Stem Cell Research: A Hot Button
There are people who enjoy the fact that they can use their own bone marrow and stem cells to treat themselves. There are many diseases and injuries that stem cells may be able to cure. Alone there are positive outcomes using stem cells, there stands debate on the use of embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells should be used to sustain life because they can rebuild organs despite the concerns.
Now, stem cells might sound like a great thing, but what are they actually? Stem cells are a class of cells that are able to change into a specific cell or organ (Crosta). Stem cells are also bone's raw materials. Using cells to rebuild organs may bring some questions with it. People have had concerns on the treatment.
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The most common question is "Can stem cells cause cancer?" (Answers). Scientists have transformed regular adult cells into stem cells. Like all treatments, there are possible risks. The benefits of the stem cells include possible cures for many diseases (Ladock). The treatment with stem cells show probable cures for Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, cancers, diabetes, and many others. Since stem cells come from the same body, there is lower risk of rejection of the stem cells or the body. Some of the disadvantages of embryonic stem cells are chances of more rejections, since they are newer cells. When the scientists take the stem cells out of the embryo, it causes the embryo to die; so people might look at that like it's an abortion. Many cases of stem cell transplants have been successful, but others have been unsuccessful. The procedures that are unsuccessful are caused due to the immunological rejection. An immunological rejection has to do with the immune system. The immune system can either accept the new marrow or not, causing patients greater pain or even death. One story of a successful transplant has been a patient receiving a new trachea from her own stem cells (Murnaghan). Stems cells forcefully rebuild broken down or damaged tissue and muscle tissue in the body. Can the embryonic cells cause cancer? The cancer cells themselves have the ability to cause cancer, or be cancerous cells. Candidates that are eligible for the embryonic stem cell transplant include: those with wild spreading cancers, who can get help from high doses of chemo, and even the people who have been burned badly ("Candidates"). People who are capable for the transplant also may have relapsed Hodgkin's disease, relapsed non Hodgkin's lymphoma, acute leukemia, and the relapse of testicular cancer ("Candidates"). A long with candidates, there has to the be donors. The donors will have to undergo a DNA test, blood or inner cheek sample ("Finding"). If they are a match, they will have to have a physical exam done. For the embryos, the female will have to tests the IVF, in-vitro fertilization. Once the test is done, they will eventually decide if they want to donate the embryos or not. The embryonic stem cells come from the division of the zygote in a culture dish (Crosta).
Once the embryonic stem cells are collected, they have been able to become every type of cell in the body. The storage length of the bags of blood, cryobags, can be frozen or stored at or lower than 170°C. Once they are in the freezer, they can be kept for an unlimited amount of time as long they stay at that temperature ("Processing"). Any activated stem cells may be capable of being any other type of tissue, but embryonic cells are a definite thing. The embryonic stem cells can and will be any type of tissue that it is injected into. The doctor will choose a candidate that is likely to have a successful transplant, and will have them undergo more testing. A better option for the candidate is the blood cells from an umbilical cord of a …show more content…
fetus. The stem cell transplant is more commonly known as a bone or blood marrow transplant (MayoClinicStaff).
The doctors inject the healthy embryonic stem cells into the patient's body to take over the diseased or damaged cells. The transplant can also be used for chemo or radiation. The fetal tissue transplants have potential cures for diabetes and Parkinson's disease. The clinical potential in tissue repair have the advocates believing that the embryonic stem cells are the possible relief or cure of a wide range of disabilities. The procedure is done by the doctor or surgeon injecting the stem cells into the diseased organ. Another way the procedure is done is via IV. The stem cells are injected into the blood stream by dripping. The stem cells can make new organs and treat many diseases. Robert Lanza built a new type of tissue called the retinal pigment epithelium to help blind adults and youth (Wheelwright). Eventually, stem cells may be able to replace body parts and
organs. Embryonic stem cells have been thought to have an amazing potential for lightening the suffering of diseases . The controversy shifted in the 1980s to research involving the transplant of fetal tissue in adults. The research leads to new concerns of serious conditions and harmful after effects. Embryonic stem cells are thought to be the answer to many cures, on the other hand, some see it as destroying the embryo. They see the stem cell transplantation as a murder of a unborn child. One other question that came up is "Can stem cells lead to cloning?" The answer is no. The body has restrictions on reproduction cloning("Myths"). The body won't let the new cell clone. The cells that are extracted from the embryonic are called the hollow blastocyst. Which is a cluster of 20-30 cells called the inner cell mass. These are the cells that become an embryonic stem cell in the lab dish. Most of the embryonic