A breakthrough in creating non-embryonic stem cells has some people calling for an end to the use of embryonic stem cells in medical research. This ABC News report details the scientific discovery that can give skin cells the characteristics of stem cells, and what that means to the future of stem cell research.

The mystery of life can now be recreated in a lab. In this ABC News report Dr. Richard Besser explores how scientists were able to create a living cell in a lab and then have the cell replicate. Some of the implications may be frightening, but some are badly needed. This historic discovery can lead to the development of new vaccines and enhanced abilities to clean up oil spills.

Although stem cells hold promise as direct therapy for human diseases, many researchers are even more enthusiastic about the opportunity to use stem cells to study disease fundamentals. Watch this science bulletin to learn how clinicians and researchers are involving diabetes patients in the search for a cure by developing new stem cell lines from their DNA.

This concise program-ideal for use as a lecture launcher-summarizes the evolution of medical knowledge in the Western world with numerous drawings, paintings, diagrams, and clips of historical footage. Highlighted moments in the quest for a more thorough understanding of disease and the human body are augmented by capsule case studies and intriguing information on the effects of both the Scientific Revolution and religion on the field of medicine....

Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a test that lets health care providers see detailed and clear pictures within the body - often of soft tissues, such as of the brain, joints, or heart. MRI does not use X-rays or other radiation. Instead, harmless yet strong magnets and radio waves work together to form a sharp image. This video reassures patients by helping them understand the common diagnostic procedure that is MRI.

Many women now give birth at home. Modern hospitals increasingly employ doulas and midwives. This video examines trends in birthing, including late-in-life motherhood and the treatment of postpartum depression.

It seems everyday brings the announcement of a new medical discovery. Research being conducted into the development of an artificial uterus that could make traditional pregnancy a thing of the past is just one of the ways that technology is changing the science of health. This film explores the impact future discoveries will have on the fight against cancer and surgical procedures to correct deformities. We also see cutting-edge medical experiments...

Now that we know that genes from different species are interchangeable, biotechnology is beginning to engineer superanimals-and patenting them. Behold the geep, part goat, part sheep, engineered to take advantage of the best traits of each. What are the scientific goals? And the social controls? This program looks at how some women are selecting the genetic profiles of the children they choose to bear, and at the ethical and economic dilemmas intrinsic...

If you had a near-death experience once, you will remember it for the rest of your life. This film looks at research conducted in Geneva that supposes this is all a trick of the brain, testing their theory with a patient who has had several near-death experiences. The knowledge gained through these experiments can help people with chronic diseases and psychological traumas.

This program offers a comprehensive overview of the CT or CAT scan. Computed tomography, or computerized axial tomography, uses X-rays and computers to look inside the body. A computer then analyzes the images taken and creates a three-dimensional view of the structures within. After viewing the typical CT imaging procedures shown here, patients will know what to expect and can thus set their mind at ease.