because they are specific to certain cell types, such as blood, intestines, skin, and muscle. The term adult stem cell may be misleading because both children and adults have them(“Stem Cell Research”), and embryonic stem cells: these are taken from aborted fetuses or fertilized eggs that are left over from in vitro fertilization (IVF). They are useful for medical and research purposes because they can produce cells for almost every tissue in the body (“Stem Cell Research”). Then, stem cell are defined as cells with the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells(“Stem Cell Information”). Lastly, IVF stands for In vitro fertilization (IVF), a complex series of procedures used to treat fertility or genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child. During IVF, mature eggs are collected from your ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then the fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs are implanted in your uterus (“In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)”).
A stem cell is a generic cell that can make exact copies of itself indefinitely. A stem cell has the ability to make specialized cells for various tissues in the body, such as heart muscle, brain tissue, and liver tissue. Stem cells can be saved and used later to make specialized cells, when needed. There are a couple of basic types of stem cells: Adult stem cells: these are not usually used for research because they are specific to certain cell types, such as blood, intestines, skin, and muscle. The term adult stem cell may be misleading because both children and adults have them(“Stem Cell Research”), and embryonic stem cells: these are taken from aborted fetuses or fertilized eggs that are left over from in vitro fertilization (IVF). They are useful for medical and research purposes because they can produce cells for almost every tissue in the body (“Stem Cell Research”). Then, stem cell are defined as cells with the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells(“Stem Cell Information”). Lastly, IVF stands for In vitro fertilization (IVF), a complex series of procedures used to treat fertility or genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child. During IVF, mature eggs are collected from your ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then the fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs are implanted in your uterus (“In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)”).