The topic of stem cell research has long been debated over, and yet no consensus has been reached, since different views, and mixed feelings persist in the minds of people. Personally, I stand by the people who are in favor for the research. I believe that, stem cell research has many more pros than cons. There is tremendous potential in this research in finding treatments for diseases that are currently thought to be incurable. Therefore, the research should continue to be funded for, and should be encouraged further. Stem cell research is the study of stem cells, which are cells that divide indefinitely, without being altered, and that can differentiate into any of the cells of the body, such as liver cells, skin cells, and muscle cells, to fulfill specific roles. Paul Knoepfler defined stem cells in his book, Stem Cells: An Insider’s Guide, as “A true stem cell has both potency and self-renewal” (Knoepfler 3). There are many parts in the human body where stem cells can be derived from and these include, bone marrow, fat cells, olfactory nerve endings, skin cells, and the other, more commonly-known, places such as adult blood, umbilical cord blood, and human embryo. These cells can be obtained, saved, and used for later as well. There have been great controversies regarding where stem cells are derived from; while some places are considered fine, others are considered highly immoral and inhumane. Stem cell research has been used for the in depth study of the human genome. Since the stem cells are undifferentiated cells, it is still possible to consider them individually and independently, without having them be limited in function to a specific body cell. This allows researchers to cultivate these cells and engineer them wi... ... middle of paper ... ... An Insider’s Guide. 30 July, 2013. Print. 3. Shevde, Nirupama. Flexible friends: stem cells are powerful tools in biology and medicine. What can scientists do with these cells to exploit their incredible potential? Published in Nature, Vol.483 (7387), p.S22 (5). March 1, 2012. Print. 4. Peer-reviewed References Showing Applications of Adult Stem Cells that Produce Therapeutic Benefit for Human Patients. Complete list on - http://www.stemcellresearch.org/facts/asc-refs.pdf 1. Arguments against Stem Cell Research. March 29, 2012. http://ryanclancy.blogspot.com/2012/03/arguments-against-stem-cell-research.html 2. American Life League – http://www.all.org/nav/index/heading/OQ/cat/MTkw/?gclid=CN6E4KvJgLsCFTJo7AodvRwAXw 3. Research!America: Voters Favor Expanding Funding for ESC Research – http://www.researchamerica.org/stemcell_issue?gclid=CJS3-M_TgLsCFccRMwodtxcAUQ
“What are the potential uses of human stem cells and the obstacles that must be overcome before these potential uses will be realized?” . InStem Cell Information. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009.
Because stem cells are essentially a blank slate, scientists are theoretically capable of growing any human tissue cell. There is enormous medical potential in this. Stem cell research is the next step in advancing the medical field. It is comparable to the discovery of penicillin or the inoculation for smallpox.
Stem cell research began in 1956 when Dr. E Donnall Thomas performed the first bone marrow transplant (“Adult stem cells are not more promising,” 2007). Since that time, research has evolved into obtaining cells from a variety of tissues. According to stem cell research professors, Ariff Bongso and Eng Hin Lee (2005), “Stem cells are unspecialized cells in the human body that are capable of becoming cells, each with new specialized functions” (p. 2). Stem cells are in various adult tissues, such as bone marrow, the liver, the epidermis layer of skin, the central nervous system, and eyes. They are also in other sources, such as fetuses, umbilical cords, placentas, embryos, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are cells from adult tissues that have been reprogrammed to pluripotency. Most stem cells offer multipotent cells, which are sparse...
Stem cell research must be performed in order for scientists to develop a method full capable of repairing cells. The benefits of stem cell research greatly outweigh the controversies. In the long term, increased ability to cure diseases would decrease the cost of healthcare globally. In the short term, a lot of money is needed to obtain the knowledge required to save lives. In the long run, stem cell research is worth the money spent. This is only achievable if stem cell stu
Scott, Christopher Thomas. Stem Cell Now: From the Experiment That Shook the World to the
Mayo Clinic Staff. "Stem Cells: What Are They and What Do They Do?" MayoClinic. Mayo Clinic, 13 May 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. .
