Stem Cells Pros And Cons

Stem cells are cells that have the potential to develop into different types of cells in the body. Stem cells also act as a repair system for many tissues in the body by dividing repeatedly to replenish other cells within a person (National Institutes of Health). Stem cell research seeks to further the advancement of the use of stem cells as well as to find an ethical way to study them. In November 1998, researchers found a way to isolate and culture human embryonic stem cells, (Bevington 2005). The ethics of stem cell research has been debated over the years and some people fully support the use of stem cells, whereas others are completely against the use of stem cells. This has been an ongoing battle for scientists over the span of two decades prior to the 1998 finding.

Stem cells are tiny little balls of cells which are undifferentiated cells that can separate into particular cell sorts. Scientists and researchers focus on two main types of stem cells; Adult stem cells which come from the brain, spinal cord and most parts of the body and embryonic stem cells which are cells that are extracted from embryos. Researching on stem cells show that they could potentially save millions of lives by enabling scientists to develop ways to treat and cure some of the most degenerative conditions. So why not use them?

People have had severe diseases or possible injuries that have completely altered their lives. Ranging from heart damage, brain damage, becoming paralyzed, or suffering from severe injuries. Those people may have a way to regain their lives in the way of stem cells. Stems cells can help heal these wounded people and give them back their lives. As well as advancing understanding of other diseases and disorders and even finding cures for those diseases. That is why people should get their minds from thinking of abortion when they think about stem cells and think of the benefits of them. There are several other types of stem cells, not just stem cells acquired from fetuses.

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.

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.

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

Controversy surrounding research and therapeutic use of stem cells has been a contentious and socially polarizing matter for a few decades. Arguments lie largely between the scientific community and the general public, although intragroup disagreements also persist today. These disparate views for and against stem cells arise out of the bioethical implications of an inchoate innovation, the general public’s tenuous understanding of the underlying technology itself, and sociopolitical ideologies. Due to the somewhat aged debate, recent revelations and advancements have changed the principle arguments and should be addressed accordingly.

In humans adult stem cells, not embryonic stem cells, have been used in therapies for more than forty years. People with blood disorders have used stem cell therapy to take the opportunity to improve upon their life. On the other hand, embryonic stem cells have a very high potential to treat or even cure numerous diseases like diabetes and heart disease. They are much more versatile in their usage compared to adult stem cells. Another practical use for embryonic stem cells is to treat damaged nerves ("Testing The Use…”). These nerves could have been impaired in a spinal cord injury. As of today, scientists have already performed stem cell transplants in people whose cells were damaged through chemotherapy of disease.

The pros of Stem Cell Research and Treatment are never ending. There is an account of two women being completely blind, but due to stem cell research, their sight was repaired. Another case is that of a ninety-five year old woman who was taken off medication and her health somewhat restored due to the use of stem cells. Doctors were able to inject stem cells into her heart and they took the shape of heart neurons.

There are many benefits that come from stem cell research; the government should be more open to obtaining stem cell research in other manners because it can be used to regenerate brain cells, it promotes nerve repair, and insulin secreting cells. If the government was to be more open to obtaining stem cell lines in other ways than just donations from fertility clinics, there would be much more stem cells available to be cultured. Since there have been so many limitations set on stem cell research, it has been difficult for scientist to find the many benefits of stem cell therapy. As far as we know, stem cells could be used for the possible cure of incurable diseases such as, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, and paralyzed human beings. Alzheimer and Parkinson’s disease are caused primarily due to the loss of brain cells, which our body does not regenerate. With other common diseases such as diabetes, stem cell therapy can play a role if they promote insulin secreting cells, which are the cells that humans with diabetes are lacking. It is very likely that these incurable diseases can be cured by stem cell therapy if it became easier to obtain such stem cells.

Stem cell research is extremely prevalent in today’s society, and on the other hand controversial. When thinking of stem cell research many questions, and challenges arise from it. Some problems that arise from the topic of stem cell research involves, religious beliefs, personal, and ethical beliefs. In the next few paragraphs the facts of stem cell research will be mentioned, and questions will be answered with factual evidence.

Stem cells have great potential in health and medical fields. Stem cells offer a source of replacement cells that can treat diseases and that could reduce the mortality rates. By taking stems cells and turning them into cells that can treat a certain disease is amazing. These are some of the areas where stem cells can benefit humans:

Pros of stem cell research is the fact that it can cure diseases, and possibly provide a cure for some cancers. The cons of the therapy is that it takes a life to do it.

The idea of stem cells were introduced by histologist Alexander Maksimov in 1908. He hypothesized the presence of stem cells. Stem cells were finally discovered by Canadian scientists James E. Till and Ernest A. Mculloch. Stem cells are defined as cells that have not been given the genetic code and maintain the ability to divide throughout life and take place of specialized cells that get damaged, lost or die. In some organs, such as the gut and bone marrow, stem cells regularly divide to repair and replace worn out or damaged tissues. In other organs, however, such as the pancreas and the heart, stem cells only divide under special conditions (NIH.gov). The important stem cells are the embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. These two stem cells are important cells because each one plays a different role in research. Embryonic stem cells are cells that came from an egg that has been fertilized in