Running Head: Annotated Bibliography on Stem Cell Research

Annotated Bibliography on Stem Cell Research

An annotated bibliography of source materials pertaining to the alternatives and
controversy regarding stem cell research.

By
Bianka Cristina Bullon

University of Texas at El Paso

October 2016
Friedrich, M. (2000). Debating Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research. JAMA: Journal Of

Running Head: Annotated Bibliography on Stem Cell Research

The American Medical Association

Discusses the pros and cons of stem cell research with an emphasis on the ethical aspect of
it. Some of the advantages and disadvantages include cloning humans and rapid
advancement in the medical field. Also discusses the right of researchers to create and
destroy human embryos.
McCloskey, B. A. (2002). The Controversy Surrounding Stem Cell Research. Policy,
Politics & Nursing Practice, 3(1), 4.
Discusses the political debate involving the U.S. government funding for stem cell
research. Includes an overview of the controversy behind the issue and the political activity
surrounding the topic. There are arguments for and against human embryo derived stem cell
research. This article also discusses legislation governing stem cell research, and the role of
nursing in the policy of this type of research.
McGuckin, C. P., Forraz, N., Baradez, M., Navran, S., Zhao, J., Urban, R., & Denner, L.
(2005). Production of Stem Cells with Embryonic Characteristics from Human
Umbilical Cord Blood. Cell Proliferation, 38(4), 245-255.
This paper introduces embryonic stem cells as a scientific hindrance. It will take ages for it
to reach clinics since the production of such large quantities of tissue for transplantation is
not realistic. Adult stem cells (ADS) is a more ethically acceptable alternative, along with
cord-blood derived embryonic-like stem cells (CBEs). Umbilical cord blood is the largest
untouched stem cell source, with advantages of nave immune status and telomere length. It
is a viable alternative instead of embryonic stem cells, without the moral constraint and
with potential for clinical applications.
Robertson, J. A. (2010, Summer). Embryo Stem Cell Research: Ten Years of Controversy.
Law, Science, and Innovation: The Embryonic Stem Cell Controversy. Retrieved
October 8, 2016.
This article gives us an overview of 10 years of stem cell controversy. It reviews the moral
conflict that has made human embryonic stem cells so controversial, and how it plays out
legally. It also provides the history of federal funding debate for stem cell research from
Carter to the Obama administrations.
Schroth, L. J. (n.d.). Researchers Create Embryonic Stem Cells Without Embryo. Retrieved
October 16, 2016, from http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2014/01/researcherscreate-embryonic-stem-cells-without-embryo/
Embryonic stem cells brim with potential and many scientists have high hopes for it. They
are pluripotent which means that they have the ability to turn into any of the many cells
in the body. Creating, using, and destroying human embryos to further this type of research
have raised ethical concerns. To avoid the use of embryonic cells, researchers have put their

Running Head: Annotated Bibliography on Stem Cell Research

focus on using induced pluripotent stem cells by introducing genetic material into the cell,
that alters the state of the cell.
University of Notre Dame. (n.d.). Alternative Stem Cell Sources. Retrieved October 16,
2016, from http://stemcell.nd.edu/research/alternative-stem-cell-sources/
This article presents the 3 main alternatives to embryonic cells: somatic cell nuclear
transfer (SCNT), induced pluripotent (iPS) cells, and adult stem cells. It discusses each of
them in detail, and identifies the pros and cons of each.

Vakili, K., McGahan, A. M., Rezaie, R., Mitchell, W., & Daar, A. S. (2015). Progress in
Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research in the United States between 2001 and
2010.
In 2001, the United States federal government announced a policy restricting funds going in
to the research on human embryonic stem cells. Only limited funds were available for
research on a specific type of stem cell. Their concern was based on ethical reasons
associated with the creation and destruction of human embryos. The policy was then
repealed in 2009. This paper analyzes how the 2001 policy did not have a significant effect
on human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research in the U.S. It led to collaboration between
U.S. scientists and those in foreign countries such as: Canada, United Kingdom, Israel,
China, Spain, and Korea. It also encouraged independent hESC research in countries
without any restrictions.
Weintraub, K. (2014). The Trials of Stem Cell Therapy. Retrieved October 6, 2016, from
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/16/science/stem-cell-progress-begins-to-catch-upto-promise.html?_r=0
This article describes stem cells as filled with plenty of hope, but it is still a halting
progress. It starts out with the story of Edgar Irastorza who had a massive heart attack
resulting in the cut of his hearts pumping ability by a third. He volunteered for a medical
research trial that injected stem cells directly into his heart. A few years after his procedure,
Irastorza was able to get back into breakdancing. The article looks at the positive of using
human embryos for this type of research. They go back to basic biology saying that every
cell has the same DNA but different genetic material. Embryonic stem cells, derived from
the first cells after conception, have the potential to make every other cell type in the body.
They mention Dr. Yamanakas discovery of a cocktail that turns adult cells back into stem
cells. They present alternatives, but they do not rule out the use of human embryonic cells.

Running Head: Annotated Bibliography on Stem Cell Research