There has been much controversy regarding stem cell research and its uses in health care. The controversy has spanned since the early 1940’s when stem cell research was just a theory and carries on now in 2012 as it has become a reality. Stem cells are cells which are usually in the earliest stages of life which allows them to be able to have the potential for development into many different types of specialized cells. They also are self-renewing and therefore can produce even more stem cells that can continue to develop in to the specialized or unspecialized cells that are needed throughout the body. Stem cells are usually broken into two, very broad groups, embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. According to Goldie, Embryonic stem cells are considered of a pluripotent capacity, which means they are able to form tissues of all three germ layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. However, these cells are not capable of forming a living being in its entirety (74-75). Goldie continues on by stating that only cells of a totipotent nature, which is the ability of a single cell to divide and produce all the differentiated cells, are capable of producing an entire being. Stem cell may be used in research by offering information regarding the complexity of cells and their development in relations to human development. Certain serious medical conditions that plague society today, such as congenital birth defects and cancer, may be attributed to abnormal cell division and differentiation that are noted. Through stem cell research we can have more information about how the disease process is triggered and offer new information in regards to the appropriate therapy, as human stem cells are often used to test new medicines. As noted... ... middle of paper ... ...treatment and cure of all degenerative diseases. Their success will not be possible unless the scientist of this field start to share ideas and resource. The benefits of having such treatment options could impact the world in many different ways that wouldn’t adhere to the masses, but eventually become part of our everyday life. Works Cited Goldie, MP. "Stem Cell Research: Transforming Medicine." International Journal Of Dental Hygiene 7.1 (2009): 74-75. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 25 Mar. 2012. Hook, et al. "The Science And Ethics Of Induced Pluripotency: What Will Become Of Embryonic Stem Cells?." Mayo Clinic Proceedings 86.7 (2011): 634-640. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 25 Mar. 2012. Russo E (2005) Follow the Money—The Politics of Embryonic Stem Cell Research. PLoS Biol 3(7): e234. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0030234
Because stem cells are essentially a blank slate, scientists are theoretically capable of growing any human tissue cell. There is enormous medical potential in this. Stem cell research is the next step in advancing the medical field. It is comparable to the discovery of penicillin or the inoculation for smallpox.
Francis (Ed.), At Issue. Should the Government Fund Embryonic Stem Cell Research?. Detroit: Greenhaven Press. (2009). (Reprinted from, n.d.) (Reprinted from Science Magazine, 22 September 2006) Retrieved from http://padme.cochise.edu:2067/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Viewpoints&prodId=OVIC&action=2&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010587207&userGroupName=sier28590&jsid=67271fc8c381f89007dff41cfd3813e6
This report does a fairly comprehensive job on educating the public to the definition of stem cells, describing them as “a diverse group of remarkable multipotent cells that are relatively undifferentiated and unspecialized cells of the body.” Stem cells have the capacity for unlimited self-renewal and the possibility to produce differentiated descendant cell types. The main in...
Stem cells have several potential applications. Stem cells can be used to study development by helping us to understand how a complex organism develops from a fertilized egg. Some of the serious medical conditions such as cancer and birth defects which are lead by abnormal cell division and differentiation will have new therapy dealing with stem cell research. Stem cells have the ability to replace damaged cells and treat disease of extensive burns, leukemia (a cancer of blood forming tissues) and other blood disorders. Today, doctor use donated tissues and organs to replace damaged tissue, but the need for the tissues and organs far outweighs the available supply. With the stem cells, it can offer the enormous sources of replacement cells and tissues. Third, stem cells could be used to study disease. Today, scientists use stem cells to model disease processes in the laboratory to better understand what goes wrong in the disease genes. Finally, stem cells could provide a resource for testing new medical treatments. Lot of new medications could be tested on specialized cells from stem cell lines which can reduce the animal testing. For example, cancer cell lines are used to screen potential anti tumor drugs to see the effects on cells.
Snow, Nancy. “Stem Cell Research New Frontiers in Sciences and Ethics”. Houston Community College Library. 2004. Print. 10 Nov 2011.