Snow, Nancy. “Stem Cell Research New Frontiers in Sciences and Ethics”. Houston Community College Library. 2004. Print. 10 Nov 2011.
Stem cells are an ongoing research project in which new discoveries are being made about them, and researchers are learning how to use them in new ways. The three current kinds of stem cells all prove to have their own challenges when it comes to using them. The important thing is finding out which stem cell is right for the patient and how much of an ethical concern there is when it comes to using the stem cell. As we learn the best way to use them and they become more popular in the medical field, stem cells will become a new weapon in the fight against certain diseases.
From the discussion above it is very clear that there are different opinions on the pros and cons of stem cell research. Based on the recent researches, scientists have the capability to work out the alternatives for embryonic stem cell research. And the usefulness compare to embryonic stem cell remains unknown. Undeniably, the stem cell research issue has its most complex parts to be resolved and surmounted. But perhaps we can disclose the way to carry out stem cell research with the balance of bioethics and most importantly, do no harm for humankind one day.
Stem cells are amazing cells that all humans possess throughout their bodies. In today’s world of science, stem cells have become important factors in scientific research. Research with stem cells has been increasing exponentially over the last decade. Around the world, stem cells have been studied to help treat various health problems. The extent to what stem cell research can do is very wide reaching. The existence of stem cells was theorized by Alexander Maximow in the late 1800s. He believed that cells originated from a one type of cell. He was not far off with this theory.
“Stem Cells: The Future of Medicine.” Medschool.umaryland.edu. University of Maryland School of Medicine Web 14 Nov 2013
There has been a debate about stem cell research since 1998 when the research teams of James A. Thomson of the University of Wisconsin and John D. Gearhart of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine announced the isolation of human stem cells (Farrell). But before anyone should take a side, one must know what a stem cell is. A stem cell is an unspecialized cell characterized by the ability to self-renew by mitosis while in undifferentiated state, and the capacity to give rise to various differentiated cell types by cell differentiation (Stem Cell). There are three types of stem cells in the human body: embryonic, hematoietic, and adult (Lee). Hematoietic stem cells come from the blood of the umbilical cord (Lee). Adult stem cells are taken from various parts of the body, like bone marrow or tissue. Embryonic stem cells come from a blastocyst, which is a an eight-celled human embryo (Farrell). The blastocyst must be disassembled to obtain the stem cells (Farrell). Researches prefer to work with embryonic stem cells because they are undifferentiated cells, which means they can transform into any cell type in the human body. But there is controversy with embryonic stem cells because the blastocyst has the potential to become a fetus.
Stem cell research is a topic that is discussed widely throughout our nation and can have many positive and negative outcomes. There are two different types of stem cells, embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are able to differentiate and turn into other cells which are taken from an embryo at a few days old. An adult stem cell is a stem cell that resides in an individual, which can be used for repairing the tissue in which they reside. However, it has been proposed that embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells can either change or may be responsible for abnormal growth which could progress into cancer.
In today’s world it may seem like there are millions of new and old diseases, but with advancing medical technology and brilliant research done by scientists involving stem cells, there are more miraculous cures, however, they are not without, great controversy. Recently, scientists have been looking into stem cells, and trying to learn what they are all about. Some of the new information people have found is incredible, and even life saving, but, there are also several problems. This is, without a doubt, a very intriguing topic, but, also very controversial.
Science can be described as the pursuit of innovation, advancement and opportunity. Stem cells have offered scientists and the world a new doorway to treat diseases and help millions. The major, significant discovery of stem cells is their ability to differentiate into any cell type which can help rebuild damaged organs. One thing for certain is that these cells brought huge controversies over their uses, how scientists should obtain them, and if the embryos should be used at all on the basis that they should be held on the same morals as humans. Although with these monumental issues at hand, researchers have not given up hope that one day these stem cells will be widely accepted and be used for the benefit of the people.