A Brief Study on Stem Cell Research

Many of us have all heard the saying that a “lizard can lose its tail,” and bizarrely enough it will grow back. This was always considered impossible for humans, an idea belonging in the realm of science fiction, but now the regeneration of tissue is an extremely realistic possibility. Despite some opinions, this process does not happen naturally, or take place as cinematically as one might imagine. Over the past decade, there have been major advances in regenerative medicine, commonly known as stem cell research. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells within the body that have the capability to specialize into any tissue. They are most commonly found in cord blood, bone marrow, organ donations, placenta, and embryos . Stem cells are seen by some as a new miracle treatment, encouraging many countries to invest in their research.

In preparation for this thesis on the topic of stem research and application; I gathered data through various methods to reach a broad consensus on the public impression of stem cell research. In this chapter I will discuss the findings of those ventures and the impressions it made on my research. I conducted a survey asking general information on the public’s knowledge of stem cell research and held a classroom forum asking for open opinions on research.

This article discusses the successful use of experimental stem cell treatments within a variety of clinical trials, discussing the two main types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. The article draws on research published by the Massachusetts Family Institute, "a pro-life group that is opposed to the use of embryonic stem cells" to illustrate the successful use of adult stem cells to reverse the effects of, or cure entirely, a number of severe diseases such as Crohn's disease and lupus. It also references a report by Medical Use Today which highlights encouraging experiments with embryonic stem cells that appear capable of reversing paralysis caused by spinal injuries. Written for religious audience tolerant of scientific advancements, the article focuses almost entirely on the positive aspects of experimental stem cell research, and cites studies that support its preconceptions on the subject. The author, a former "instrument development and computer science professional," possesses a scientific background which informs the construction of the article's overall argument. I found this article by searching the Ontartio Consultants on Religious Tolerance essay database, found at ReligiousTolerance.org.

Stem cells are cells that are found throughout the human body. They reproduce over a long period of time without changing. Stem cells can produce specialized cells, such as brain, muscle or lung cells. Stem cells in the last few years have recently made a big debut because medical professionals have discovered so many unique qualities to stem cells. They are on the cutting edge of medicine because of all their uses and the qualities that make them so unique from any other cell in the body. Stem cells have the power to make so many breakthroughs in the medical world. Medical researchers have all ready found so many ways that stem cells can be used for the better of so many people. Genes play an important role in determining what genetic traits or mutations we receive. Researching stem cells can help determine this. Stem cell research is useful for learning many things about human development and about how the body has the power to repair itself. Researchers are finding new ways each day that stem cells can be used and the possibilities that they find for stem cells could be endless. A few ways they can be used to treat diseases, be used as graphs for burn victims or surgical use, and even to correct birth defects. The pros of stem cells are limitless.

With exponential increases in the capabilities of modern technology, it only fits that we use this technology to further our existence as a species. Embryonic Stem Cell Research is one of the ways we have come up with to advance our species into the future. However, the perpetrators and supporters have been under fire and controversy since its inception in 1979. The protesters are fighting it mainly because it is destroying unborn fetuses in the process.Personally, I have a special and specific connection to embryonic stem cell research. As a Type 1 Diabetic, I know that the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation uses embryonic stem cell research in its efforts to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. The main use for the stem cells they have is

Both types of stem cells allow researchers to easily perform a variety of experiments with DNA, mutations, and so forth, without harming any full grown human beings (Jordan 116-1). Since adult stem cells come from a wide variety of tissues in the human body - pancreas, brain, fat, skin, umbilical cord, placenta - they can be successfully harvested without causing any harm to the patient (Weise 78). On the other hand, embryonic stem cells, by definition, come from a four or five day-old developing embryo. Not only does the harvesting of embryonic stem cells without permission from the embryo blatantly violate the Nuremberg Code, which dictates guidelines for scientific research on human beings, but the extraction of such cells results in the destruction of the embryo (Weise 42-43).

One of the biggest problems that biomedical scientists struggle with today is finding a cure to cancer. Thousands of scientists across the world devote their time and resources to solving this puzzle and saving thousands of lives. Over the last few decades, technology and medicine has advanced significantly increasing the life expectancy of the average human life. However, further steps need to be taken to achieve what doctors and scientists have set out to accomplish. In order to do this, many believe that embryonic stem cell research could be the key to unlocking a variety of medical problems. However, in the early 2000’s, the United States saw a significant decrease in federal funding available for this research. This could set back the medical advances by years if researchers could not continue their work. A decrease in restrictions while increasing federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is vital for taking steps forward in ethically finding cures for many injuries and diseases that affect millions of people every day.

