Stem Cell Research Essay

Stem cell derivatives may be a beneficial source of transplantable cells that may be able to repair and regenerate certain tissues. If this could be accomplished, the medical benefits would be enormous, such as helping Parkinson disease, MS, diabetes, and muscular dystrophies. Although, this could be an extremely important advancement in the field of medicine, there exist many ethical and religious issues that look down upon destroying embryos for research. The stem cells that are focused on in this report are embryonic stem cells. However, adult stem cells may also be used to give rise to lineages of cells that are more specialized than themselves. They are more differentiated than embryonic stem cells. Research using adult stem cells is much less controversial since they can be obtained without destroying an embryo. There is also a strong political aspect that has been brought up in recent discussions regarding groups who try to push adult stem cell research over embryonic stem cell research since they consider it a more permissible option. In contrast, people in favor of embryonic stem cell research try to discredit the potential of adult stem cell studies.

In my opinion using aborted fetal tissue for embryonic stem cell research is ethical. Even though my Catholic beliefs teach that life starts at conception I still have my own opinion. Human dignity is a term that states that because we are made in the image and likeness of God, we have value and worth. Though the fetus has a heartbeat, it has no human emotions or conscience. If you were to end what may have become a human to help a living human not suffer their entire life, what you have done was good. My opinion and my reasoning are my own, everyone can have an opinion on this matter, which needs further discussion in the scientific community and in the

Specifically, this pertains to stem cell research. In keeping with the principle of utilitarianism it is morally correct to treat embryo with a higher purpose than any other cells. Embryos have great potential in treating the world’s illnesses that other cells do not so to be moral we must do what is best for the most people. In keeping respect for embryos we could choose only the most beneficial research to be approved for their use thus being as utilitarian as possible. In this way embryos lie somewhere in between the moral value of humans and other bodily tissues. If embryos did not have the medical potential they do, then I would say they only deserve the respect other bodily tissue deserves. Embryos have no consciousness or sentiment like other tissue but, have

The reason stem cells are such a big breakthrough in medical technology is that they are cells that have the remarkable ability to grow into just about any cell in the body (Introduction n. pag). In fact, stem cells that remain in the human body after birth “serve as a sort of internal repair system,” in many tissues and organs (Basics n. pag). This is an extremely efficient way of healing since stem cells can become

While few can debate the potential “miracle cure” aspect that seems to be wrapped within stem cell research, the method for obtaining such cells has been a topic for debate. The process of extracting pluripotent cells destroys their host embryo, and as yet, no pluripotent cells have been found in older adult tissues. Opponents of research on embryonic cells claim that embryos – from the moment that fertilization occurs – are sentient human beings and should therefore be afforded the same protections against abuse as anyone else (“The Cases For”). But what if a method were readily available were viable stem cells could be extracted from an embryo in a manner that would not deny life – however such life were defined – to the unborn fetus? What if such a potential solution could ease the minds of not only those who oppose stem cell research but also help to quell the dispute of another “Do Not Kill” issue – abortion?

Scientists first discovered stem cells in the early 1980s while experimenting with embryonic stem cells from mice. This later triggered the studies for human embryonic stem cells in the late 1990s. Stem cell could be defined as, "a clonal, self-renewing entity that is multipotent and thus can generate several differentiated cell types.” In other words, stem cells are able to grow into just about any cell in the body. Stem cells regularly repair worn out organs; for instance our taste buds has to be replaced every 10 days, skin cells are replaced after every couple of weeks, and liver cells turn over every 300 to 500 days. Stem cells carry out specific function and thus those that remain in the human body after birth serves as a sort of internal

Stem cell research is a highly controversial topic that may hold the key to developing a cure for many cancers and diseases. In 1998, a group of scientists developed a technique to isolate and grow stem cells. The field is extremely new when compared with other fields. A few things need to be discussed before an argument can be made for or against stem cell research, the types of stem cells, the potential uses, and where funding should come from. There are many different types of stem cells and each one has a different role in promoting breakthroughs in the many diseases that can possibly be cured.

