Stem Cells: Leading Innovation In Medicine

Stem cells are the leading innovation in medicine. Currently these cells are being tested to treat a wide range of diseases, injuries, and even cancers. The scope of stem cell based treatment has expanded in recent years due to advances in stem cell research and technologies. Stem cells are generally known for two things, their ability to produce new cells and their ethical controversy. Those who oppose stem cells are typically referring to the collection and use of embryonic stem cells and feel it violates the Catholic value on the right to life. Despite these controversies, the funding for stem cell research is a vital aspect to the growth of medicine, cursing modern disease and providing treatment to those in need and should not be limited

due to these reasons. In essence, the value of stem cells far out-weigh the concerns of religious affiliations.
In order to understand the controversy, it is vital to define what stem cells are, the types of stem cells, how they are used and collected. The main two kinds of stem cells are embryonic stem cells and somatic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos at the developmental stage before the time that implantation would normally occur in the uterus. Fertilization normally occurs in the oviduct, and during the next few days, a series of cleavage divisions occur as the embryo travels down the oviduct and into the uterus. Each of the cells of these cleavage-stage embryos are undifferentiated, meaning that they are not specialized yet and have the potential to become any possible cell in the body (Yu). This key aspect is why scientist are so fascinated by the wide range of uses for embryonic cells. Differentiation occurs approximately five days after development begins and so if the cells, referred to as inner mass cells, are collected prior to the differentiation, removed from the embryo, and plated properly at the appropriate conditions, they will be capable of replicating themselves indefinitely while still maintaining the developmental potential to form any cell in the body. The other type of cell is the somatic or “adult” stem cell. These cells are found throughout the body and reproduce the different kinds of cells that maintain the body’s tissues and organs, and, most importantly, they have the ability to divide and reproduce indefinitely. These are the type of cells that will repair damaged skin from cuts to bruises. However, some areas of the body contain less or even none of these cells, which is why our hearts for example cannot repair itself like our skin can when it faces an injury or disease. Compared with embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells have a more limited ability to give rise to various cells of the body. Unlike embryonic cells, adult stem cells don't have as wide of a capacity to produce specialized cells, and are generally limited to cell types in the organ of origin.
What is so fascinating about stem cells is that it is the use of the human body to heal itself, as opposed to surgery or the use of medication.

The abilities and use of stem cells for treatments are unprecedented. As more research is conducted and theories tested, medical professionals are discovering more effective ways to treat and even possibly cure diseases and biological conditions. One method of use is stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy, also known as regenerative medicine, promotes the reparative response of diseased, dysfunctional or injured tissue using stem cells or their derivatives. According to medical

personnel:
It is the next chapter of organ transplantation and uses cells instead of donor organs, which are limited in supply. Researchers grow stem cells in a lab. These stem cells are manipulated to specialize into specific types of cells, such as heart muscle cells, blood cells or nerve cells. The specialized cells can then be implanted into a person. For example, if the person has heart disease, the cells could be injected into the heart muscle. The healthy transplanted heart cells could then contribute to repairing defective heart muscle. (Mayo Clinic Staff)

This research is vital and could save lives.

That is why it is so important funding is promoted, especially for embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells are also vital for certain treatments but in order to be an effective form of treatment these cells must reproduce in large quantities to provide a sufficient amount of cells for treatment. This is particularly difficult for common types of adult stem cells due to their limited ability to divide. Secondly, they need to create the desired cell type. This is why embryonic cells are preferred because they are capable of transforming into any desired cell type. Another treatment and technological innovation that has been produced due to the research of stem cells is known as the “Skin gun”. Produced by the company RenovaCare, this device uses a patient’s own stem cells to treat major burns to heal the skin. As opposed to alternative burn treatments, this procedure takes only 90 minutes and results appear within days (National Geographic). The quick healing process is vital for burn victims to prevent infection, which is the primary cause of death from burn wounds. And the results are astounding. Independent test results conducted by one of the world’s largest university hospital’s show that “RenovaCare SkinGun™ achieves the ‘gold standard’ when it comes to viability for skin regeneration. Cell viability is essential to regenerating skin for burns, wounds, and cosmetic applications. Data confirmed that human skin stem cells sprayed

with the company’s patented SkinGun™ maintained 97.3% viability” (Schenck). Technologies like these would not be possible without funding and research for stem cells technologies. Embryonic stem cells are especially useful for cell therapy due to their ability to remain in an undifferentiated state and reproduce indefinitely. Scientists use embryonic stem cells, also more specifically known as pulipotent cells, which are made from cells found in very early human embryos, called blastocysts, to study how cells differentiate, under what signals they develop into adult cells, and even test certain genetic diseases (Embyonic Stem Cells). Typically these cells are gathered from unused embryos that are donated by couple who have undergone in vitro fertilization. Through this process, the egg and sperm are brought together in a lab dish, and frequently generates more embryos than a couple needs to achieve a pregnancy. These cells are used to further research stem cells and development, instead of used for cell therapy treatments. However, many scientists hope they can grasp the full potential of these pluripoten cells. According to researchers, “If reliable techniques can be developed, pluripotent stem cells could someday allow doctors to create customized, rejection-proof transplants to patch a scarred heart, reawaken damaged nerves or reboot an immune system incapable of fighting infection” ( Pluripotent Stem Cells 101). Scientists are able to culture and grow these cells and differentiate them to the function of their needs but have yet to develop a way of translating them. With more government support and funds, more research can be funded to further grasp the full potential of stem cells in an effort to help people with serious, and even life threatening, conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, or other disorders.