lunes, 2 de marzo de 2009

Reading report nº 4

Name: Cristina Soledad Guzmán
Date: April,15th
Title: Stem cell advances could help childless couples
Source: www.guardian.co.uk Date of publication: Tuesday April 15 2008


Vocabulary:
Bill: n. 1. A statement of charges for goods or services. 2. A list of particulars, such as a theater program or menu. 3. The entertainment offered by a theater. 4. A public notice, such as an advertising poster. 5. A piece of legal paper money. 6. A bill of exchange. 7. a. A draft of a law presented for approval to a legislative body. b. The law enacted from such a draft. 8. Law. A document containing a formal statement of a case, complaint, or petition. v. 9. To present a statement of costs or charges to. 10. To enter on a bill. 11. To advertise by public notice.
Amendment: n. 1. Improvement. 2. Correction. 3. a. Formal revision, as of a bill or constitution. b. A statement of such a revision: The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote.
Table: v. ta·bled ta·bling5. To put or place on a table. 6. To postpone consideration of; shelve.
Gametes: n. 1. A reproductive cell, especially a mature sperm or egg capable of participating in fertilization.
Tissues: n. 1. A fine, very thin fabric, such as gauze. 2. Thin translucent paper used especially for packing or wrapping. 3. A soft absorbent piece of paper used as toilet paper or a handkerchief. 4. A web; network. 5. Biology. a. A group of cells that are similar in form or function. b. Cellular matter in general.
Contentious: adj. 1. Quarrelsome. See synonyms at argumentative. 2. likely to cause disagreement between people
So-Called: adj. 1. So named, called, or designated, often incorrectly.
CysTic Fibrosis: n. 1. A hereditary disease of the exocrine glands, usually resulting in chronic respiratory infections and impaired pancreatic function. Also called mucoviscidosis.
Designer Baby: a baby created artificially
Thorough: adj. 1. Complete in all respects. 2. Painstakingly careful.


Main Ideas

Within 5 to 15 years it will be possible to make artificial sperm and eggs from other cells.
This will be possible using stem cell technology.
In Britain is a contentious human fertilisation and embryology bell passing through parliament.
The main ethical issue is to ensure that the science can continue.
As previous attempts to create sperm cells in mice have faild, there is still much basic scientific work required before this technique would be ready for use in human fertilisation.
This procedure is incredibly complicated.
Using it to help same-sex couples have children would be more difficult.
Another potentially contentious issue is the germ-line engineering.
It might be used to cure genetic diseases by correcting mutations, but is could also potentially allow parents to produce a “designer baby”.
The Catholic Church said the p otnetial uses and abuses of the fiel needed more debate.

Personal reaction

In this report British scientists claim that within 5 to 15 years it will be possible to make artificial sperm and eggs from other cells using stem cell technology. Therefore, infertile couples and post-menopausal women will be treated, and it could also potentially allow same sex couples to make designer babies.
About this issue a human fertilisation and embryology bill is being discussed by parliament. It will allow research in the area as long as any resulting human embryos are destroyed at 14 days old. But scientists stressed that much basic work is required before this procedure could be ready for use in human fertilisation because the proves done with mice gave as result animals that were born with deformities and died within months.
Another contentious issue is the germ-line engineering that would consist on making sperm and eggs in the laboratory then changing the DNA. It might be used to cure genetic diseases as cystic fibreosis as well as to produce a designer baby. Although none of these manipulations is possible at present, the Catholic Church said the potential uses and abuses of the field needed more debate.
In my opinion, I agree with the Church claim because such scientific procedures can have good applications to help childless and ill people, but it can also be used to the genetic manipulation of human embryos. This can lead to profound ethical issues so as to deliberate if those can be concidered human or not.

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