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Ethical and social considerations of stem cell research

Nature volume 414, pages 129–131 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Much recent interest has focused on whether stem cell therapy could alleviate or even cure common degenerative diseases. This has been accompanied by debate on the ethics of destructive research on early human embryos. Stem cells derived from various sources raise different ethical issues, but their contribution to medical research could be immense. Any use of stem cells should be subject to appropriate scientific and ethical review.

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Figure 1: Multipotent bone-marrow stem cells form the precursors to various types of blood cell.
Figure 2: Tyrosine hydroxylase expression in dopaminergic neurons derived from mouse ES cells.
Figure 3: Somatic cell nuclear transfer.

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  1. Wellcome/CRC Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QR, UK

    Anne McLaren

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  1. Anne McLaren
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Correspondence to Anne McLaren.

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McLaren, A. Ethical and social considerations of stem cell research. Nature 414, 129–131 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35102194

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