Characteristics of Stem Cells :: essays research papers

Stem cells have two important characteristics that distinguish them from other types of cells. First, they are unspecialized cells that renew themselves for long periods through cell division. The second is that under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become cells with special functions such as the beating cells of the heart muscle or the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Scientists primarily work with two kinds of stem cells from animals and humans: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells, which have different functions and characteristics that will be explained in this document. Scientists discovered ways to obtain or derive stem cells from early mouse embryos more than 20 years ago. Many years of detailed study of the biology of mouse stem cells led to the discovery, in 1998, of how to isolate stem cells from human embryos and grow the cells in the laboratory. These are called human embryonic stem cells. The embryos used in these studies were created for infertility purposes through in vitro fertilization procedures and when they were no longer needed for that purpose, they were donated for research with the informed consent of the donor. Stem cells are important for living organisms for many reasons. In the 3- to 5-day-old embryo, called a blastocyst, stem cells in developing tissues give rise to the multiple specialized cell types that make up the heart, lung, skin, and other tissues. In some adult tissues, such as bone marrow, muscle, and brain, discrete populations of adult stem cells generate replacements for cells that are lost through normal wear and tear, injury, or disease. It has been hypothesized by scientists that stem cells may, at some point in the future, become the basis for treating diseases such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and heart disease. Scientists want to study stem cells in the laboratory so they can learn about their essential properties and what makes them different from specialized cell types. As scientists learn more about stem cells, it may become possible to use the cells not just in cell-based therapies, but also for screening new drugs and toxins and understanding birth defects.

Decision Making: Espoused Versus Enacted Values

Decision Making: Espoused versus Enacted Values No matter what type of organization it is there are always tough decisions to make. These decisions are based off of the companies preferred norms and values or the employees. In any case, a decision has to be made. Sometimes there is a battle to stick with an organizations preferred values and norms or go with the values and norms exhibited by the employees (p. 39). We will look at the movie 2012 and take a look at concepts that have been described in regards to espoused values versus enacted values from Kreitner and Kinicki text Organizational Behavior (eighth edition).The movie 2012 begins in India where a geophysical team learns that the earth’s core is heating up at a rapid pace. Dr. Adrian Henley makes the decision to warn the President of the United States that the crust of the earth is becoming very unstable. This instability can lead to a major catastrophe and the entire race will be doomed. Dr. Hemley assumed the Presid ent would alert the nation immediately. He was acting on his personal values and felt that everyone should be warned. Dr. Hemley felt as though everyone should have an opportunity to prepare for the worst.This is an example of an enacted value based off of emotions and what was ethically right. The government had their own agenda that was already established. . They only alerted the rich who were able to purchase a spot on arcs that were built for this type of disaster. This is an example of an espoused value within the organization. The government saw this as a way of meeting â€Å"humanity’s needs without harming future generations† (p. 39). They believed by saving the wealthy families they would have money to invest in rebuilding civilization. Again, Dr.Henley just could not sit right with the fact that the wealthy were only being warned. It was a constant battle inside him and he had to at least alert those closest to him. Dr. Henley gave his father a call and he w arned the geologist in India that first figured out the earth’s crust was heating up at a very rapid pace. This is another example of making a decision based off of an enacted value, emotions, and what was right ethically. Besides Dr. Henley and the government, another character in the movie was dealing with the same type of decision.Writer Jackson Curtis was working as a driver for a wealthy business man. Curtis was instructed to pick up the children of his boss and bring them to the plane where they would leave for the arc. In the midst of completing his assignment he stumbles upon the same information regarding the disaster that was about to occur. Curtis had children of his own and of course he wanted to save them as well. So he used the company car to pick up his kids, rent a plane, and get them to safety. Curtis still followed his boss’ instructions while following his heart.Hence, the struggle between espoused values versus enacted values is present in a smaller business as well. Organizations and their managers hope that their espoused values will directly influence the behavior and decisions of employees (p. 39) values from Kreitner and Kinicki text Organizational Behavior (eighth edition). However, employees are human and can form their own opinions based on their own observations. Employees are human and emotions can affect their behavior and decisions. Organizations can have a strong desire to deliver results and not be oo flexible in getting those results. But with outside influences of the employees, a struggle between those espoused values and enacted values can present themselves. References 2012 (film). (n. d. ). Retrieved Sept. 21, 2012 from the OLPC Wiki http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/2012_(film) Central Michigan University. (2009). Organizational Dynamics and Human Behavior (2nd ed. ). McGraw-Hill. Kinicki, A. & Kreitner, R. (2009). Organizational behavior: Key concepts, skills, and best practices (4th ed. ). Boston, MA: McGra w-Hill. . Decision Making: Espoused Versus Enacted Values Decision Making: Espoused versus Enacted Values No matter what type of organization it is there are always tough decisions to make. These decisions are based off of the companies preferred norms and values or the employees. In any case, a decision has to be made. Sometimes there is a battle to stick with an organizations preferred values and norms or go with the values and norms exhibited by the employees (p. 39). We will look at the movie 2012 and take a look at concepts that have been described in regards to espoused values versus enacted values from Kreitner and Kinicki text Organizational Behavior (eighth edition).The movie 2012 begins in India where a geophysical team learns that the earth’s core is heating up at a rapid pace. Dr. Adrian Henley makes the decision to warn the President of the United States that the crust of the earth is becoming very unstable. This instability can lead to a major catastrophe and the entire race will be doomed. Dr. Hemley assumed the Presid ent would alert the nation immediately. He was acting on his personal values and felt that everyone should be warned. Dr. Hemley felt as though everyone should have an opportunity to prepare for the worst.This is an example of an enacted value based off of emotions and what was ethically right. The government had their own agenda that was already established. . They only alerted the rich who were able to purchase a spot on arcs that were built for this type of disaster. This is an example of an espoused value within the organization. The government saw this as a way of meeting â€Å"humanity’s needs without harming future generations† (p. 39). They believed by saving the wealthy families they would have money to invest in rebuilding civilization. Again, Dr.Henley just could not sit right with the fact that the wealthy were only being warned. It was a constant battle inside him and he had to at least alert those closest to him. Dr. Henley gave his father a call and he w arned the geologist in India that first figured out the earth’s crust was heating up at a very rapid pace. This is another example of making a decision based off of an enacted value, emotions, and what was right ethically. Besides Dr. Henley and the government, another character in the movie was dealing with the same type of decision.Writer Jackson Curtis was working as a driver for a wealthy business man. Curtis was instructed to pick up the children of his boss and bring them to the plane where they would leave for the arc. In the midst of completing his assignment he stumbles upon the same information regarding the disaster that was about to occur. Curtis had children of his own and of course he wanted to save them as well. So he used the company car to pick up his kids, rent a plane, and get them to safety. Curtis still followed his boss’ instructions while following his heart.Hence, the struggle between espoused values versus enacted values is present in a smaller business as well. Organizations and their managers hope that their espoused values will directly influence the behavior and decisions of employees (p. 39) values from Kreitner and Kinicki text Organizational Behavior (eighth edition). However, employees are human and can form their own opinions based on their own observations. Employees are human and emotions can affect their behavior and decisions. Organizations can have a strong desire to deliver results and not be oo flexible in getting those results. But with outside influences of the employees, a struggle between those espoused values and enacted values can present themselves. References 2012 (film). (n. d. ). Retrieved Sept. 21, 2012 from the OLPC Wiki http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/2012_(film) Central Michigan University. (2009). Organizational Dynamics and Human Behavior (2nd ed. ). McGraw-Hill. Kinicki, A. & Kreitner, R. (2009). Organizational behavior: Key concepts, skills, and best practices (4th ed. ). Boston, MA: McGra w-Hill. .

