Potential uses of Stem Cell Research

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Though the most popularly discussed uses of Stem Cell research generally involve cloning organs for transplant or other things along these lines, I believe there are other, less controversial objectives that the researchers could gain support with. Primarily, I read an article a few months ago that inspired me. In this article they discussed how they cloned individual parts of cows, including fat or muscle, and though not perfected (occasionally teeth or hair would grow in random places...) I believe this could solve two issues. First, if we could simply grow parts of animals, we could solve world hunger.
Imagine a genetically engineered tree who's fruit is the same meat that makes up a prime rib steak? And at the same time, this meat also contains every single protein, vitamin and sugar required to make it perfectly healthy, and also contains non of the characteristics of meat that make it unhealthy on some levels. Maybe it sounds a bit far fetched but this is completely possible and I think it could make a HUGE difference in the world. Not to mention that but expensive vegetarian lifestyles wouldn't be needed anymore considering no animal is being killed in this process. Thus, the second problem it could solve is the huge issue involving slaughterhouses and animal waste. Cows and pigs contribute to global warming and pollution of ground water. If we suddenly didn't need to keep millions of live stock fed and didn't have to clean up after them, a few farmers would suffer but the world could only benefit.

Any thoughts?

Interesting idea. I think people will always eat real animals, and there are significant technical challenges to be overcome in making steak grow on trees. I think the best way to solving world hunger is through promoting economic development in poorer countries so that they can afford food, while also looking for improvements in agricultural efficiency to increase overall food production so that prices stay lower. Also, there needs to be serious reform of how we do agricultural subsidies.

Here's an article in today's papers about using stem cells to treat/cure aphasia in stroke patients:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... again.html

I think the better option would be in engineer plants to produce just a few more proteins and vitamins than they currently do. A vegan diet can actually provide all of the nutrients that the human body requires. It does take planning and exotic foods though.

The controversy of stem cell research is the source, not the results. Many sources are actually adult (pluripotent and unipotent) stem cells. However, in order to round out the basic science there is an unfortunate need for fetal (totipotent) stem cells.

studying stem cells would help us understand how cells differentiate and thus allow us to produce many possible effects with even our own tissue (like reactivation telomerase selectively {look it up}).

Not too exotic. Corn and beans together contain all 20 essential amino acids that humans need, so as long as you eat corn and beans (during the same meal!) at least once a day you aren't harmed by going on a vegetarian diet. However, I still think beef tastes better.

I remember an episode of Dilbert that included that. It was the ToMeato. (tomato and meat combination). It was used as a food source for albonians, but it wasnt well researched, since the cartoon depicted them as mud eating people. It wasn't very successful.

Still, the idea is great. I see many possibilities in the future of genetic engineering. The plant part of your idea is slightly farfetched. I'd rather my meat grow on the chicken or in a petri dish.