This paper focuses on the benefits of stem cell research in the medical and nursing field. New technology is always being created to help us understand the way the human body works, as well as ways to help us improve diseased states in the body. Our bodies have the ability to proliferate or regrow cells when damage is done to the cells. Take for example the skin, when an abrasion or puncture to the skin causes loss of our skin cells, the body has its own way of causing those cells to regrow. The liver, bone marrow, heart, brain, and muscle all have cells that are capable of differentiating into cells of that same type. These are called stem cells, and are a new medical tool that is helping regrow vital organs in our body to help us survive. Stem cells can come from adult cells, or the blastocyst of the embryo. The cells that come from these are undifferentiated, and can be specialized into certain cell types, making them available for many damaged tissues in the body. While using stem cells in the body is a main use, they are also being used to help doctors understand how disease processes start. By culturing these cells in the lab and watching them develop into muscles, nerve cells, or other tissues, researchers are able to see how diseases affect these cells and possibly discover ways to correct these diseases. While researchers have come very far in using stem cells, there are still many controversies to overcome when using these cells.
Stem cell research is on the forefront of regenerative medicine and biological science. It is the study of certain cells in the inner mass of the embryo that are produced a few days after the embryo forms during the blastocyst stage. They are the most primitive of all human cells. They are undifferentiated cells, which mean the cells are not designated to be any special type of cell, such as a nerve, muscle, or skin cell. The cell's specialization is later influenced by the molecules, which are usually proteins that surround the cell (Marshak 220-223). The proteins are typically produced by the mother, but under certain laboratory conditions, distinctive proteins can be introduced and a definite, mature cell type is produced. The cells that are produced could be implanted into a subject to replace worn out cells, or cells that have been destroyed due to disease or injury.
Information on the Nation Institutes of Health government website teaches us that there are many benefits and possibility that can come from the research of stem cells. Studying them can help researchers understand the transformation of cells during the development inside the womb. With this we can estimate when birth defects take place thus making prevention possible.
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.
Within the past few years, scientist have made several breakthroughs with human stem cells. These breakthroughs have catapulted the issue of stem cell research into the middle of a national debate. Most people have no problem with the research itself, however the source of the stem cells (adult or human embryos) used in research is the primary cause of the debate. Some people feel that destroying an embryo is comparable to murder, even if the research it promotes may help people with serious illnesses. Other believe that an embryo is not a person and therefore research on an embryo is the same as research on any other group of cells.
“Stem Cells: The Future of Medicine.” Medschool.umaryland.edu. University of Maryland School of Medicine Web 14 Nov 2013
Those who are opposed to embryonic stem cell research reject it based on a moral issue. Some object to stem cell research on the basis that it involves the elimination of the most basic form of human life (Issitt). Former President George W. Bush strongly believed in the right to life and his polices during his terms displayed this. In 2005 and 2007, President Bush vetoed two bills for the federal funding embryonic stem cell research (Issitt). In addition to the moral issue, many cite the pitfalls...
In today’s world it may seem like there are millions of new and old diseases, but with advancing medical technology and brilliant research done by scientists involving stem cells, there are more miraculous cures, however, they are not without, great controversy. Recently, scientists have been looking into stem cells, and trying to learn what they are all about. Some of the new information people have found is incredible, and even life saving, but, there are also several problems. This is, without a doubt, a very intriguing topic, but, also very controversial.
For the past few years, there has been a continuous controversy regarding the bioethical issues of stem cells and the pros/cons of its research. In order to understand the clash of opposing opinions on stem cells, it is important to know the root of stem cells, as well as their functions and scientific findings. “Stem Cells are very essential to develop organisms. They are non-specialized cells which have the potential to create other types of specific cells, such as blood, brain, tissue or muscle cells” (Experiment Resources, 2008). In addition, injuries or illnesses that cause dead cells can be replaced with new healthy cells via steam cells (Houdmann, 2010). It has been shown that, “stem cell research strives to achieve the cultivation and nutriment of stem cells, the basic cell of the body, enabling it to be reproduced to other specific parts of the body” (Ganesh, 2010).
Science can be described as the pursuit of innovation, advancement and opportunity. Stem cells have offered scientists and the world a new doorway to treat diseases and help millions. The major, significant discovery of stem cells is their ability to differentiate into any cell type which can help rebuild damaged organs. One thing for certain is that these cells brought huge controversies over their uses, how scientists should obtain them, and if the embryos should be used at all on the basis that they should be held on the same morals as humans. Although with these monumental issues at hand, researchers have not given up hope that one day these stem cells will be widely accepted and be used for the benefit of the people.