Susan Berger On Stem Cells

Jennifer Hickey states that “Stem cells are the basis for every type of cell in the body” (¼). Since stem cells are the basis of all cells, then these cells can be implanted into someone's body who has a certain disease or disorder. Assuming that a person has Alzheimer's, then they are losing brain cells that cannot be replaced, unless stem cells are placed in their body. If stem cells were implanted into this person’s brain, those stem cells can become nerve cells and repair the brain. Nevertheless, if stem cells from embryos are grown in the wrong environment, they can cause cancer. Cells acquired from umbilical cord blood do not show any of these problems (“Stem”

Embryonic cells should be allowed to be used because of the medical benefits they provide. They can be used to cure diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, traumatic spinal cord injury, Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, heart disease, and even vision and hearing loss (nih.gov 2009). There is no problem using them for medical purposes and it is not immoral to use them for this reason. Embryonic cells have the potential to save lives. Therefore, the usage of embryonic cells outweighs the ethical issues.

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

Stem cells are basically the building blocks of life. Some type of these cells can be engineered into any type of cell in the human body. There are three types of stem cells currently. Adult or somatic stem “cells can generate replacements for bone and muscle cells that are lost through injury, disease or normal wear and tear.” Another type of stem cells are embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells “are “starter cells” that can be coaxed into becoming any of the specialized cells of the body, meaning they are “pluripotent.” The final type of stem cells are induced-pluripotent stem cells. Induced pluripotent stem cells “are adult stem cells that have been genetically altered to behave like embryonic stem cells”(National Institute of Health). Due to the advancement in medical technology scientists and doctors alike are now able to use stem cells for a variety of reasons like research and also in patient care. The benefits of this research can lead to the cure of diseases like diabetes, some cancers, and even neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s Disease and spinal cord injuries. The controversy behind stem cells lie from where these stem cells come from. The source of stem cells are plentiful. Some stem cells can come from human embryos that are a few days old. Stem cells can also be engineered in a laboratory setting using the cells from human embryos. Also there are certain stem cells that can be harvested from adults and

There are other less controversial methods of obtaining stem cells, however none of those methods seem to retrieve stem cells with the same “vitality and versatility” as those taken from embryos (Reaves). Umbilical cord blood has proven to be effective in some cases. Keone Penn, a fifteen year old from Atlanta, Georgia, was cured of his sickle cell anemia by receiving a stem cell injection. Although stem cells from umbilical cord blood are high proportioned compared to are own bone marrow and circulating blood (Dr. Andrew Yeager), they are still pluripotent, meaning that they can develop into many of the 220 cell types in the human body, but not all, therefore limiting their usefulness. Another and most obvious alternative would be to take stem cells from already grown adult stem cells. However, scientists around the world soon discovered that there were many setbacks to using adult cells. The first is that adult stem cells are already specified, meaning that if a biomedical technician were to take out a blood stem cell, it could only be used for the replacement of blood cells. Embryonic stem cells, on the other hand, are not specified, or have not yet developed into a certain type of cell. The process is controversial because of the cloning that takes place in a culture. First, the nucleus from an unfertilized egg is extracted. The nucleus contains the chromosomes of the cell, and in this case, the chromosomes of the egg. An egg alone only

A limited amount of stem cells can be extracted from after birth, but these few cells can mean a longer or improved life for someone (Bergman). In addition, people believe that harvesting cord blood cells steals the cells from the child. The umbilical cord is cut and clamped just like a typical delivery (CariCord). Delayed clamping, in which the cord is left attached to drain the blood back into the baby, still allows the afterbirth to be donated. The science behind cord blood banking is still developing because these treatments have only been performed for a little over ten years and the only way to overcome that is to move forward with research (Stem Cell). Cord blood cells hold the potential of becoming brain and heart cells and combatting serious neurological diseases. The science is young, but one out of every three hundred kids are plagued with cerebral palsy and one of every sixty-eight children battle autism (What It Is). The chance of helping people throughout the world live a better life fuels the need for an increase of support in this budding

The ethics of research involving fetuses or material derived from fetuses have been widely debated for over three decades, portrayed by its proponents as holding the key to scientific and medical breakthrough and by its opponents as devaluing the most basic form of human life. The latest chapter in this long saga involves the use of embryonic stem cells. Research in this field took a great leap forward in 1998, when the first successes in growing human stem cells in culture were reported independently by Drs. James Thomson and John Gearhart. According to the National Institutes of Health, embryonic stem cell research "promises...possible cures for many debilitating diseases and injuries, including Parkinson 's disease, diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, burns, and spinal cord injuries. The NIH believes the potential medical benefits of human pluripotent stem cell technology are compelling and worthy of pursuit in accordance with appropriate ethical standards (National Institutes of Health 2000). Research in this new and developing field has sparked controversy centered on the moral implications of destroying human embryos and poses several compelling ethical questions. Among them: Does life begin at fertilization, in the womb, or at birth? Might the destruction of a single human embryo be justified if it can alleviate the pain and suffering of many patients?

