Developmental biology

There are many ethical arguments for and against stem cell research and therapy, regarding issues such as the types of cells, the sources and techniques of production, and use of them. There are few concerns about research on or therapeutic uses of adult stem cells. However, embryonic stem (ES) cells have been associated with serious ethical debates. The use of this new science and technology for human reproduction has prompted ethics and policy disputes around the world. There are studies done…

As the advancements in gene editing technology receive more funding and political backing from investors and the government, the question of where to draw the line when it comes to placing limitations on its usage, it brings up the age-old question,” Is this practice ethically sound”? The main fear that many people have with the idea of utilizing gene editing technology is the possibility misuse and abuse from both those within the scientific community and even from the public . For example,…

Would you insert harmful embryonic stem cells inside your newborn into treatments? The treatments may or may not function correctly. A cloning debate was established in the late 1998 which two scientific reports were published do to the success of isolating human stem cells. Embryos stem cells are able to adapt to many different function and activities than other stems cells. They are different and committed to a specific function than adult stem cells. A reminder about ES cell is that it can…

Fig. 3. Stages of ovarian development in female Q-fly. Stage 1 and 2 represent previtellogenesis development. Stage 3 marks the initiation of vitellogenesis, and Stage 4 indicates late vitellogenesis. Stage 5 ovarian follicles had mature eggs. Stages 1 and 2 are previtellogenic, while stages 3–4 represent the vitellogenic phase. Flies were assigned to stage 5 if the most advanced ovarian follicles had mature eggs. We did not observe stage 6, which is defined by a yellow residual follicular…

Introduction Planaria are a type of flatworms that possess a mammalian nervous system and the ability to regenerate skin cells. The flatworms are used in a variety of experiments, which include chemical responses and experiments upon the regeneration process. When combined with addictive drugs and chemicals, such as cocaine and ethanol, the planaria display paroxysms, motor effects, and c shaped movements (Tallarida et al 2014). The planaria demonstrate their applicability of their systems in…

There has been recent discovery that human limb regeneration will be coming sooner than expected. This idea may seem very abstract, but regeneration in general already occurs in the body. Nails and hair can be cut off and they will grow back.it is even possible for the end of a finger cut off will grow back if the nail plate is long enough, because under the nail plate there are stem cells. Scientists have found the exact gene that controls regeneration in rats and are able to activate it, but…

Stem cells are cells that have the ability to divide indefinitely in a culture and give rise to specialized cells. They can be harvested from human embryos and it is therein the controversy lies. The morality of the process is called into question because there is a divide between people who think that life begins at fertilization and people who think that life begins at birth. This paper will delve into the details of embryonic stem cell research as well as argue that, while some disagreement…

Scientists began to research and study stem cells when they found what they could do in salamanders; because salamanders have the ability to regenerate their tails after being ripped off, scientists thought that maybe the same regenerating tissue ( stem cells ) could be used in humans as well. This means injuries, such as fractures, can be fixed by placing these cells to the site of the injury. The stem cells build themselves up and fix the break by regeneration and multiplying; the damaged…

Stem cells have been around as early as 1868, but stem cell are often related to “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley and the book was published in 1818, 50-years before stem cells were thought of. In Frankenstein, Victor, a scientist, got body parts that he severed from grave digging in order to create the creature. When Victor was done shaping the creature he was “playing god” because he brought something to life without reproduction. Stem cells are also referred to “playing god”, or “cheating at…

Imagine a world cancer free, no diabetes and heart disease, a world without Parkinson’s disease. The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation estimates between 1-1.5 million Americans are affected with the disease. A stem cell by definition is a cell that upon division replaces its own numbers and gives rise to cells that differentiate further into one or more specialized types. Scientists use the cells obtained from embryos to conduct the research in finding possible cures for these diseases. Therein…