Stem Cell Research Essay

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 cell research is the future of medical and biological research and remedies, and it is fascinating to watch the progression of this new and important science as it unfolds. These cells were discovered in mouse embryos in the 1980s, and are remarkable because of their potential to grow into a variety of different kinds of cells within a body. Common in fetuses, and more rare in adult animals of all kinds, stem cells can be manipulated in useful ways to repair many tissues, dividing limitlessly for therapeutic purposes. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential either to remain a stem cell or to differentiate into more specialized tissue, such as nerve, pancreas, bone marrow, or unique blood components. Initially

Once the stem cells are derived from either the In Vitro Fertilization embryo, or the aborted fetus they are then put into a cell culture where they can grow. If the cells stay alive during this time period they are sent to other laboratories for research.

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.

There are a few different kinds of stem cells. These different type of stem cells depends on where it came from. As of now, there are only a couple sources for stem cell’s. The first kind of stem cells are adult stem cell. These adult stem cells can be obtained from specialized tissue in both children and adults. Since these cells are older, they are further along in the differentiation process, meaning they can only change into a few types of cells instead of the 200 that comes with embryonic stem cells. This is also called being pluripotent. (Miller

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

Stem cells have a plethora of side effects that over powers the benefits. The ability to differentiate is known as plasticity, and it is thought to only be at its greatest in embryonic stem cells. In order for the embryonic cells to be of use they must be fertilized, after which, the stem cell is removed, destroying the embryo. Stem cells can be used in adults; however it is believed through the consensus of the medical community that the plasticity of embryonic stem cells is not even closely matched by those of adult stem cells. The general idea is that “adult stem cells have a limited capacity to differentiate (Solter 8).” Adult stem cells are already stuck in their ways, which makes it useless, in a way. They can only reproduce the same cell type that they originate from. Thus, despite the prospecting medical leaps that this technology can provide, the process of how to obtain the embryonic stem cells overwhelms the benefits by far.

Stem cells have the potential to develop and multiply into many different cell types in the body. Stem cells are able to divide throughout life without limit. This causes the stem cells to be able to develop into another cell type, which means it is specialised cell; to do a more specific function or it may remain the same. [5] As stem cells divide they have the ability to help to be able to renew or repair damaged tissue.[3,5]There are two main stem cell, Embryonic Stem Cells and Adult Stem Cells. [1,2,3] As my research question is about embryonic stem cells, I will discuss embryonic stem cells specifically. Embryonic stems cells are pluripotent stem cells that are derived from a human embryo that is four to five days old. An embryo,

Stem cells are the basic building blocks of our body; they are the built-in first aid kit that repairs our body after damage has occurred (Freudenrich & Watson, 2004). Our body naturally supplies stem cells, but as our body matures, the stem cells do as well. These mature stem cells become specialized to a specific type of tissue and cannot be used for any other place in the body. As we get older, our body produces less of these stem cells, which causes adults to heal less quickly than children.

Stem Cell Research is still the most controversial topic in science today. The idea behind the experiment involves the development, use, and destruction of human embryos. The research method mainly focuses on embryonic stem cells, which involves taking tissue from an aborted embryo to get a better look at the cell and obtain information for the fundamental properties of the cells. Embryonic stem cells play a major role in the research because the cell provides information for cell development to create new drugs for medical disorders. Although stem cell research seems like that this perception could help cure precarious diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson 's, and even diabetes, which would help the United States heavily, many consider the procedure unethical and dangerous. Stem cell research could help bring further advancement to the medical field, it can also transfer destruction.

Stem cells are primitive cells found in embryos, fetuses, and recently adults that can grow into 210 types of cells in the body. James A. Thomson, an embryologist at the University of Wisconsin, and John D. Gearhart of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine announced on Thursday, November 8 1998 that they and their colleagues had isolated the cell. Scientists have tried for years to find stem cells because of their great medical value. Diseases such as Diabetes, Bone Marrow Cancer, Chronic Heart disease, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease are just a few that could all be cured with the use of stem cells.

In 1998, President Bill Clinton issued a National Bioethics Advisory Commission to begin to study the question of stem cell research (Stem Cells Fast Facts). Since then many advances have been made and stem cells have been used to aid in the alleviation of several medical conditions such as macular degeneration, bone marrow deficiencies, and growing new sheets of new skin for burn victims (Hug). Even though there is much stigma surrounding stem cell research, the medical benefits far outweigh the cons of it.

     Stem cells are located deep down in our bone marrow. They have the incredible ability of “generating an endless supply of red cells, white cells, and platelets”(1). They have been called the “Mother of all blood cells” due to their ability to regenerate the entire blood supply of a persons body. Just to think that this is possible is actually pretty incredible. The man who claims to be responsible for the discovery of this gem is a immunologist from Stanford University named Irving Weissman, and his collaborators at SyStemix, (a biotech company that he cofounded in 1988, located in Palo Alto, CA). He and his company are so

Benefits of stem cell research can be overwhelming. Today, millions of people around the world suffer from incurable diseases. Stem cell research could help the scientific community find a breakthrough in developing a cure. By observing

Stem cells are cells that go through mitosis and separate into special cell types. Stem cells have the capacity to renew by their selves, resulting in more stem cells. Stem cells are capable of performing a specific task, such as regeneration and replacement of a damaged or a diseased tissue. There are billions of cells, all with their own music. As the brain develops, it turns out they're pretty harmonious—an orchestra of keyboards (Zerhouni, 2).The two broad types of cells are embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are kind of like “all purpose” type. They can specialize and become any kind of body cell. The Adult stem cells are tissue-specific type and can function with certain types of body cells only.