Cell of Cells: The Global Race to Capture and Control the Stem Cell

by Cynthia Fox

Positioned at the cutting edge of science, Cell of Cells charts the international race to utilize the stem cell. From a lab in the Sahara, where one problem is sand in the petri dishes, to an Israeli lab that narrowly escapes a terrorist bomb, stem cells have gone global. Not only are the cells studied in an escalating number of labs―and lands―but they are already being used. In Japan, a respected doctor uses the cells to make small women better endowed. In Connecticut, stem cell technology has created cloned cows that roam the hills displaying eerily identical personalities. In Texas, stem cells rejuvenate dying hearts. In China, clinics offer stem cells to patients suffering from everything from paralysis to brain trauma.

In elegant, cogent prose, science journalist Cynthia Fox has illuminated the reality and promise of stem cell therapies. Cell of Cells illustrates how the extensive, fervent experimentation currently under way is causing a revolution, both in the body and in the international body politic.

Genres: Science

560 pages, Hardcover

First published March 26, 2006

Reviews

[William Schram · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is something that hasn't happened in a long while; I didn't like this book. To be more accurate, I couldn't get into this book. Although the writer seems to know what she is talking about, I was repulsed by the depictions of politics and the political landmines set out by people. Repulsed is a bit of a strong word though, so let's go with turned off.

What I know of Stem Cells is roughly this; they are cells that can become any other type of cell or tissue in the body. They don't have a specialty and this makes them special. Since they are part and parcel of the human body or any other body for that matter, they don't have certain restrictions that mature cells do. This is my knowledge before going into the book. Now I know that Isreal leads in technical and medical papers for Stem Cell Research.

I don't think I gave this book a fair shake, but I just couldn't get into it. This could be due to several circumstances I have at the moment. Perhaps I will try to read another book on this subject.

[Nyssy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intriguing but scary book to read.

[Peter Richmond · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is by a journalist and bears that imprint. Usually, I'd say that that's a good thing, but not in this case. The players and places are way too over-written and dramatized. The author goes on these lengthy detours into irrelevant foreign affairs topics. Her commentary on the state of Palestinian/Israel relations made me cringe. I don't like to have to cringe - especially when all I'm trying to do is learn something about stem cells.

It's got some good chunks in it, but you've got to weed through a lot of crap to find them. I didn't finish it.