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Related Concept Videos

Embryonic Stem Cells00:57

Embryonic 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...
Embryonic Stem Cells00:58

Embryonic 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.
Stem Cell Culture01:17

Stem 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...
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells01:06

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic cells are...
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells01:13

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different types of cells. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are post-mitotic—that is, they no longer divide. However, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they “de-differentiate” and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are also pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are therefore called induced pluripotent stem...
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells01:13

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different types of cells. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are post-mitotic—that is, they no longer divide. However, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they “de-differentiate” and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are also pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are therefore called induced pluripotent stem...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Culture and Maintenance of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
09:36

Culture and Maintenance of Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Published on: December 22, 2009

Embryonic stem cell patents and human dignity.

David B Resnik1

  • 1NIEHS/NIH, Box 12233, Mail Drop NH06, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. resnikd@niehs.nih.gov

Health Care Analysis : HCA : Journal of Health Philosophy and Policy
|October 9, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Patents on human embryonic stem cells raise ethical concerns. While pluripotent and multipotent stem cell patents may be permissible, patent agencies must prevent patents on totipotent cells to uphold human dignity.

Area of Science:

  • Bioethics
  • Intellectual Property Law
  • Stem Cell Biology

Background:

  • The ethical implications of patenting human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are debated.
  • Concerns exist that such patents may violate human dignity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the ethical assertion that hESC patents are immoral.
  • To determine if patents on different types of stem cells violate human dignity.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of human dignity in bioethics.
  • Examination of patenting practices related to human stem cells.

Main Results:

  • Patents on human embryos or totipotent embryonic stem cells are deemed violations of human dignity.
  • Patents on pluripotent or multipotent stem cells do not inherently violate human dignity.

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Reprogramming Primary Amniotic Fluid and Membrane Cells to Pluripotency in Xeno-free Conditions
09:34

Reprogramming Primary Amniotic Fluid and Membrane Cells to Pluripotency in Xeno-free Conditions

Published on: November 27, 2017

Efficient Derivation of Human Cardiac Precursors and Cardiomyocytes from Pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem Cells with Small Molecule Induction
10:46

Efficient Derivation of Human Cardiac Precursors and Cardiomyocytes from Pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem Cells with Small Molecule Induction

Published on: November 3, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Culture and Maintenance of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
09:36

Culture and Maintenance of Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Published on: December 22, 2009

Reprogramming Primary Amniotic Fluid and Membrane Cells to Pluripotency in Xeno-free Conditions
09:34

Reprogramming Primary Amniotic Fluid and Membrane Cells to Pluripotency in Xeno-free Conditions

Published on: November 27, 2017

Efficient Derivation of Human Cardiac Precursors and Cardiomyocytes from Pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem Cells with Small Molecule Induction
10:46

Efficient Derivation of Human Cardiac Precursors and Cardiomyocytes from Pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem Cells with Small Molecule Induction

Published on: November 3, 2011

Conclusions:

  • While pluripotent/multipotent stem cell patents may not directly violate dignity, they risk commodifying embryos.
  • Patent agencies require stringent oversight to prevent inadvertent patents on embryos or totipotent cells, safeguarding human dignity.