Imagine living in a world without cancer, Parkinson 's, or even diabetes. While everyone may wish this is true, people are against a way that researchers can make this possible, which would be by the use of stem cells. There is major controversy on whether or not stem cell research should be allowed, especially when it comes to embryonic stem cell research. Although many consider it to be killing a potential life form, embryonic stem cell research may eventually be acceptable to use because there is consent and a lengthy process to make sure the donor understands what their embryonic stem cells will be used for. That may be viewed as a much better

The Author of “Stem Cell Research: The Bigger Picture” is Rebecca Dresser. Dresser is a professor in Washington University School of Medicine. There she is teaching ethical and legal issues, biomedical research, genetics, assisted reproduction and equivalent topics to law and medical students. Dresser has “She has written extensively in her field and is the co-author of a casebook on bioethics and law and a book on the ethical treatment of animals. She is also the author of a book on patient advocacy and research ethics”(“Rebecca Susan Dresser”). Dresser credentials include: extensive articles in her field; teaching; research; as past member of the President’s Council on Bioethics; and current membership in Washington University Medical

The society has evolved over the decades. Medical advances, greater technologies, better understanding of the world around us, the sky is the limit! The progression of a society is astounding from where it was just twenty years ago. One is able to do things that the forefathers would have never dreamed! Science has discovered ways to travel to the moon and back, reach some of the deepest depths of the oceans and discover new species, and drive hybrid cars. The achievements of today’s society have reached a new high; however, with great achievement comes great questions of ethics.

The Ayala Case presented in Case 2 from Chapter nine explains that Anissa “was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (174),” at the age of sixteen. None of Anissa’s family members or candidates from the National Marrow Donor Program was a match with her bone marrow. The only option left was for Anissa’s parents to conceive a child with compatible bone marrow. “…The odds of having a child that could save Anissa’s life (175)” were only 6.4%. Against the low odds, Anissa’s parents had a child named Marissa-Eve that was compatible with Anissa’s bone marrow. At fourteen months, Marissa-Eve’s “bone marrow was used in a transplant to save Anissa’s life. Anissa’s life expectancy surpassed the original numbers she was given, which was three to

There are a multitude of controversial topics that circulate through today’s discussions, and stem cell research is just one of the many. The usage of stem cells is a somewhat recent addition to the research that is surrounding the medical field. Stem cell research is such a new topic that there was zero knowledge regarding them in Descartes life; however, his method found in his writing titled Discourse on Method provides us with what would most likely be Descartes stance on stem cell usage. Given the argument provided between Dr. Q and Dr. R, Descartes would probably side with the opinion of Dr. Q – researching stem cells provides us with the means of finding cures or recovery options to certain diseases or health issues like diabetes, Alzheimer’s,

2. How can the latest research in stem cells used from cord blood and tissue banking support expectant parents’ decision to save their baby umbilical cord blood?

Leukemia was diagnosed for the first time in Edinburgh by John Bennett. Later in 1868, a vital discovery was made about changes in bone marrow and the red blood cells on leukemic patients. “The earliest report of the illness to have been made by Velpeau. Velpeau reported a case of a 63 year old woman who had a fever, swollen stomach, as well as being generally weak” (Thomas 63). At the time they have not discovered leukemia, so they were unsure what it was. Scientist has also found dinosaur bones from over millions of years old that had leukemia. Neumann discovered that changes in bone marrow are linked with the source of blood. Leukemia comes from Greek words “leuko” and “Heima” that means white blood. The Greeks were given credit for leukemia. “Leukemia is a cancer of blood and bone marrow. It affects white blood cells called lymphocytes” (Childhood, Pediatric). Leukemia is started when the DNA of white cells are mutated or damaged. A child that has a sibling with leukemia has a greater chance of developing it than someone without a sibling but the risk is still low. The risk of a twin to developing leukemia is a lot greater than just being siblings. Leukemia is one deadliest cancers. There are more than 300,000 americans living with this cancer. There are about 150 people diagnosed with leukemia us the U.S and about 70 people die everyday. This cancer is more common for children who are Hispanic and adolescents with the five

Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Sickle Cell Anemia, Alzheimer’s. This world is plague by countless diseases and there existed a time where, after many failed research attempts, scientists began to believe that people would always suffer from these diseases. However, with the introduction of stem cell research those past notions were dismissed. Upon their introduction, stem cell’s provided a new hope to the world and it proved itself to be an invaluable asset. Through stem cell research, a multitude of cures have been brought upon the world and these diseases that were uncontrollable in the past, can now be regulated and the ones suffering from now have a chance at living a better life. Sadly, there are many people who