Positive and Negative Attention on Stem Cell Research

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As the healthcare field continues to grow and evolve at an accelerated rate, new and advanced technologies are sprouting up everyday and becoming increasingly commonplace. A technology that has garnered both positive and negative attention is transplanting stem cells. Hematopoietic stem cells refer to the body's blood forming blood cells (American Cancer Society, 2013). Here is some background information on these types of stem cells. These cells are young and immature.
Stem cells mostly live in the bone marrow (the spongy center of certain bones), where they divide to make new blood cells. Once blood cells mature, they leave the bone marrow and enter the bloodstream. A small number of stem cells also get into the bloodstream. These are called peripheral blood stem cells. (American Cancer Society, 2013).
Stem cells are unique because they are pluripotent meaning they can give rise to all cell lineages.
Disease can damage blood marrow and tissue. In order to repair this damage, doctors can transplant the stem cells described above into the patient in need. There are a few different names for this kind of transplant procedure. They are: bone marrow transplant, a peripheral blood stem cell transplant, and a cord blood transplant (American Cancer Society, 2013). The process of transplanting these hematopoietic stem cells involves a number of complex steps. The first step involves the patient receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation, which kill the diseased cells. This “conditions” the area (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 2014). Next, healthy stem cells are infused into this conditioned area. “These transplanted stem cells will begin to grow and produce healthy red and white blood cells and platelets” (Dana-Farber Can...

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...l Studies. PLOS Biology:. Retrieved March 26, 2014, from http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001738
Stem Cell Research. (n.d.). Stem Cell Research. Retrieved March 26, 2014, from http://www.citelighter.com/science/medicine/knowledgecards/stem-cell-research
Stem Cell Transplant - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Stem Cell Transplant - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Retrieved March 26, 2014, from http://www.dana-farber.org/Adult-Care/Treatment-and-Support/Treatment-Centers-and-Clinical-Services/Stem-Cell-Transplantation-Program.aspx
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

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