stem cell research is done at The Children's Stem Cell Research Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The lab is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, Departments of Defense, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Jesse's Journey Foundation, the Hirtzel Foundation, and the Cook Myosite ("Stem"). Embryonic stem cells are used to understand the factors in abnormal human development ("Embryonic"). Considered potentially useful in treating genetics disorders and organ failure. Fetal research is designed to develop new vaccines and study aspects of cell physiology and hunt nan development ("Embryonic"). The In Vitro Fertilization is used for deriving stem cells. Embryonic stem cells an be used for many different things. Some interesting facts include: all 50 states may pass their own law allowing residents to use stem cells or not. The United States isn't the only country having a hard time with the stem cell research. Australia is only one of the many countries struggling. Former president Bush funded the stem cells research. President Obama supports the expanding of the research. In 2009, Barack Obama signed the Stem Cell Enhancement Act to help boost the research. The blind might be able to see with the help of embryonic stem cells. Even though stem cells come from the same body, doesn't mean that they are safe. Stem cells transplant from the same body still carries many risks. The therapy for stem cells take time, because the scientists have to figure out what went wrong in the disease or injury. Once they figure out what caused it, they have to find out how to fix it so it won't happen again. No injuries or diseases are alike. So in conclusion, embryonic stem cells have a great potential to be either helpful or harmful. Embryonic stem cell, once frozen, will last for an unlimited time. Because, the stem cells repair organs, the rejection rate is considerably less. As helpful as embryonic stem cells are for adults, they are deadly to the embryo. Even with all of the cures that stem cell research can produce, there are still all the risks that people have to be cautious of. Embryonic stem cells can be used to sustain life because they can rebuild organs despite the concerns.
The cells unique nature has scientists intrigued to do research with the focus of finding a way that these cells can be used to replace patients’ injured or diseased tissues. Advancement is made to all the three types of stem cells namely embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells in addition to induced pluripotent cells. Embryonic cells are the building blocks of an embryo that is developing, and can develop into almost all body cell types. Somatic cells are found in the body tissues. They renew and regenerate in healthy bodies. The third type which is induced pluripotent is genetically modified embryo cells from skin cells.2 Research on these cells are geared towards saving humanity; a noble course.
Stem cell research: Stem cells are cells that are at an early stage of development. This means they have the ability to turn into any type of cell in the body. Some research is currently focusing on whether stem cells can be turned into muscle cells and used to regenerate damaged muscle tissue (American Thoracic Society Consensus Statement, 2004).
Although there are many arguments against embryonic stem cell research, there have already been many success stories because of stem cells. Through bone marrow transplants and stem cell transplants many people survived illnesses against the odds. A bone marrow transplant is when bone marrow from a
According to Courtney Farrell’s overview of stem cell research, stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can be used to fix and replace other kinds of cells that are missing or damaged, and they can be derived from several different sources. The first of these sources, “embryonic” stem cells have been the source of many ethical debates because the process to gain embryonic stem cells involves the destruction of a human embryo in its early stages. Many people find this unethical and think it’s equal to human murder. According to the article by John Pearson, other types of stem cells include adult stem cells, which can be derived from bone marrow in grown adults, and umbilical blood stem cells; these are found in the blood of the umbilical cord after the birth of a baby and are becoming a great replacement for embryonic stem cells.
Umbilical cord blood was formerly believed of as a waste product. Now it is known that cord blood has two types of stem cells which offer multiple treatment possibilities (Waller-Wise, 2011). Cord blood contains hematopoietic stem cells and pluripotent stem cells. Hematopoietic stem cell can be utilized for regeneration of blood and immune system. Pluripotent stem cells have the capability to produce multiple tissue types of the ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm (Einstein & Merkatz, 2008). Both types of stem cells show the ability to be adapted into the treatment of a substantial range of diseases including neurologic, cardiovascular, endocrine, orthopedic, and ophthalmic conditions (Einstein & Merkatz, 2008). Stem cells can be utilized by transplant. Four principal types of physical disease that can be treated with stem cell transplants including blood disorders, congenital metabolic disorders, immunodeficiencies, and certain cancers (Waller-Wise, 2011). Some examples of diseases are Sickle-cell anemia, Tay-Sachs’ disease, Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, certain leukemias, and many more (Waller-Wise, 2011). It is recommended that persons with family history of any of the known diseases that can be helped with stem cell transplant consider cord blood banking.
