Cord Blood Banking Essay

These cells come from fetuses which is why stem cells are such a controversial issue. In order to actually use embryonic cells, they must be harvested from an unborn baby that is in the early stages of life. Embryonic cells have the ability to be all 220 types of tissues in the human body. “This makes them ideal for regenerating diseased heart tissue, repairing spinal cords, and replenishing brain cells”, Elizabeth Svoboda, an author in the publicized Popular Science magazine, illustrates in her article about stem cells (60). Embryonic cells have limitless possibilities in medical advancement. These cells can become whatever type of cell a doctor program them to be. With the use of embryonic stem cells, doctors can cure several diseases, as well as curing people who have suffered injuries, but research is being slowed down by the ethical dilemma of aborting a

The transfer of information, often shared through scientific reports and research, puts this topic in a highly international spotlight. Many supporters believe that stem cells will be able to help solve once untreatable diseases or injuries such as spinal cord injuries, skin burns, Parkinson’s disease, and some blood disorders. However, the main argument is if stem cells should be used in finding therapeutic treatments. The use of embryonic stem cells is viewed by many as a moral inconsistency; it is opposed by religious organizations and individuals believing that this research should be abandoned and existing, alternative methods be adapted.

The first type of stem cell, an embryonic stem cell, is known for being able to continuously multiply, as well as for being pluripotent. They can be “derived in vitro from the blastocyst of an embryo usually left over from in vitro fertilization” (Forraz & McGuckin, 2011, p.61). Unlike other types of stem cells, embryonic stem cells have yet to be used in any kind of clinical treatment of patients. The high risks of “immune rejection” or “teratoma formation” are serious obstacles (Harris, 2009, p.182). The second type of stem cell, adult stem cells, is primarily considered to be multipotent and may be found in “specific adult human tissues” such as the skin or bone marrow, just to name a few. Over the last twenty years, the amount of scientific research and trials using adult stem cells has grown significantly, despite their lower potency than embryonic stem cells (Forraz & McGuckin, 2011, p.61). Lastly, cord blood stem cells, are technically considered to be a special type of adult stem cell, but their youthful properties give them “greater restorative and regenerative potential.” Directly following the birth of a child, these stem cells can be collected from the blood in the umbilical cord (Steenblock & Payne, 2006, p.9). Embryonic, adult, and cord blood stem cells

It doesn’t stop at the cord blood either. Further research shows that stem cells can be obtained

When making any decision regarding a child’s future, any parent would (presumably) opt for a choice that increases the child's chances for health and well being. In recent years parents have been offered the option to save umbilical cord blood. This procedure has become known as cord blood banking. Cord blood banking has been discovered to offer many ways to help ensure not only the child’s health, but in some cases, other members of the family as well. Cord blood banking offers a plethora of health benefits that can save a child and their family from suffering the devastating effects of many diseases. Cord blood could, in many cases, essentially save your child's life.

Embryonic stem cells have the ability to save countless of lives and not just in the United States but throughout the whole world. There are many unlimited capabilities to generate better health to the human body with the studies of embryonic stem cells. It can really make a difference in the world of medicine with astonishing breakthroughs. Embryonic stem cell research is ethical and should be acceptable in society rather than wasted aside, because it can cure diseases, save lives, and can extend the human life span. There are limited of acknowledgment for embryonic stem cells, and yet they hold the key to a promising future.

There is a debate over the ethics of stem cell research and many people on opposing sides of the issue are not aware of all aspects. In order to intelligently debate the legal and ethical issues regarding stem cell research, one must understand what stem cells are, the applications currently available, and the impact of the research. It is also important to understand the distinction between adult and embryonic stem cells before exploring their uses and impacts

Therefore, much of the critic’s arguments are invalid due to the fact that the embryo won’t develop into a child. Stem cells are the beginning of an enormous scientific breakthrough, a breakthrough that critics are simply putting off. Embryonic stem cells have the potential to treat some of the worst diseases we face today, such as cancer. Many critics argue that adult stem cells offer a good alternative. However, adult stem cells have become specialized and only have the ability to become specific type of tissue. Unlike adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells have the ability to create any type of cell within the body, as well as replicate themselves. This difference is proof alone that embryonic stem cells are vital to treating the more complex illnesses. Due to this, embryonic stem cells would create a larger bank of replacement cells and tissues. This is important because although there is organ and tissue donation, there is a higher demand for them than we have to supply. With embryonic stem cells, there would be more available treatment for patients with diseases such as macular degeneration, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, and more. In the case of heart disease, with the use of embryonic stem cells, healthy heart tissue could be generated in the lab and then transplanted. This would lead to a quicker treatment option than waiting for an available tissue and organ through

One of the most controversial topics these days is Stem Cell Research. There seems to be a split opinion among societies about the research and whether it is socially and morally acceptable. As a society, we need to open our minds to the possibility of broadening our scientific horizons with stem cell research, and take the time to learn and understand whatever we can about it.

