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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
09:36
Culture and Maintenance of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Published on: December 22, 2009
Ethical boundary-work in the embryonic stem cell laboratory.
Steven P Wainwright1, Clare Williams, Mike Michael
1Division of Health and Social Care Research, King's College London, London, SE1 8WA. steven.wainwright@kcl.ac.uk
Sociology of Health & Illness
|December 23, 2006
Summary
Scientists
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Ethics
- Sociology of Science
- Stem Cell Research Ethics
Background:
- Traditional ethics reviews often lack context.
- Sociological perspectives on scientific practice are emerging.
- Embryonic stem cell research involves complex ethical considerations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a socially embedded account of stem cell research ethics.
- To explore ethical implications from scientists' perspectives.
- To analyze ethical boundary-work in stem cell laboratories.
Main Methods:
- Ethnographic study of two leading UK embryonic stem cell laboratories.
- Qualitative data collection on scientists' views and practices.
- Analysis of ethical dimensions in stem cell research and treatment.
Main Results:
- Scientists' views on ethical sourcing of human embryos and stem cells.
- Perceptions of human embryos and stem cells among researchers.
- Scientists' perspectives on regulatory frameworks for stem cell research.
- Identification of 'ethical boundary-work' as routine practice.
Conclusions:
- Ethical boundary-work is integral to biomedical science practice.
- Sociological insights into scientists' ethical views are crucial.
- This study contributes to understanding ethics in clinical settings and research.
Related Concept Videos
00:57Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
00:58Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.
01:17Stem Cell Culture
Stem cell research aims to find ways to use stem cells to regenerate and repair cellular damage. Over time, most adult cells undergo the wear and tear of aging and lose their ability to divide and repair themselves. Stem cells do not display a particular morphology or function. Adult stem cells, which exist as a small subset of cells in most tissues, keep dividing and can differentiate into a number of specialized cells generally formed by that tissue. These cells enable the body to renew and...
01:14Maintenance of the ES Cell State
The cells of the blastocyst inner cell mass only remain pluripotent for a short time. This state of pluripotency and self-renewal can be maintained in embryonic stem (ES) cell culture by adding specific chemicals or growth factors to ensure the cells can continue dividing and later differentiate into different cell types. In some cases, the cells are grown on a feeder layer of differentiated cells, which provides the growth factors and extracellular matrix components necessary for stem cell...