Stem Cells For Dummies
A balanced, plain-English guide to this politically charged topicThis friendly, practical guide cuts away the hype and clearly presents the facts on stem cells.  It explains what stem cells are and what they do, the legalities of harvesting them and using them in research, the latest research findings from the United States and abroad, and the prospects for medical stem cell therapies in the short and long term.Brushing up on biology — understand the basics of cells and tissues and take a guided tour of the history of stem cell researchDelving into stem cell science — get easy-to-follow explanations of embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and sources of stem cellsWhere we are now — dig into the current practices in stem cell treatments, trials, and transplantsThe possibilities are endless — discover how stem cells are projected to make medical advances in the understanding and improved treatment of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and moreUnderstanding the debate — explore the ethical, religious, philosophical, and moral questions related to stem cell research and get armed with the knowledge needed to take an informed stanceOpen the book and find:The current laws and policiesEthical, religious, and moral considerationsHow stem cells are being used to understand and treat specific diseasesSafety issues associated with stem cellsThe pros and cons of current treatmentsPromising leads for spinal cord injuriesUses for hybrid, chimera, clone, and cybrid cellsHow stem cell banking worksLearn to:Sort through straight, unbiased facts about the stem cell debateUnderstand what stem cells are and how they workAppreciate how stem cells are used in research and treatmentLook to the future to what's in store for stem cell research