History of Stem Cells Abstract This paper will be discussing the history of stem cells. There are many different ways to collect stem cells. Stem cells can be used for either right or wrong reasons. People can either use them to cure or to cause harm. Most people use stem cells to cure fatal illnesses. The one researcher that put stem cells out in the science world so people could understand it better was Leroy Stevens. His first encounter with stem cells was with a mouse that had a teratoma. Most people don’t understand the need for stem cells. There are many reasons why we research stem cells. Stem cells can be collected form a wide variety of places. The studies of stem cells have been around for many years. There were many people researching stem cells during the early 1900s, but Leroy Stevens had the greatest impact on the future study of stem cells. The people of ancient civilization were curious about the study of stem cells. Hindus from the thirteen and fourteen centuries BC knew that the result of the fetus would come from mixing two seeds of the parents (Kelly 16). They weren't the only people who wondered about the studies of stem cells. Greek philosopher named Aristotle was also interested in the study of stem cells so he discovered two very important theories. The two theories were Perfomation and Epigenesis (Kelly 16). According to the theory of Peromation, the fetus grows over time (Kelly 16). In contrast, Epigenesis means tat the fetus begins as a generic mass and then different parts are added to the fetus (Kelly 16). - 2 - Researching on mice was began in a Laboratory in Bar Harbor in Maine. In the year of 1953, researcher Leroy Stevens began on an experiment with cancerous mice. This laboratory was awa... ... middle of paper ... ... been beneficial to humans by improving the lives of those who have potentially fatal diseases. In the future of stem cells research more and more fatal diseases will be cured because of the technology gained from stem cells research. That’s why we need to keep on researching stem cells. - 5 - Work cited page 1. Kelly , Evelyn. Stem cells . connecticut : greenwood press , 2007. 2. "What are stem cells and what are they used for?." 24 April 2001. HowStuffWorks.com. 22 July 2008. 3. n.d. The University of Utah, Genetic Science Learning Center. 26 July 2008 . 4. n.d. Tiantan Puhua Stem Cell Center. 26 July 2008 . 5. n.d. Tiantan Puhua Stem Cell Center. 27 July 2008 .
When one thinks of fatal diseases, what comes to mind? Cancer? Organ failure? Brain damage? All of those things and more could be a thing of the past with the incredible potential of stem cell research. Stem cells are like blank cells that can take the form of other kinds of cells. This gives them the ability to heal damaged areas, or grow replacement tissue for tissue that has been diseased. Stem cells can come from several different places, some of which cause lots of controversy and ethical debate. Because of this, stem cell research is not federally funded by the United States government. But, stem cell research has tons of potential and should get more attention for the greater good of our future.
What are stem cells and why are they transplanted?. (n.d.). What are stem cells and why are they transplanted?. Retrieved March 26, 2014, from http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/treatmenttypes/bonemarrowandperipheralbloodstemcelltransplant/stem-cell-transplant-what-are-stem-cells
Cummings, Michael J. To a Mouse (Robert Burns) a Study Guide. March 2010. 15 March 2010 .
8. "Stem Cell Basics." National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2009. Web. .
Stem Cells: What, How and Why? Stem cells are infinitely valuable when considering their potential applications in the medical profession. While current legislative restrictions have halted the development of new ?stem cell lines? to any agency or company that receives any form of governmental grants, there is no question that the medical profession is standing at the brink of a new era of technological advancements in healthcare and research.
Benefits of stem cell research can be overwhelming. Today, millions of people around the world suffer from incurable diseases. Stem cell research could help the scientific community find a breakthrough in developing a cure. By observing stem cells develop into mature human tissue, scientists can better understand how embryos develop. “Normal” human development can be recorded. This knowledge can be used to help prevent birth defects, for instance.
The history of using stem cells in experimentation dates back to 1998 with Dr. James Thompson. A biologist at the University of Wisconsin, Thompson discovered that embryonic stem cells that were isolated with other types of cells would transform into that type. This led to the assumption that stem cells could be used to advance medicine because they could possibly treat injuries and diseases (AAAS, 2012).
