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Stem cells - Ethical issues - Coggle Diagram
Stem cells - Ethical issues
Adult stem cells
Stem cells are found in many organisms e.g bone marrow, the brain, skin muscle
Adult stem cells maintain and repair damaged tissue but can usually only make a small number of cell types
Embryonic Stem cells (ESC'S)
Occur in early development - 5-7 days old embryos
Their use in research is strongly critised as people believe it is unethical to kill embryos for their cells
Can turn into any type of cell
Stem cells from fetuses are almost as powerful and can be taken from the blood of the umbilical cords
Source of stem cells
Aborted foetus
5-10 weeks old fetus
stem cells isolated from tissues
have already started to specialise (Limited use)
Spare embryos from IVF
Embryos created in vitro can be used as a source of stem cells
Cloned embryos
Deliberately create embryos
remove cells from 5 days old ball of cells and discard embryo
Adult stem cells vs embryonic
(Adult benefits)
A patents own stem cells could be used to treat their own disease ---> avoiding immune rejections
Easier to control stem cells to develop into specific cell types ---> less risk of uncontrolled growth (Cancer)
Adult stem cells come from volunteers --> which is more ethically acceptiable