Stem Cell Now Book Report

The book I read is Stem Cell Now by Christopher Thomas Scott. Published in 2006, this book gives a detailed history of stem cell research and the scientists who made it happen. Christopher Thomas Scott is the Executive Director of the Stem Cells in Society Program at Stanford University, and argues throughout Stem Cell Now for the continued research of both embryonic and adult stem cells. His personal biases are evident in his writing, however, I believe the integrity of his research and honest analysis of historical events surrounding stem cell research make this book worth reading. His intent in writing Stem Cell Now was to educate the common person without a scientific background about the importance of continued research into stem cells.

Until this point, artificial conditions usually caused cells to divide incompletely, or not at all. This could result in an abnormal number of chromosomes, or it could affect the genes, causing the cell to age prematurely, change physical characteristics, or die. Thomson’s cell line was remarkable because the cells remained consistent in type and function, even after multiplying so many times in an artificial environment. To the scientific community, this meant that the cells and his methods could be used reliably in future

Embryonic stem cells could be used to generate new tissue and/or organs for transplantations without the side effects of anti-rejection drugs. Defective and dying tissues caused by diseases or injury could be replaced with a virtually unlimited supply of specially grown cells. New Drugs and therapies could be identified with the help of human stem cell cultures. Basically, this breakthrough in stem cell research could help millions of people in life-changing ways. However, these results came at a price. Human embryos were destroyed. The ensuing controversy rapidly escalated, with religious and political institutions arguing over the moral/ethical integrity of stem cell research. The controversy over embryonic stem cell research began in the 1970’s with the beginning of IVF.

Biomedical researchers wanted to use the spare embryos generated by the procedure, and argued that it was morally permissible because their research would hold the potential for life changing results. Opponents to stem cell research objected, arguing that the destruction of an embryo is morally equivalent to murder.

The result was a congressional ban prohibiting the use of government funds for research involving human