A discussion of the different types of stem cells, how they are studied in the laboratory, and how they are used to treat disease or heal bodily organs.

Includes index.

Stem cells are not all equal -- Mammalian embryo -- Embryonic stem cells -- Adult stem cells -- Stem cells in culture -- Stem cell markers -- Human stem cells -- Collecting human embryonic stem cells -- Fate of the donor embryo -- Directed differentiation -- Growth factors -- Future prospects for adult stem cells -- Medical applications -- Leukemia -- Immune deficiencies -- Diabetes -- Liver disease -- Cardiovascular disease -- Neurological disorders -- Organ factories -- Commercialization of human stem cells -- Stock market -- Astrom Biosciences, Inc. -- StemCells, Inc. -- Geron Corporation -- Reality check -- Problem of immune rejection -- Spontaneous in vitro differentiation -- Wandering stem cells -- Stem cell cancer induction -- Growing organs from cultured stem cells -- Ethical issues -- Justice and beneficence -- High-tech cannibalism -- On becoming human -- Early embryo -- Legal issues -- United Kingdom -- European Union -- United States -- Resource center -- Eucaryote cell primer -- Recombinant DNA primer -- Gene therapy primer -- Belmont report -- Gelsinger investigation -- Clinical trials.