Many controversial and moral stricken issues have been put into question in today's modern society. Some of which include gay marriage, and abortion. Yet one of the most controversial has to be stem cell research. A Stem Cell is a "generic" cell that can make exact copies of itself indefinitely. It also has the ability to make specialized cells for various tissues in the body such as the heart muscle, brain and liver. But why exactly is stem cell research so controversial? Well mostly those who oppose embryonic stem cell research do so on the grounds that the cells die in the process. But what those people might not know is that an embryo is no bigger than a pinhead. And therefore there is no human suffering. Stem cell

Additionally, embryonic stem cells have allowed drug testing to be made safer. It allows scientists to test the drugs on cells that are better representations of human cells than the previous test subjects, which were animals. Embryonic stem cells also allow scientists to study human development within the embryonic stage, and cellular reactions to disease. This means that because these cells are actual human cells, they will react to disease and disorders in the same fashion as the cells within human people. By looking at this reaction and development, researchers gain a clearer understanding of what these disorders are, how they affect human development, and possible treatments, cures, or preventative measures. Another point of progress for

The first topic is whether or not the research is carried out ethically. According to this article, researchers are required to comply with extremely strict regulations that have been set up in accordance with national and international standards. The next issue brought up is where the embryos come from. All embryos used come from embryos created from in vitro fertilization. All embryos used would have otherwise been destroyed and thrown out. These embryos are freely given and must have explicit consent from the donor. Embryos never come from aborted fetuses. One downside to this form of research is that embryos used are almost always destroyed in the process. However, all of the embryos would have been destroyed either way. Another misconception is that adult stem cells are just as useful as embryonic stem cells. This is not true. While adult stem cells can be useful, they are not nearly as useful as embryonic stem cells. The main difference is that embryonic stem cells have a special ability to grow into any type of cell such as a neuron, heart cell, or bone cell. Adult stem cells do not possess this ability. Heart stem cells can only turn into heart cells. Another worry is that embryonic stem cell research will lead to human cloning, however, The National Academy of Sciences and The International Society for Stem Cell Research have both banned human

A Stem Cell is a similar cell to a multicellular organism. That organism has the ability make an infinite amount of the same type cells.

Stem cells make up every organ and tissue that reside inside the human body. These cells help to regenerate and replace defective tissues and cells that are injured and destroyed within our body everyday. Former President, George W. Bush, felt so strongly opposed to the development of this research that he cast the first veto of his presidency when Congress tried to broaden the scope of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007. In this veto he stated that, “This bill crosses a moral line that I and others find troubling.” (1)

Numerous people die every day from diseases such as ALS, Parkinson’s, cancer, and many other things. These deaths may be preventable, through a somewhat new field of science, embryonic stem cell research. This field involves research that could develop cures or methods of preventing, treating, or medicating people afflicted with these debilitating, often deadly disorders. This field, unfortunately, is not supported by everyone. In fact it is so controversial, that in America, federal funding is not allowed. This severely limits the opportunities that these special cells can provide. Yet scientists continue to research these cells, because they feel that it is a field worth

What kind of research sparks a battle between religious-ethics, political, and scientific theories and beliefs? What makes you question right or wrong, moral or immoral, good or bad? The answer is stem cell research. So what is a stem cell? “Stem cells… are in effect, a human self-repair kit.” (Christopher Reeve, activist Larry King, CNN) Stem cells are cells that exist in an undifferentiated state, and can transform into any of the 220 types of cells that exist in our body. Stem cells have the ability to repair many classes of damaged human tissues without the fear of tissue rejection. There are two types of stem cells but the most promising are the embryonic stem cells- labeled as today’s

Another milestone in science has been reached: the discovery of stem cells in the 19th Century. Stem cells have the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009). According to the National Institutes of Health, embryonic stem cells derive from four to five day old embryos, also known as blastocyst, that have been fertilized in vitro and donated to research purposes with informed consent from the donors. Adult embryonic stem cells are found in differentiated cells in a tissue or organ. The main purpose of these cells is to repair the damaged tissue in which they are found. Since this discovery, there has been controversy over whether embryonic and adult stem cell research should be federally funded, and the ethics involved.