Stem Cells Offer Great Promise

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Stem cells offer great promise for success in future medical treatments. However, there still remains to be biased opinions on whether or not the use of stem cell for research is the most appropriate and effective tool for medical research. This topic is especially important for people who are suffering from disease that is capable of being treated through stem cell use. For these people, the treatment has the potential to change their outlook on life to a positive one. The advancements are diverse and have the potential to help cure numerous diseases and illnesses. Scientists are striving to find even more ways than they have already to repair damaged tissue in the human body and cure these diseases entirely through the usage of stem cells, and scientists believe that this will lead to further medical advancements for researchers. The issue of stem cell research first began on the scientific scene in November of 1998 when researchers first reported the isolation of human embryonic stem cells. The discovery, made by Dr. James A. Thomson, a biologist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, offered great promise for new ways of treating diseases through stem cell use. The stem cells, which are derived from several-day-old embryos, can theoretically differentiate into virtually any type of human cell, ranging from blood cells to skin cells (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2011). According to the American Medical Association (2013), a stem cell is an immature cell that has the potential to become specialized into different types of cells throughout the body. There are two basic types of stem cells: adult stems cells and embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are produced when a newly fertilized egg begins... ... middle of paper ... ...he advancement of science (Aug. 12, 2011). AAAS Policy Brief: Stem Cell Research. Retrieved from http://www.aaas.org American medical association (2013). Basics of Stem Cell Research. Retrieved from http://www.ama-assn.org California institute for regenerative medicine (Jan. 11, 2013). Myths and Misconceptions About Stem Cell Research. Retrieved from http://www.cirm.ca.gov Maxmen, Amy. (June 13, 2013). Personalized Medicine Enters A New Era. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org. Murnaghan, Ian. (Oct. 30, 2011). Pluripotent Stem Cells. Retrieved from http://www.explorestemcells.co National human genome research institute (Apr. 2006). Cloning/Embryonic Stem Cells. Retrieved from http://www.genome.gov National institutes of health, U.S. department of health and human services (Apr. 28, 2009). Stem Cell Information. Retrieved from http://stemcells.nih.gov

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