The most important potential application of human stem cells is the generation of cells and tissues that could be used for cell-based therapies. Today, the demand for donated organs and tissues to replace ailing or destroyed tissue usually outweighs the available supply. Stem cells, directed to differentiate into specific cell types, offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat many diseases and damaged

Stem cell research is one of the most fascinating discoveries of today’s science. Stem cells are cells that are found in all multi-cellular organisms. There are two types of stem cells: the embryonic stem cell, which is found in an embryo, and the adult stem cell, which is found in adult tissues. They have the ability to divide themselves into other specialized cell types which will grow to become the human body parts such as the circulatory system, the nervous system and the immune system. While legal, “several lawsuits have been filed relating to stem cell research issues. In March 2013, a lawsuit was filed in federal court to stop federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research and to overturn the NIH guidelines” (Duffy).

Stem cells are biological cells found in all multi cellular organisms. They have a unique feature of a remarkable potential to self renew and form other specialized types of cells in addition, they are able to produce more stem cells found in the human body. Scientists confirmed the existence of three different types of stem cell, the embryonic stem cell, adult stem cell and the induced stem cell. Among these three stem cells, the embryonic stem cells are regarded as the cells with the highest potential because they can cell divide themselves to form over the 220 different types of cells found in the human body. While this is the case in embryonic stem cells , the adult stem cells are termed as insufficiently functional because these cells

Rendering itself as a basic unit of growth and development, stem cells are essential in early life. They are small, unspecialized cells capable of reproducing and differentiating into different cell types. These cells can turn into a functional cell such as a muscle cell, organ-specific cell, brain cell, or a red blood cell. Despite controversy, stem cell research has given life back to suffering individuals and brought hope to the medical field. Along side many other major advancements of biology in the last century, stem cell research has taken off and found tremendous success just in the last fifteen years.

Embryonic stem cells are bodily cells that are in development during the first stages of life. These are the cells that will go on to make all of the body tissues of the offspring, like neurons, blood and skin cells. (Farrell et al.). With these human cells scientists can repair damaged tissue of diseased patients as well as study the diseases they have. Only recently have stem cells been available to collect and study. Currently, there are only a few methods of collection, such as retrieving them from in vitro fertilization: Aborted fetuses. However, these methods do not supply a constant source of the stem cells, and currently there are too few cultures of cells in labs to attempt any real medical advancement with. So, if

In life many individuals had come to face a variety of adversity such as loved ones passing away from incurable malicious diseases or even seeing them in gruesome pain, waiting for an organ donor. Fortunately, medicine has been advancing throughout the years and is expanding more and more as our technology progresses. One miraculous research that shows great results in advancing our medical technology is stem cells. Stem cells are “specialized cells that can self-renew indefinitely and that can also differentiate into more mature cells with specialized functions”(Stem 12). These cells are able to divide itself for indefinite periods. They generate a lot and are able to create new cells, it especially has the potential to either remain as a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function; such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell (Ruse 56). In addition, they can remarkably serve as a sort of internal repair in some tissues with the ability to convert into a different cell. Seeing that it can generate and convert, it is no wonder that stem cells are an effective method to use. Stem cells are an effective mechanism that poses many advances in our medical research that can aid to many new discoveries and cure, though it is often regarded as unethical.

Research is being conducted on both embryonic and adult stem cells due to their ability to divide indefinitely. By keeping a close eye on stem cells as they mature into specialized cells, doctors and

Stem cells are homogeneous cells found in the human body which have potential to change into, or differentiate into a range of specific types of cells (Stoppler, 1996). The refurbishment and protection of many adult tissues are safeguarded by stem cells (SCs) which exist in the top of the cellular sorting section of these tissues (Beck, 2013). Practical assessments, such as transplantation, in vitro clonogenic assesses (technique used to study efficacy of exact agents in terms of the proliferation and endurance of cells) and in vivo lineage tracing, have been undertaken to evaluate the repairing and differentiation capability of normal SCs (Beck, 2013). Currently, research is on-going to resolve whether stem cell therapy is