Biology Paper

The article I chose was from seattletimes.com, and was entitled "Study: Stem cells mutate." This article was about how, like ordinary cells, embryonic stem cells can develop genetic mutations over time. Contrary to what scientists once though, stem cells, though able to self-replenish, do not remain "ageless and perpetually unblemished." According to a study by an international team of scientists, stem cells can develop potentially harmful mutations over time. And if these mutated stem cells are transplanted for medical purposes, the patient could develop the mutations. Some of these mutations turn the ordinary cells into rapidly dividing cancer cells. In effect, the patient would most likely be getting more harm than help. One of the scientists in the group warned that these studies are still yet to be confirmed, but said that if they really do get mutations over time, this would place a time limit on their usefulness for therapeutic purposes. The group also states that stem cells taken from adults (whose retrieval does not involve destroying the human embryo) are also likely to have the same genetic mutations, though no studies have been conducted on this. This whole issue could place pressure on the President to loosen his restrictions on the use of federal money for stem cell research. The House of Representatives has already passed a bill of this nature, and the Senate is scheduled to make their decision later this fall.

This field of biology is cell biology, because it involves dealing with embryonic stem cells. It impacts the world because if people receive transplants with bad cells, they could develop mutations. The issue needs to be studied further to resolve the problems.

Bibliography

Weiss, Rick. "Study: Stem cells mutate." SeattleTimes.Com. 5, September, 2005.