Biomedical Technology

“Stem Cells: A Primer” National Institutes of Health. May 2000. Feb. 16 2002. Stix, Gary. “What Clones?” Scientific American 286 (Feb. 2002): 18.

Human Cloning Foundation. 13 Mar.2002 <http: //www.humancloning.org/benefits.htm>. Kahn, Dr. Jeff. Online chat ?Debate over ethics of stem cell research. ?10 Aug. 2001.

The Pursuit of Genetic Engineering Imagine a world where diabetes is effectively treated, where cancer has a cure, and where food is altered for higher quality and increased production. This “fantasy” world is on the brink of becoming a reality due to advances in genetic engineering and cloning. These medical innovations have the potential to revolutionize our lives in numerous ways. However, the fear of controversy and the fear of the “new” could hinder and possibly halt any progress that we are capable of making. There are concerns that society should carefully consider.

Other believe that an embryo is not a person and therefore research on an embryo is the same as research on any other group of cells. While private companies are not banned from using human embryos as a source of stem cells, the U.S. government is debating whether or not to fund such research with taxpayer funds. I believe that the federal government should fund stem cell research. Doctors now have three sources of stem cells available to them: bone marrow, mobilized bone marrow or peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood. Bone marrow has traditionally been used as a source of stem cells, but research is proving that cord blood may be an excellent alternative source.

"My Sister, My Clone." Time Magazine. 19 February 2001:  51. Reilly, Philip R.   Abraham Lincoln's DNA and Other Adventures in Genetics. Cold Spring Harbor, New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2000.

Stem cell research. Simple words that to some mean a lot more than a new potential scientific field. It is simply the creation or repair of another life form from an earlier form. Stem cells have the chance to change all that we know in the medical field as well as the potential to heal old wounds and heal damaged organs. This point causes much debate and anger of those opposed to stem cell research but they ultimately look at the process and not the form or result of it.

Nature April 2001: 622-625. Badge, Robin L. "The Future for Stem Cell Research." Nature Nov. 2001: 88-91.

New Scientist [online serial], 158.2129.Available http://newscientist.com/nsplus/insight/clone/faq.html Nash, Madeline J. (1998, February 9). The Case For Cloning [10 paragraphs]. Time.com [online serial], 151.5. Available http;//www.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/1998/ ........dom/980209/science.the_case_for_clo26.html National Bioethics Advisory Commission.

The Human Genome Project On the brink of the 21st century, genetics is paving the way into a brave, new world where the discoveries being made will bestow upon us tremendous powers and possibilities that are restricted only by our imaginations. Many things long considered "science fiction" are well on their way to becoming reality. Advancements made by the Human Genome Project give us the ability to alter our own destinies along with those of our descendents. However, along with the benefits of increased control over our lives come the uncertainties: Will humankind choose to draw boundaries in regards to genetic choices? Where will those boundaries be?

Since I am a pre-med or pre-vet zoology major, Wilmut’s discovery has truly inspired me and has exposed me to the endless possibilities in genetic engineering and medical research. Ian Wilmut’s controversial discovery stunned the world by proving that cloning from an adult cell is possible and it opened doors to future cloning research. His dexterous discovery has shown potential for human cloning and supports the fact that Ian Wilmut is a master in the Logical-mathematical and Naturalist domain because of his scientific and genetic impact on the world. Ian Wilmut’s discovery is so significant and undoubtedly warrants him as a master in the scientific world as well as in the logical mathematical intelligence. In order to clone Dolly, Ian Wilmut invented an extremely complex process.