Human Embryonic Stem Cells: An Introduction to the Science and Therapeutic Potential (Paperback)

~ Ann A. Kiessling (Author), Scott. C. Anderson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The social debate and resulting moratorium by the Bush Administration against federal funding for research involving the creation of human embryos for stem cell therapy prompted the writing of this text. The emerging field of human embryonic stem cell biomedicine crosses many disciplinary boundaries - cell biology, reproductive biology, embryology, molecular biology, endocrinology, immunology, fetal medicine, transplantation medicine and surgery. This single reference provides basic information from these multiple disciplines as it pertains to the science of stem cells.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc. (March 31, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076372341X
• ISBN-13: 978-0763723415
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,144,801 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Easy but Well Worth the Efforts, May 18, 2003

By	Loch Jones (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was extremely impressed with this exceptional book as it teaches lay people what is happening in this very important, cutting edge field. It is well layed out. Kiessling and Anderson cover the concepts, history, and backgrounds necessary so that all readers get a good understanding of the basics of stem cell research. They do it without sidesteping or ignoring many of the misconceptions, or beliefs that challenge many basic religious and ethical dogma. For example, when a woman's body produces nearly one million eggs ("20,000 eggs die each year including the dozen or so which are ovulated"), and the moment of conception can now be debated between when a sperm first connects with an egg and the time when DNA replication occurs is hours (at least 6 to 8 hours) later. Once again, science is challenging our basic beliefs. The world is no longer flat. Unlike so many of our basic text books of the past, Human Embryonic Stem Cells frequently points out the edge of what is known in this science with "more study is needed in this area" being a common theme throughout the book. This book is the cutting edge. The chapters on Neurogenerative Diseases and Tissue Systems Failures point out that there is a real possibility for over 125 million people being helped and/or cured of everything from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Diseases to Diabetes and Hemophilia. The research on Spinal Cord Injuries is changing what is known and believed about how we can treat those injured, too.
This book isn't easy reading. It doesn't shy away from including the science, yet the rewards are abundant. Every member of congress should study this book before voting to limit one of the most promising fields open to mankind.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Shelf of Stem Cells, July 25, 2004

By	Rachel Fink (Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA) - See all my reviews

Kiessling and Anderson have produced a very good book, Human Embryonic Stem Cells, subtitled "An Introduction to the Science and Therapeutic Potential." Filled with detail, this is the stem cell textbook I will use for my seminar class this coming semester. The book is divided into five parts: The Basics; Egg Specific Functions; Embryonic Stem Cells; Stem Cell Therapies; and Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Society. It has a thoughtful and lively writing style, and the authors have written it for a wide audience. I think it is just right for advanced undergraduates who have had cell biology. It is well illustrated, and contains diagrams covering everything from crossover events in meiosis to the construction of mouse chimeras. It is unfortunate that many of the figure captions are so brief as to be misleading (i.e., "human chromosome pairing during mitosis"), though the explanations in the text are accurate. I particularly like the highlighted sidebars throughout the book, giving historical context to techniques and experiments. These range from early reports of human egg activation in the 1940's to the development of tissue culture media The authors' strong enthusiasm for the potential of embryonic stem cell therapies comes through (in contrast to Prentice's view, above), and their mission in writing this book is to make the case for public support of embryonic stem cell research.

Read this entire review at: http://www.cellbioed.org/articles/vol3no1/article.cfm?articleID=91#FN1

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Addressing both medical and ethical issues, June 17, 2003

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Collaboratively written by Ann A. Kiessling and Scott Anderson for readers who are already basically familiar with the fundamentals of cell biology, Human Embryonic Stem Cells is a informed and informative presentation of what modern research and science has learned about stem cells and the therapies that involve them. Addressing both medical and ethical issues, and enhanced with black-and-white photographs and drawings, Human Embryonic Stem Cells is a strongly recommended scholarly and scientific work and an invaluable contribution to having an informed public and academic understanding with respect to an active and controversial medica/social/political issue.