Stem cells were first discovered during an experiment with mice in 1981 ("Stem Cell Information"). Scientists extracted stem cells from embryonic mice, which led to the discovery of vitro-fertilization in 1998. Virto fertilization is used to conceive a child in a laboratory, for parents who cannot conceive naturally. The fertilized egg is then implanted inside a mother's uterus and a child begins to form. Without the discovery of stem cells, this process might not have been able to give parents the children they have always wanted ("Stem cells: What they are and what they do"). However, this is causing some controversy in today's society. Embryonic stem cells are obtained from embryos not placed inside a female. Researchers felt it could harm or even kill the undeveloped child, so they felt the only solution was to grow the fertilized eggs in laboratories. The embryos are grown in labs with consent from their donors. The stem cell obtained from these embryos are being used to benefit burn victims so they could grow healthy skin, people with spinal cord injuries so they could have the chance to walk again and even people with type I diabetes to help produce their own insulin. If these cells are able to be manipulated enough, there might even be a cure for cancer or any other heart breaking diseases wrecking havoc today (Mayo Clinic Staff). Stem cells are also

The process when stem cells give rise to blood cells, or any other specialized cells, is called differentiation (“Stem Cell Basics”). Stem Cells’ ability of differentiation can be targeted and directed to generate tissue and therefore to cure degenerative diseases (Panno 24-28). However, such medical promise faces the doubts and gives rise to disputes. In fact, federal funds for stem cell research were banned under President Bush’s administration, but the ban was then lifted by President Obama’s administration (Obama). Despite the different arguments, more medical trials should be conducted with embryonic stem cells in order to determine whether the medical promise is applicable or far-fetched.

While using stem cells to treat cancer, doctors have discovered a way to perform stem cell transplants which could be done using two different types of treatment. The first transplant method is an autologous transplant which means the stem cells come from the person receiving the transplant while the other transplant method is an allogeneic transplant meaning the stem cells will be given to the patient by a matched donor, usually a close family member such as a sibling or a parent. These donated cells can also come from the umbilical cord or placenta of a newborn baby but the blood taken from the umbilical cord typically does not contain enough stem cells for a large adult so they are saved for children or petite adults. The autologous method tends to be more beneficial because the patient is using their own cells and don’t run the risk of new stem cells attacking their body, which is already under a lot of stress. However, cancer cells could be collected along with the stem cells and enter the patient’s blood stream or bone marrow, the stem cells could also not be accepted into the bone marrow once put into the body. This method has been found successful among leukemias, lymphomas, testicular cancers, and some

As he lies and stares at the same blank ceiling, he begins to question his very existence. At only four years old, he sees the same doctor at the same hospital a minimum of once a week. He wonders why he suffers while other children his age are allowed to run and play. With his condition, he knows his fate will soon be determined, but he is unaware that the type of sickle cell disease from which he is suffering can be cured using stem cells. Scientists have recorded two types of stem cells – embryonic and adult. Stem cells can be retrieved not only from embryos, but also umbilical cords, the placenta, amniotic fluid, and adult tissues and organs (“Stem Cells,” 2011, p.12). Stem cell research is only a small part of a much larger field of regenerative medicine that includes cell-based therapies, gene technology, and tissue engineering (Lysaght & Campbell, 2013, p.251). Stem cells exist in tissues all stages of life; however, they differ in the range cell types that they can form (Merwe & Urban, 2016, p.6). Supporters of stem cell research believe the research is acceptable and that society is obligated to perform life-saving biomedical research (Clifford & Jerit, 2013, p.661). Continuing stem cell research has many medical advantages such as treating diseases, growing organs to test specific drugs, and the potential cures.

Cord blood banking involves collecting blood left in your newborns umbilical cord and placenta and storing it for future medical use. Cord blood contains potentially lifesaving cells called stem cells. The stem cells in cord blood are different from embryonic stem cells.

Firstly, the use of embryonic stem cells, which that are advocated as the best stem cells to used due partly to their ease of regeneration and freedom from disease, often results in the killing of an embryo. As this denying an upcoming human being the right to life, many ethical questions have been raised. Stem cells, especially adult stem cells, cannot be grown in a culture for a long period, and they often pose a challenge as it is difficult to distinguish them from others. Also, there is no current technology on how to produce stem cells in large quantities. These drawbacks have posed challenges regarding how large-scale production can be achieved for medical purposes. Stem cell transplants sometimes become impossible, as there is no current process in the human body that can bring about their regeneration. These cells may result in tumors if used recklessly from undistinguished cultures. Adult stem cells also may pose big challenges regarding compatibility, especially when cells derived from one person are used in another. Another point is that the cells may lead to genetic problems that may affect the recipient negatively. In addition, the cells lack a method of reproducibility and maintenance, which often pars their multiplication. Finally, those found in cultures sometimes age and