Question
Imposed limitations on use of stem cell lines: What are they and why?

1. What limits are currently placed on the use of stem cell lines?
2. What benefits could be gained by allowing additional cell lines?
3. What objections may be raised to this change in policy?
4. How do you go about finding new cell lines?

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:
  
  Stem Cells: Scientific Progress and Future Research Directions, Appendix E: Stem Cell Markers.
  (Go to NIH Stem Cell Information page, click on Report on Stem Cells, click on Appendix E)
  
  Establishment of human embryonic stem cell-transfected clones carrying a marker for undifferentiated cells. Eiges et al. Current Biology (2001) 11:514-518.
   
• Survey scientific literature for articles on stem cell lines.
  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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