Researchers at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute have recently shown that a protein called GDF11 has

Stem Cell research and its funding have caused a lot of controversy throughout the past years. Stem cells are cells that are present in all living organisms. These cells have the potential to grow into any type of cell, including blood cells, nerves, muscles, and pancreatic cells. Stem cell research is essential because of the beneficial aspects it has to offer. Stem cells could potentially treat conditions such as Alzheimer 's, Parkinson 's, birth defects, strokes, Diabetes, cancer, and help in the reconstruction of severely damaged organs. Although stem cell research withholds great potential for many medical advances, a lot of controversy surrounds the sources and methods of obtaining stem cells and the possibility of improper usage of the knowledge acquired from research and experimentation. It is necessary for scientist to continue research as well as recognizing any ethical issues that may be present.

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.

Stem cell research has been quite a controversial topic since its origin in the 1960s by Gopal Das and Joseph Altman. Of course, anything that uses a human embryo would be. Stem cell research could open a vast number of new doors for modern science, it could let us test new drugs, one of which could be the unfound cure for AIDS or Alzheimer’s disease. However, this branch of science comes at a high price, the price of a human life that is only five to six days

Stem cells have become a subject of much interest and debate in politics, the scientific

The changes that occur in the niche are more important than in stem cells themselves when it comes to the failure of stem cell activity with aging. (Fowler, 2012)

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.

The groundbreaking scientific research underway happening this century is revolving around the field of regenerative medicine, specifically stem cell research. To begin to discuss whether or not stem cell research should be scientifically funded we must understand what stem cells are. According to Jordan Saltzberg, author of “The Current Embryonic Stem Cell Research Federal Funding Policy,” embryonic stem cells have the possibility to reproduce and continue to grow and also form any type of specialized cell unlike adult stem cells (2). Since the embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can form any specialized cell they are more valuable than adult stem cells (hASCs). Saltzberg has also stated, stem cells are present throughout a person 's life but are first found in the embryo (2). This shows that one day we may be able to use human adult stem cells instead of embryonic stem cells. Human embryonic stem cells are, for now, the most promising subfield of regenerative medicine. Stem cell research is debated by many different groups, for example the church, government, and everyday people. The majority of religions along with all of their followers believe the research to be unethical, whereas the government and scientific community think that it is vital for new scientific discoveries. Despite the

Stem cells have an interesting history that has been linked with debate and controversy whenever it is brought up in a conversation in today's society. However, most people do not know the reasoning behind stem cell testing or using them to benefit society. It all started in the mid 1800s, stem cells were discovered as the cells that were the "building blocks of all the other cells." They serve as the body's own repair system. Stem cells can be vary in size, how they are obtained, and their benefits, they can help solve problems of an everyday human being, and can possibly find a cure for some of the most heartbreaking diseases on the planet.

Adult stem cells are thought to be undifferentiated cells. According to the NIH, the main goal of adult stem cells is to repair and renew cells and tissue in the body (Stem Cell Basics). Compared to embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells origin is undetermined. However, scientists are excited over the recent discoveries emerging from research. Researchers have found adult stem cells are in the brain and heart where they believed stem cells would not exist. These findings can continue to help scientists develop research in which adult stem cells could become the basis of transplantation-based therapies (Zawada and Kalumuck). If scientists are able to control these cells in laboratories, they could develop transplant stem cells that could even rejuvenate a heart. If the heart is rejuvenated it could circumnavigate a heart transplant (Zawada and Kalumuck). Other examples of conditions that could be cured with rejuvenation are Diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, strokes, burns, spinal injuries, and more (Stem Cell

Embryonic Stem Cell is when you have to destroy the egg inside, thus rendering that egg to become a human. The Stem Cell is put into a petri dish where it will be cultured and feed nutrients (Bethesda). The Stem Cell is almost like a blank code, It can replenish a part of the body that is hurt or has a disease (Bigloo). Stem cells can be programed any where in the body to fix the issue. When the stem cell divides it will keep producing till the part of the body is back to normal (Bethesda). Stem cells can be program as muscle cells, a red blood cell, or even a brain cell. This amazing discovery has only been around for 40 years (Bigloo). Scientist have only sractch the surface on finding out what they can really do with embryonic stem cell research. In America Stem Cell Research has been ridiculed and looked down at. Religious and different political parties though say its morally unethical, that the scientist are “playing god” and those fertilized eggs don’t have a choice to live or die. Embryonic stem cell have shown to help fight almost 70 top diseases in the world. In the next following year possibly erasing them from the face of the earth. Stem cell research is the way of the future it can so many people that are on the brink of death. This discussion has been going on since stem cell research was founded 40 years a ago.

“Through the isolation and manipulation of cells, scientists are finding ways to identify young, regenerating ones that can be used to replace damaged of dead cells in diseased organs. This therapy is similar to the process of organ transplant, only the treatment consists of the transplantation of cells rather than organs. The cells that have shown by far the most promise of supplying diseased organs with healthy cells are called stem cells.” (Chapter Preface)

At Harvard Universities ' Stem Cell Institute (HSCI), two researchers - Richard T. Lee and Amy Wagers – have discovered a protein found in both mouse and human blood that can reverse the effects of heart failure in the elderly. Richard T. Lee, a Harvard Medical School professor and cardiologist, has many patients of old age who suffer from diastolic heart failure. Amy Wagers, a stem cell biologist and Harvard professor, stresses that the protein, called GDF-11, may be the first effective treatment for the common heart failures that effect many Americans today.

This means that adult stem cells exist in small groups and are mostly undifferentiated, meaning the cells have the capability to change into one or more cell types over time. While adult stem cells can be pushed to differentiate into different cell types, they cannot become every cell type in the body. This results in the adult stem cell offspring only being able to develop into only cell types related to the tissue of origin. For example, neuronal stem cells may develop into nerve cells of the brain or spinal cord, but not into cells of other organs, such as the liver. Adult stem cells are also capable of homing to specific environments in the body and regenerating functional tissue after injury.14 These additional functions of adult stem cells make them ideal candidates for therapeutic stem cell medicine because they are able to be used in specific patients to help rebuild damaged tissue, providing the patient with a better quality of life.

Research in the development of stem cells has become increasingly popular over the past decade. The fascination in the study of stem cells by scientists comes from the mystery of what the essential properties are and how cells differ. With the discovery of determining how stem cells are self renewing and identifying what causes stem cells to become specialized leads to the ability to create more cell-based remedies as well as preventing birth defects, more precise screening for new drugs and cloning of organs and tissues. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that renew themselves for long periods through cell division. They can also become specialized functional cells such as beating cells for heart

Aging, injuries and diseases like dystrophies are all ensue respectively from dying, damaged or malfunctioning specialised cells. Nowadays, researchers aim at finding possible methods to treat patients by understanding better how diseases develop.