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Stem cells are one of the most fascinating and controversial areas in biology today. Like many expanding fields in scientific inquiry, research on stem cells is raising scientific and ethical questions. Stem cells have three important characteristics that distinguish them from other cells. First, they are unspecialized, that is, they do not have any tissue-specific structures that allow it to perform specialized functions. These unspecialized cells can give rise to specialized cells, including heart muscle cells, blood cells or nerve cells. Second they are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods through cell division called proliferation. In other words, they can replicate many times unlike muscle cells, blood cells and nerve cells which normally do not. These cells are capable of continually reproducing themselves and can renew tissue throughout an individual's life. For example, they can regenerate the lining of a gut, revitalize the skin and produce a whole range...

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