Stem cell research has been a very controversial subject for a very long time. Just this past November 2nd 2004 California voters approved a $3 billion Proposition to fund human embryonic stem-cell experiments. Proposition 71 became the largest state-wide research program to be approved in the country. (MSNBC) For the first time embryonic stem-cell research will be allowed in the United States, while President Bush disapproves of this type of research the people of California have given the state permission to go ahead with the program.
             Stem cells have to do with blood so to understand stem cells you must understand the blood. Blood in the vertebrate is a type of connective tissue that is made up of several kinds of cells that are suspended in a liquid matrix called plasma. The average adult has about 4 to 6 liters of blood circulating all at once. When a sample of blood is taken, cells contained in the plasma can be separated by spinning the blood in a centrifuge. To prevent the blood from clotting an anticoagulant must first be added to the blood. About 45% of the volume of blood are made up of cells and cell fragments, during the spinning these particles settle at the bottom of the centrifuge tube and form a dense red pellet. (Biology)
             Blood plasma is about 90% water, the rest is composed of inorganic salts, known as electrolytes, present as dissolved ions. The concentration of these ions is important in maintaining the osmotic balance in the blood. Other ions help buffer the blood which has about a pH of 7.4 in humans. In order for muscle and nerves to function properly the concentration of key ions must be at normal levels in the interstitial fluid, which in turn reflects the concentration in the plasma. Plasma electrolytes are kept at exact concentrations by the kidney. (Biology)
             Another important solute found in the plasma are plasma proteins, which act as buffers to maintain the osmotic balance between the blood an...