Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Lines

From a ball of cells, the Blastocyst: (Smaller than a grain of sand, Aged 5-6 days Intra-uterine Life) , Develop tissues, organs and the fetus whole! Stem-cells are pluripotent, Cultured in lab nutrient media; They heal disorders- inherited and degenerative; Doing wonders which drugs couldn’t do till now; They help in organ-transplant; Fill defects in bone; They cure Parkinson’s And Motor Neuron Disease; They form nervous tissue And Bone marrow transplants; Like Dolly, the cloned sheep, Their benefits will pay off some day. Getting them, using them Is unethical, some say; It leads to religious queries That none can ever answer; A matter of heated debate global, Hope springs too eternal; It offers miracles which Can’t be denied to man; Pumped is ‘big money’ into research on stem cell lines; Challenging, complex, all agree, It could cure many illnesses. Some states/nations have banned the work; Others have mellowed their stand; Few are going ‘full steam ahead’, Despite the controversies. It’s an exciting, tricky, promising Ambitious and murky field; The cells are ‘immortal’! But do they cause cancer? How safe are they? Who owns them? Who must fund? How to use? These are queries, Scientists must resolve; Yet, progress can’t come Without taking great risks; Courts will decide problems; Stem cells are a reality today! Copyright by Dr John Celes 11-25-2005