The Stem Cell Hope: How Stem Cell Medicine Can Change Our Lives

by Alice Park

Overview

A landmark book by the senior science writer at Time magazine introduces us to a medical breakthrough that can save our lives. 

Few people know much about stem cell research beyond the ethical questions raised by using embryos. But in the last decade, stem cell research has made huge advances toward eliminating some of our most intractable diseases. Now this sweeping and accessible book introduces us to this cutting-edge science that will revolutionize medicine and change the way we think about and treat disease. 

Alice Park takes us from stem cell's controversial beginnings to the recent electrifying promise of being able to create the versatile cells without using embryos at all. She shows us how stem cells give researchers an unprecedented ability to study disease while giving patients the promise of replacing diseased cells with healthy new ones. And she profiles the scientists and leaders-many with their own compelling stories-who have fueled the quest and will continue to shape the field in years to come.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780452297968
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	06/26/2012
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Alice Park is a senior reporter with Time magazine, currently serving as head of science coverage. She lives in New York City.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Acknowledgments xv

1 A Tale of Two Fathers 1

2 It Began with Dolly 11

3 Politics Intrudes 35

4 From Mouse to Man 57

5 A President, a Policy, and a Predicament 87

6 Fighting Back 109

7 California Dreamin' 135

8 Caught Up in Cloning 161

9 The Rise and Fall of a "Supreme Scientist" 187

10 Safe Harbors 219

11 A Jolt from Japan 235

12 Looking Ahead 257

Epilogue 285

Glossary 295

Sources 297

Additional Resources 313

Index 315

What People are Saying About This

J. Craig Venter

Park’s book proves there is truly stem cell hope for all of us, not just hype.”

Michael F. Roisen

Infuses a difficult scientific subject with intrigue, passion, and fun.”

Sharon Begley

The Stem Cell Hope is a tour-de-force of storytelling. Park brings the science alive with her dramatic narrative, while managing the tricky feat of explaining stem-cell science with rigor and panache. (Sharon Begley, bestselling author of Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain)

Editorial Reviews

A tour de force of storytelling.” — Sharon Begley, author of Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain


“Infuses a difficult scientific subject with intrigue, passion, and fun.” — Michael F. Roisen, M.D., coauthor of the YOU series


“Park’s book proves there is truly stem cell hope for all of us, not just hype.” — J. Craig Venter, sequencer of the human genome and author of A Life Decoded

From the Publisher

“A tour de force of storytelling.

Sharon Begley

“Infuses a difficult scientific subject with intrigue, passion, and fun.

Michael F. Roisen

“Park’s book proves there is truly stem cell hope for all of us, not just hype.

J. Craig Venter