3. Has no specific function Differentiates into different types of cells Turns into mature cells from all organs in the body 2 types of stem cells Non-embryonic (adult stem cells) From born human Found in blood, bone marrow, baby teeth, umbilical cord blood, placenta, brain, liver, fat Embryonic From early stages of embryo (4-5 days) Known as blastocyst

4. Classes of stem cells Totipotent Differentiate into any type of human cell Can form placenta cells Pluripotent Differentiate into any cell in the body, after birth Cannot form placenta cells Embryonic stem cells Multipotent Differentiate into small number of cells Adult stem cells http://www.kumc.edu/stemcell/images/background.jpg

5. From embryos Inner cell mass (ICM) is taken from a blastocyst Single Cell Embryo Biopsy Single cell taken from ICM of blastocyst Nuclear Transfer Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer(SCNT)/ Altered Nuclear Transfer (ANT) DNA of somatic cell transferred to egg Parthenotes Unfertilized eggs stimulated http://dels.nas.edu/bls/stemcells/images/Nuclear-Transfer- Download.JPG

6. Life begins at conception Immoral to create an embryo to be destroyed No guarantee that it will lead to cures May be rejected by body Generate tumours Create a demand for eggs Exploit women Adult stem cells can be used instead

7. Certain amount of time before embryo can be considered human Embryonic stem cells created in lab can not grow into a body Adult stem cells are not as easy to use Not as versatile Small quantities and difficult to isolate

8. Legality varies from country to country Canada Legal to create new lines from leftover embryos Nuclear transfer is illegal Research leading to human cloning or human-animal hybrids illegal

9. http://www.mbbnet.umn.edu/scmap/monitor.jpeg

10. Make "tailor made organs for patient Can create disease specific cells for cell therapy Understand normal cellular development Can treat many conditions Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers disease, ALS, Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal cord injuries, blindness, diabetes and many others

11. Alternate Methods for pluripotent stem cells. (2008, August 12). Retrieved December 10, 2008, from National Institutes of Health Web site: http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport/2006Chapter8.htmhttp://stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport/2006Chapter8.htm Altman, L. J. (2006). Bioethics: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Who Decides. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc. A World of Approaches to Stem Cells. (2005, July). Scientific American, Retrieved December 10, 2008, from Science Reference Center database. Barber, N. (Ed.). (2002). Encyclopedia of Ethics in Science and Technology. New York: Facts on File Inc. Black, L. (2006). The Stem Cell Debate. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc. Canada Moves Stem Cell Law. (2004, March 19). Retrieved December 9, 2008, from http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/303/5665/1745d http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/303/5665/1745d Des Cheres, E. (Ed.). (2007) Stem Cells. New York: Thomson Gale. FAQs [Stem Cell Information]. (2008, September 12). Retrieved December 14, 2008, from National Institutes of Health Web site http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/faqs.asphttp://stemcells.nih.gov/info/faqs.asp