Stem Cell Dialogues
A Philosophical and Scientific Inquiry Into Medical Frontiers
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About This Book
Stem cells and the emerging field of regenerative medicine are at the frontiers of modern medicine. These areas of scientific inquiry suggest that in the future, damaged tissue and organs might be repaired through personalized cell therapy as easily as the body repairs itself, revolutionizing the treatment of numerous diseases. Yet the use of stem cells is fraught with ethical and public policy dilemmas that challenge scientists, clinicians, the public health community, and people of good will everywhere. How shall we deal with these amazing biomedical advances, and how can we talk about potential breakthroughs with both moral and scientific intelligence?
This book provides an innovative look at these vexing issues through a series of innovative Socratic dialogues that elucidate key scientific and ethical points in an approachable manner. Addressing the cultural and value issues underlying stem cell research while also educating readers about stem cells' biological function and medical applications, Stem Cell Dialogues features fictional characters engaging in compelling inquiry and debate. Participants investigate the scientific, political, and socioethical dimensions of stem cell science using actual language, analysis, and arguments taken from scientific, philosophical, and popular literature. Each dialogue centers on a specific, recognizable topic, such as the policies implemented by the George W. Bush administration restricting the use of embryonic stem cells; the potential role of stem cells in personalized medicine; the ethics of cloning; and the sale of eggs and embryos. Additionally, speakers debate the use of stem cells to treat paralysis, diabetes, stroke effects, macular degeneration, and cancer. Educational, entertaining, and rigorously researched (with 300 references to scientific literature), Stem Cell Dialogues should be included in any effort to help the public understand the science, ethics, and policy concerns of this promising field.
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Table of contents
- CoverÂ
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- ContentsÂ
- Annotated Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Harnessing Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine
- Dialogue 1. Hope
- Dialogue 2. Why Is This Cell Different from Other Cells?
- Dialogue 3. The Presidentâs Stem Cells
- Dialogue 4. The Dickey-Wicker Enigma
- Dialogue 5. The Moral Status of Embryos
- Dialogue 6. Creating Good from Immoral Acts
- Dialogue 7. Circumventing Embryocide
- Dialogue 8. My Personalized Beta Cells for Diabetes
- Dialogue 9. Repairing Brain Cells in Stroke Victims
- Dialogue 10. Reversing Macular Degeneration
- Dialogue 11. My Stem Cells, My Cancer
- Dialogue 12. Reprogramming Cells
- Dialogue 13. My Personalized Disease Cells
- Dialogue 14. To Clone or Not to Clone: That Is the Question
- Dialogue 15. Patenting Human Embryonic Stem Cells Is Immoral and Illegal (in Europe)
- Dialogue 16. My Embryo Is Auctioned on the Internet
- Dialogue 17. Here Comes the Egg Man: Oocytes & Embryos.org
- Dialogue 18. Human-Animal Chimeras and Hybrids
- Dialogue 19. Stem Cell Tourism
- Dialogue 20. Social Media Meet Science Hype
- Dialogue 21. Feminism and the Commercialization of Human Eggs/Embryos
- Dialogue 22. Was My Birth Embryo Me?
- Dialogue 23. Embryos Without Ovaries
- Dialogue 24. How My Cells became Drugs
- Dialogue 25. A Clinical Trial for Paralysis Treatment
- Epilogue
- Notes
- Glossary
- Index