Stem Cell Research Outline

1. What is stem cell research?

Stem cell research is the study of growth, use, and termination of human embryos. There are two main types of stem cells; the most common is embryotic cells and the other is an adult stem cell. The need and popularity of stem cell research is growing due to the advancements of technology and the growth and influx of sickness and disease. Stem cells are looked upon as an almost miracle treatment and have the potential to grow into a whole new type of cell research.

2. What are stem cells?

Stem cells offer the capability to develop into many different cell types in the body in the time of early life and growth. Furthermore, in many cell tissues they serve as an internal repair system, dividing almost without

limit to replenish other cells as long as the mammal is still alive. When stem cell divide, the new cell has the possibility to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a function. Stem cells are different and separate from other cell types by two important reasons. First and foremost , they are unassigned cells capable of being replenished through cell division, even after long periods of no activity. Second, with the help of certain experimental conditions, they can be redesigned to become specific cells with unique functions.(Stem Cell Basics: Introduction, 2016) There are two types of stem cells; Embryonic stem cells, evolved from embryos; most embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized. A common misconception is that they are derived from eggs fertilized in a woman's body, however this is not true. (What are Embryonic Stem Cells?, 2015) The other type of stem cell is an adult stem cell, which is essentially an unassigned cell, found among differentiated cells in a tissue. Like the embryotic cells ,the adult stem cell can renew themselves and can be made into specialized cell types of tissue.( What are Adult Stem Cells?, 2015)
3. What is dangerous about stem cell research?
Other than the very early and underdeveloped research phases and lack of proven test results, stem cell treatments have many risks; most of these risks being un-researched by the medical community as a whole. For example if a client of stem cell therapy’s illness progresses due to unverifiable research on the therapy. Another associate risk with this type of treatment is the possibility of uncontrollable cell division, which in a sense is the definition of cancer. A continued danger is the possibility of using an unknown type of cell in a certain kind of animal, a cell, only intended for a certain animal. In some countries without clinical regulation of this science, the use of stem cells obtained from animals like sheep, has been reported for treating human patients. Another danger is that certain people could be using stem cell treatment clinics for scammers who prey on the desperately ill. (Risks of Stem Cell Treatments, 2013)
4. What makes stem cells controversial?
The people opposed to embryonic stem cell research identify the termination of an embryo to a fetal abortion. These people believe that the embryo resembles life due to the fact it has the potential to fully develop into a human being, unless otherwise disturbed. Those against embryonic stem cell also believe that it is unethical to destroy one life to save another. These people believe that using the stem cells and leaving the rest to waste away it is like throwing a different life away. For example, religious groups who are pro-life have condemned embryonic stem cell research and all of its fruits. Other arguments against embryonic stem cells cite the fact that adult stem cells are the ones currently being used in therapies and therefore, there is no relevance to continue any further.( Murnaghan, 2016)