Stem Cell Controversy
Overview of the Current Debate
Although most cells within an animal or human being are committed to fulfilling a single function in an organ like the skin or heart, a unique and important set of cells exists that is not so specialized. These "stem cells" — cells that retain the ability to become many or all of the different cell types in the body — play a critical role in repairing organs and body tissues throughout life. Although the term "stem cells" refers to these repair cells within an adult organism, a more fundamental variety of stem cells is found in the early-stage embryo. These…
