Question
What are the issues surrounding different kinds of stem cells?

1. What are the characteristics of embryonic stem cells? Fetal stem cells? Autogenic stem cells? Allogenic stem cells?
2. What are the pros and cons of each, from a practical and from an ethical perspective?
3. What obstacles need to be overcome before adult stem cells can replace embryonic stem cells? (Or is that a conceivable future?)

Suggestions

• General background:
  
  Scientific American: The Stem Cell Challenge [ BIOTECHNOLOGY ]
  What hurdles stand between the promise of human stem cell therapies and real treatments in the clinic?
  
  NIH Stem Cell Information page: A wealth of information and links
   
• Suggested reading:
  Gorka Orive et al. Controversies over stem cell research. Trends in Biotechnology (2003) 21:109-112
   
• Survey scientific literature for articles on sources of stem cells.
  Try:
  
  • PubMed: Go to NCBI, click on PubMed
    
  • Web of Science: Go to VCU Library, click on W,
    then Web of Science
  • NIH Stem Cell Information page, click on Research Topics, then Scientific Literature
   
• Find and read a couple of articles. Note: Online journals often make their articles available only to subscribers... like VCU! For your best shot at getting an article:
  
  • Go to the VCU library web page
  • Click on E-journal (at right)
  • Find your favorite journal
   
• Surf the web (but beware!)

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