stem cell

Human Stem Cell Manual: A Laboratory Guide
$84.95
Stem cells are self-replicating and undifferentiated, meaning their function is not yet cell, tissue, or organ-specific. Due to the unique nature of these cells, research into their biology and function holds great promise for therapeutic applications through replacement or repair of diseased and damaged cells. This reader-friendly manual provides a practical "hands on" guide to the culture of human embryonic and somatic stem cells. By presenting methods for embryonic and adult lines side-by-side, the authors lay out an elegant and unique path to understanding the science of stem cell practice. The authors begin with a broad-based introduction to the field, and also review legal and regulatory issues and patents. Each experimental strategy is presented with an historical introduction, detailed method, discussion of alternative methods, and common pitfalls. This lab guide for researchers also serves as a textbook for undergraduate and graduate students in laboratory courses.

The Stem Cell Controversy: Debating the Issues (Contemporary Issue Series)
$22.98
The editors give the stem cell debate thorough and thoughtful treatment of the complex issues surrounding the current debate. This would be an excellent book for someone wishing to become familiar with all aspects--social, political, religous, moral, scientific, medical--of stem cell issues.

I would highly recommend this book for any college course that plans on tackling such thorny issues as ethics--both medical and scientific. In addition, as both editors are philosophers the book would be well-suited to any introductory ethics class.

Cell of Cells: The Global Race to Capture and Control the Stem Cell
$26.95
I am the co-founder of the Stem Cell Pioneers forum (www.stemcellpioneers.com) and therefore have an avid interest in reading all I can about stem cells, the Holy Grail, of medicine. The book is a difficult read at times, but I am learning a lot from it and thoroughly enjoying it. Stem cell research is moving along at such a fast clip, that I hope Ms. Fox will write a sequel which might include more information on the patient side of the story and how many of us are pioneering treatments, fighting corruption at the FDA and working hard for legalization for treatment with our own stem cells in the U.S. via a group called ASCTA (www.safestemcells.org) Ms. Fox has such a knowledge of the global race for the capture and control of the stem cell that she totally held me captive for each and every chapter. Well done, Ms. Fox!

Essentials of Stem Cell Biology, Second Edition
$199.95
The 69 chapters in this book, the 2nd edition published in July 2009, together contain a wealth of information from developmental biology and molecular biology to medicine. Many chapters contain helpful diagrams and pictures to go along with explanations. However, it is very mammalian-oriented, with insufficient coverage of regeneration and stem cell biology in non-mammals. In addition, this type of book should have many more references at the end of each chapter that can lead the reader to the original journal articles rather than a list of review articles. Some chapters have better lists of references than others. Overall, the Essentials of Stem Cell Biology contains more than essentials for mammalian stem cell biology, including methods, but is deficient in essentials such as non-mammalian stem cell biology and references to primary research articles.