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Research

Stem Cells—Explained and Explored

Basics of Stem Cell Science

The more you know, the better the debate

The technical, ethical and emotional national dialogue over stem cell research can be confusing and even contradictory at times. Before making choices on these issues, it is crucial for policymakers, opinion leaders and the public to obtain a solid grounding in the scientific facts.

View an interactive tutorial on the basics of stem cells. Topics include:

Tutorials from other sources

(The following PDF files can be viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader.) 

Multimedia

University of Utah
Stem Cells in the Spotlight, for teachers and students

Boston Globe
Pulitzer Prize-winning series on stem cells by science writer Gareth Cook

NOVA | Science Now | Stem Cells
A 15-minute video segment and other background about the science of stem cells.

NPR | Talk of the Nation - Science Friday
One-hour audio recording of a February 17, 2006 program featuring U-M's Sean Morrison, with Leonard Zon from Harvard Medical School, Lawrence Goldstein from UC-San Diego, and Laurie Zoloth from Northwestern University. Page also includes a timeline of Stem Cell developments.

NPR | Fresh Air
Audio recording of a February 14, 2006 program featuring Stanford University researcher and author Christopher Thomas Scott talking about his new book "Stem Cell Now." This page also features a printed excerpt of the book.

NPR | Justice Talking
Audio recording of a January 11, 2005 program in which stem cell research was debated by Daniel Callahan of the Hastings Foundation and Michael Manganiello of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.

The Jack Lessenbury Show on WUOM radio
Audio recording of October 6, 2005 program featuring Sean Morrison of the U-M Center for Stem Cell Biology, Howard Brody M.D., professor of ethics at Michigan State University, and Andrew Meisner, a Michigan state representative.

Other Links of Interest

PRIMERS

National Institutes of Health
Guidelines, tutorials, updates on stem cell activity throughout the institutes.

ISSCR – International Society for Stem Cell Research

University of  Wisconsin Why Files
Introduction to Stem Cells

POLICY

National Academy of Sciences
Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research (2005)
Read online or order print copy.

Coaltion for the Advancement of Medical Research
Links list of position statements by dozens of members of the organization, including the American Diabetes Association, Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation and many leading universities.

RESEARCH

U-M center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, directed by K. Sue O’Shea

Center for Stem Cell Biology at the Life Sciences Institute, Sean J. Morrison

Jose Cibelli at Michigan State University  

neurons

Images: Bio-Artography