“Through the isolation and manipulation of cells, scientists are finding ways to identify young, regenerating ones that can be used to replace damaged of dead cells in diseased organs. This therapy is similar to the process of organ transplant, only the treatment consists of the transplantation of cells rather than organs. The cells that have shown by far the most promise of supplying diseased organs with healthy cells are called stem cells.” (Chapter Preface)
One of the most heated political battles in the United States in recent years has been over the morality of embryonic stem cell research. The embryonic stem cell debate has polarized the country into those who argue that such research holds promises of ending a great deal of human suffering and others who condemn such research as involving the abortion of a potential human life. If any answer to the ethical debate surrounding this particular aspect of stem cell research exists, it is a hazy one at best. The question facing many scientists and policymakers involved in embryonic stem cell research is, which is more valuable – the life of a human suffering from a potentially fatal illness or injury, or the life of human at one week of development? While many argue that embryonic stem cell research holds the potential of developing cures for a number of illnesses that affect many individuals, such research is performed at the cost of destroying a life and should therefore not be pursued.
Currently, the limitations on research are too restricting, as researchers are limited to resources already gathered. There are sixty existing stem cell lines today, already derived from embryos. Researchers are to only use these lines. These limitations severely hinder stem cell research. The government, especially President Bush, should re-evaluate stem cell research.
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 cells are undifferentiated cells that can differentiate themselves into specific cell type. There are two types of stem cells. The first one is the adult's stem cell. These stem cells can be found in various places in an adult human body, like the brain, the bone marrow or the liver. The other type of stem cells is the embryonic stem cells. These cells are found in embryos before its implantation in the mother's uterus. At this stage the embryo is divided in two types of cell. The first one is the outer cluster of cell that forms the embryo that will become part of the placenta once the embryo hatch. And the inner cluster is the source of embryonic stem cell since it consists of undifferentiated cell that will divide and differentiate to form all the organs and tissue needed in an adult organism. As stem cell are undifferentiated cell they can become whatever cell type is needed in an organism and could be the solution to diseases that are, at this date, incurable. (Medical News Today, 2013). Most of the ethic's problem of the stem cells researches come from the embryonic stem cell researches and how the cells are collected. Embryonic stem cells can be obtained in several ways. The first one is after a couple's fertility treatment, there might be some embryos left and the couple can decide to donate their embryos to research. The second option is to collect stem cells from a foetus after an abortion. And the last possibility is to use therapeutic cloning. Using an ovum from witch the nucleus was taken off and the nucleus of a somatic cell, the origin of this cell in the body doesn't matter, it can come from the skin for example, it is possible to create an embryo and get the stem cell from the created embryo. But in all of...
...velopment of tissues to replace damaged organs in the human body. Scientists have discovered for the first time how stem cells could be generated from embryo’s that were produced using adult stem cells.
Stem cells come from adult stem cells, and embryonic cells. Embryonic (blastocyst) stem cells come from embryos that are usually three to five days old. They contain 150 cells that are useable for stem cell research. These embryos are usually created as in vitro fertilization (a bunch of eggs that are fertilized but only one is put inside of a woman). Reproduction happens when a male’s sperm is fertilized in a woman’s egg to create a zygote (cell). Scientists can verify the cells are embryonic by them being able to be duplicated and the cells ability to become other cell types; this makes embryonic cells flexible. Adult stem cells are found in adult tissues in very small numbers. These cells are only used in certain areas where they are found such as bone marrow or adipose tissue (fat).
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 offer exciting promise for future therapies, but significant technical hurdles remain that will only be overcome through years of intensive research. Stem Cells have the incredible potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. Scientists primarily work with two kinds of stem cells from animals and humans. The embryonic stem cells and the non-embryonic stem cells. Stem cells are the cells from which all other cells originate. In a human embryo, a large portion of the embryo’s cells are stem cells. These stem cells can be used for cell-based therapies. Cell-Based therapies are treatments in which stem cells are induced to differentiate into the specific cell type required to repair damaged or destroyed cells or tissues. Stem cells are versatile and offer the possibility to treat a number of diseases including Alzheimer’s, stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc. The problem is that for the process of embryonic stem cell research and embryo will be destroyed if used. This raises a moral issue and questions of whether stem cell research is unethical or not.
Many patients in hospitals are waiting for transplants and many of them are dying because they are not receiving the needed organs. To solve this problem, scientists have been using embryonic stem cells to produce organs or tissues to repair or replace damaged ones (Human Cloning). Skin for burn victims, brain cells for the brain damaged, hearts, lungs, livers, and kidneys can all be produced. By combining the technology of stem cell research and human cloning, it will be possible to produce the needed tissues and organs for patients in desperate need of a transplant (Human Cloning). The waiting list for transplants will become a lot shorter and a lot less people will have to suffer and die just because they are in great need of a transplant....