The industrial revolution was in full swing and people now believed in machines and scientific laws. Subsequently a new generation of scientist wanted to know where new cells really came from and they wanted a mechanistic explanation that did not rely on cells simply springing forth from inanimate matter. Robert Remak, who was born in 1815 and died in 1865, was a polish Jew while his friend Rudolph Virchow, who was born in 1821 and died in 1902, was a politically savvy German. Robert Remak is not well known scientist but he did play a critical role in developing the final piece of cell theory. Remak was Jewish and so obtaining a professorship was always an uphill battle. He ultimately was forced to do his research in a run-down attic apartment in Berlin. Despite these obstacles Robert Remak set out to discover how new cells formed. Remak began his experiments and observations of cells in the 1840s he began by looking where he was sure to see lots of cells forming, the embryos of chickens. He used chick embryos because eggs were very inexpensive and the embryos of chicks are easily accessible. He would begin by cutting a blood vessel from the chick embryo and then pipetting by mouth the blood onto a microscope slide where he would observe the blood cells for hours. As he observed the blood from the chick embryo he saw cells that were going through different stages of cell division. Remak revealed his findings to his friend Virchow who thought it was interesting but ultimately must be a rare event that only applies to the red blood cells of developing chicks. This was hardly a major breakthrough according to Virchow and so Remak the diligent scientist that he was went to look for more evidence. Remak knew he needed to prove that this process occurred in other cells of other animals and so he picked frogspawn to study next. Remak through his
What if there was a cure for cancer or a treatment for spinal injuries? Would you support the research? What if there was a way that you could repair damaged nerves. Some believe that stem cells may hold the answers to some of these questions. What are stem cells and why should you or I even care about them? Some believe that they are a miracle treatment waiting to happen while others believe that stem cells are highly immoral. Why does so much controversy surround the issue? Why is the conversation of stem cells feared by some and praised by others? To some stem cells are the medical hopes for the future, something for us to hang on to as we do battle with major diseases that include cancer, Parkston’s disease and spinal injuries. To others stem cell researchers are murderers who are trying to play God’s hand. A many have pledged their support to stem cell research including a few well known celebrities. Reeves’, who was best known for his role in the early Superman movies, and J. Fox two well-known celebrities, have pledged to stem cell research, both have created a private fund for the research of stem cells. This celebrity however has not swayed everyone to support stem cell researches cause. Just as there are supporters of stem cells there are those who believe that the use of stem cells is immoral. Since the first stem cells were separated there have been doctors, religious groups and even some political figure head have shown their opposition for stem cell research. Even with the knowledge and promise that stem cells show many of those who truly oppose stem cells have not changed their mind. The question is are their reasons good enough to halt the research of stem cell or are they just holding back what will soon be inevi...
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.
Alexander A. Maximow is the scientist credited the most for the naming of stem cells (Who Discovered 1). Dr. Maximow was not only a scientist but, a physician and a biologist as well (Who Discovered 1). On February 1, 1961, Dr. James Till and Dr. Ernest McCulloch of the OCI institute, on accident, found proof of stem cells during radiation research (Stem Cell Research Timeline 1). Scientists theorizing the idea of stem cells had occurred well before hand but there wasn’t proper technology to research these cells thoroughly. Although this was just the beginning, the research of stem cells progressed quite rapidly. Despite the speedy discoveries, many sidetracks such as congress having banned fetal tissue research on July 12, 1974 had slowed the research just a small quantity (Stem Cell Research Timeline 1). Only 14 years later, the “Human Fetal Tissue Transplantation Research Panel reopens the question and votes 18-3 to appro...
Stem cells are very valuable for many reasons, some of which are as follows: by giving patients the ability to make an entirely new supply of blood, they make it possible for the immune system to regenerate itself. In doing this, it could feasibly allow medical breakthroughs for treating diseases like cancer and AIDS. There is much controversy over who actually should have taken credit for the discovery of stem cells. Back in the 1960's James Till and Ernest McCulloch (from the Ontario Cancer Institute in Toronto ) discovered that after mice were injected with bone marrow cells their spleens developed “nodules” on them, and, upon studying these nodules they noticed that they were loaded with white and red blood cells. They also discovered that, additionally, these cells were able to reproduce themselves. These men said that, “All blood cells arise from a few hematopoietic stem cells, which are hidden away in bone marrow”(2). On the average, these cells produce an ounce of new blood (260 billion new cells) every day. Weissman was studying medicine at Stanford when the before mentioned men developed their theory, and it fascinated him. He decided to pursue the study and see where he could go with it. He soon began to study white cells backwards,...
Stem cell research is not necessarily bad and this research can lead to a positive breakthrough in the medical field. Researchers and consumers have a mutual interest in distinguishing the good research from the bad.
Anderson, Ryan. "Stem Cells: A Political History." First Things. First Things, November, 2008. Web. 10 Feb 2012.
The model system used in this experiment is mice. A pharmacological approach will be taken to test