Spare Parts: Growing Human Organs 2000
Distributed by Films Media Group, PO Box 2053, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-2053; 800-257-5126
Produced by Films for the Humanities & Sciences
Director n/a
VHS, color, 26 min.
Adult
Health Sciences, Ethics, Aging
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Brad Eden, Ph.D., Head, Web and Digitization Services, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las VegasThis interesting film discusses the fascinating yet controversial research currently being done in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Experts at MIT, Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Toronto, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, and Duke University discuss various theories and experiments with embryonic stem cells, bone marrow cells, biodegradable scaffolding, bio-reactors, and telomerase in the generation and regeneration of human tissue and organs. Ethics issues and the race for patents are also discussed, and private endeavors in this area such as the Life Initiative and the work of Osiris Therapeutics and Geron are mentioned as well.
I highly recommend this video for high school through adult classes in the areas of medicine, aging, ethics, technology, and the future of society. It is a topic that society in general will have to deal with in the near future.
Highly recommended