Human Embryonic Stem Cell-lines

From a ball of cells,
the Blastocyst:
(Smaller than a grain of sand,
Aged 5-6 days Intra-uterine Life),
Develop tissues, organs
and the fetus whole!

Stem-cells are pluripotent,
Cultured in lab nutrient media;
They heal disorders-
inherited and degenerative;
Doing wonders which drugs
couldn’t do till now;

They help in organ-transplant;
Fill defects in bone;
They cure Parkinson’s
And Motor Neuron Disease;
They form nervous tissue
And Bone marrow transplants;
Like Dolly, the cloned sheep,
Their benefits will pay off some day.

Getting them, using them
Is unethical, some say;
It leads to religious queries
That none can ever answer;
A matter of heated debate global,
Hope springs too eternal;
It offers miracles which
Can’t be denied to man;

Pumped is ‘big money’
into research on stem cell lines;
Challenging, complex, all agree,
It could cure many illnesses.

Some states/nations have banned the work;
Others have mellowed their stand;
Few are going ‘full steam ahead’,
Despite the controversies.
It’s an exciting, tricky, promising
Ambitious and murky field;
The cells are ‘immortal’!
But do they cause cancer?

How safe are they?
Who owns them?
Who must fund?
How to use?
These are queries,
Scientists must resolve;

Yet, progress can’t come
Without taking great risks;
Courts will decide problems;
Stem cells are a reality
today!

Copyright by Dr John Celes 11-25-2005