Stem Cells

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Recommended: Do the advantages of stem cell research outweigh the disadvantages

Stem cells are used every day throughout the United States to help cure diseases and save lives. Stem cells can also be used to study labor defects so that future birth deficiencies can be prevented or reversed. Although as a college student starting a family may not be on your mind yet, it is always beneficial to educate yourself on current trends and new discoveries in stem cell research.

Andres Travino and his wife were excited when their son Andy was born ten years ago. Andy prayed and hoped for a healthy baby despite the fact that his wife was a carrier of a genetic gene called NEMO, which caused the immune system to fail. Unfortunately soon after their son was born he was diagnosed with NEMO. They did not know what to do and temporarily began to lose hope. They took several trips to the doctor’s office when finally a doctor suggested bone marrow stem cell transplant to substitute parts of his immune system that would help him fight infections. However, the success rate for the procedure depended on the compatibility of the donor; and after searching for two long years they could not find a match. Finally they decided to have another child so that they could use the cells from her umbilical cord to cure their son. In the beginning the treatment was not working but after a few more cells were transplanted Andy was cured.

The coordinators of Stem Cell basics explain that, “Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth” (par. 1). When a stem cell splits it can stay a stem cell or become a specific cell, such as a brain cell or muscle cell. A stem cell can also divide to restore and exchange out damaged tissues. “Given their unique regenerative ab...

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...e Alzheimer's”. Times Magazine, 25 Jun. 2011. Web. 10 Oct. 2011

Phillips, Theresa. "Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research." About.com. Biotech/Biomedical, n.d.

Web. 17 Oct 2011.

Pillai, Prabhakar. "Advantages and Disadvantages of Stem Cell Research." buzzle.com.

Intelligent Life on the Web, n.d. Web. 10 Oct 2011.

Stem Cell Basics, . " Introduction: What are stem cells, and why are they important?." Stem Cell

Basics. National Institutes of Health, 28 Apr 2009. Web. 10 Oct 2011.

"Stem Cell Transplant." Kids Health. Nemours, n.d. Web. 10 Oct 2011.

“Stem cell transplant." Mayo Clinic Health Letter 29.9 (2011): 4-5. OmniFile Full Text Mega. Web. 10 Oct. 2011.

"The Stem cell debate is dead." Oprah Winfrey Show. ABC: Chicago, 6 Apr 2009. Television.

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Zatz, Steven. "Definition of Mucositis." MedicineNet.com. Lilly, 27 Apr 2011. Web. 11 Oct

2011

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