Introduction To Embryonic Stem Cell Research

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SFGate provides a good introduction to embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and their use in research: "the isolation of ESCs has opened up a rich variety of research opportunities. Among these are: the study of how cells assume their fate as part of one tissue or another; the exploration of birth defects and inherited disease; research on the origins of cancer; and the search for new therapies for numerous diseases. ... The passage of Prop. 71 has created the opportunity for California to proceed on human stem-cell research with unprecedented vigor. It is imperative that the opportunity be pursued with integrity and rigor. We are almost certainly going to be imitated. We should set a peerless example."

Link: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/12/27/EDGD99EPJ61.DTL