The United Nations Convention On The Rights Of People With...

Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, there is a clear obligation for governments to provide education to children with disabilities on an equal basis with other children and to provide that education within an inclusive system. Article 8 requires all schools to foster at all levels of the education system, including in all children from an early age, an attitude of respect for the rights of persons with disabilities (United Nations, 2006). In Canada, one in five young people live with a mental illness (Kid’s Help Phone, 2012). Fifty percent of mental illnesses develop by age 14 (Kid’s Help Phone, 2012). While there has been increased awareness of mental health challenges – helped by advocates such as Olympian Clara Hughes, corporate initiatives such as Bell Let s Talk, organizations such as Jack.org, and tragedies such as the startling number of children and youth suicides in Canada and across the world, there still needs to be much more awareness surrounding mental health. To increase awareness of mental health, I wrote a series of children’s books about mental health challenges. Incorporating story books with a focus on mental health in educators and children’s mental health professionals’ practices, like the ones I have written, is important because through story books, there will be an increase in awareness of mental health. Through this awareness, children will develop emp athy for others with mental ill health and will learnShow MoreRelatedThe United Nations Convention On The Rights Of Peoples With Disabilities1552 Words   |  7 Pagesproblem with accessibility it is thought as of an action that is done with no ease for those with the ability to do so, but that is not the case for peoples with disabilities. The United Nations Convention on the rights of peoples with disabilities and the United Nations Convention on the right to education both state that education is a fundamental right that all are equally eligible to obtain. The CRPD states that education is a main principle that must be accessible to all, but that accessibilityRead MoreUnited Nations Convention On The Rights Of People With Disabilities2274 Words   |  10 Pagesemergency in the area of human rights in the mental health sector as human rights of the people with mental disabilities have been violating (World Health Organisation). . 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