Stem Cells

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Diseases like diabetes and sickle cell anemia don't have cures yet, but an effective treatment could be on the horizon—a treatment that has to do with stem cells. Stem cells are pluripotent, which means they can grow into any type of cell. Scientists believe that stem cells could be the answer to curing many genetic diseases, such as sickle cell and Parkinson's, and also many non-genetic illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease. However, the methods used for acquiring these stem cells are becoming increasingly controversial, as some believe that they are morally wrong. Up until recently, stem cells were only obtained from embryos, since all embryos start out as stem cells that eventually develop into organs, muscle, bones, and other body parts. These stem cells are called embryonic stem cells. They start out as an embryo donated for in vitro fertilization procedures, where surrogate mothers take someone else's fertilized egg and carry the baby until it is ready to be born. The eggs used were ones that were no longer needed for the procedures and were taken to labs, where their stem cells would be used. But South Korean scientists have found a way to get stem cells by cloning embryos. In laboratories, each egg cell's DNA is removed and replaced with another cell's DNA. This process is called nuclear transfer. The cell is grown in a culture dish and starts to divide, until it gets to be 3 to 5 days old. The egg is now called a blastocyst, which is basically a cluster of stem cells with an outer shell. Scientists break open the outer shells to gain access to the stem cells inside, and use these stem cells for research. Researchers have also been able to create a new method for creating cells. A Japanese scientist named Shin... ... middle of paper ... ...wouldn't be needed for in vitro fertilization procedures anymore. It's better that they die for research than die for no purpose. I believe that stem cells will make a huge impact on medical research and benefit everyone. We should continue to use embryonic stem cells until we discover these much-needed treatments. We can prevent so much pain and save so many lives. The human race needs to make a choice: the cells or the people? Works Cited "Stem Cell Basics: Introduction." NIH. National Institute of Health, 2002. Web. 03 Apr. 2014. . "Stem Cells Breakthrough." PBS. PBS, 23 Aug. 2008. Web. 03 Apr. 2014. . "Stem Cells: Early Research." PBS. PBS, 19 Apr. 2005. Web. 03 Apr. 2014. .

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