The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Stem Cells

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?

Before going thoroughly into details on the terms of the parent’s decision regarding the embryonic stem cells use for their children health, firstly let me explain exactly what an embryonic stem cell is and what could its possible advantages and disadvantages be in terms of the usage. And if the parents should decide yes or no, what options or terms can they look at in order to conclude on their decision. I will also state how I feel about the issue based on my research and whether the pros outweigh the cons or vice versa.

The research of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) is talked about a lot in the field of medical research, not just by the scientists, but also by politicians, religious groups, etc. The discovery of stem cells is known as a medical sensation, with its research having the potential to cure many diseases. But there are still ethical issues standing in the way of this research, and due to this, different parts of the world have different rules and regulations regarding the research of stem cells and their use in cellular therapy, and it is even illegal in a number of countries. Before I dive straight into the advantages and disadvantages of their use in cellular therapy, I should talk about the basics of hESC and how we can make them. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, i.e. they can differentiate into any type of cell in our body, and they can replicate indefinitely. We can create an embryonic stem cell line in more than one method, and most of them involve creating a fertilized egg (zygote), which eventually forms into a blastocyst. The inner cell mass of the blastocyst can be transferred onto a petri-dish containing a culture medium, where it is encouraged to divide. The diagram below illustrates this process.

First of all an understanding of what a stem cell is, where it comes from, and the significance of it's medical potential is essential. Stem cells are the "master cells" that form the human body or whatever other animal it is from. Stem cells can be extracted from adult tissues, bone marrow, umbilical cord blood ( ), and embryos in the blastocyst stage. Although scientists have found ways to manipulate the stem cells from adult sources into other types of cells, they claim that they are less capable of deriving the desired tissue and are not "biologically equivalent" ( ) to stem cells extracted from embryos.

Many different groups of people protest stem cell research. Some protesters say that getting stem cells from embryos amounts to killing a person to improve the life of another (Freedman 18). People protest stem cell research even though the embryos and fetuses would be discarded anyway (Freedman 19). They think if it is accepted, they will start experimenting on people who are going to die, like death row inmates and terminally ill people (Freedman 22). Some supporters of stem cell research say that using tissue from dead embryos is equivalent to transplanting organs from people that died from homicide or suicide. They say stem cell experiments in animals have already shown improvements in disorders. Treatments for diseases and disorders can’t be developed if experiments aren’t performed.

There are many diseases that have the potential to affect every single person in the world. Some are curable and some are not. However, some cells called stem cells may impact and help many people. Stem cells are what are called undifferentiated cells, which means that they are not specialized cells. However, they can develop into all different kinds of cells within the body. So through this, stem cells control the development of the body by evolving into the cells the body needs to survive, or even replacing worn out or destroyed cells (Levine and Miller 294-297). These cells can reproduce to make more of themselves through cell division. In the long run, stem cells enable the body to continue functioning and to stay healthy (Stem Cell).

stem cells were discovered a long ago that they can be beneficial for fighting against the killer diseases but after passing of two decades of the discovery it has been profound that (hESCs) are being tried as a treatment for two noteworthy illnesses: heart fail and type 1 diabetes.

What I had previously learned in my Biology was that all living things have cells. And according to the Research Gate each embryo has around 100-150 cells. So I personally think that it is killing/ taking a life. Also when reading a statement from the NIH website I now see the disadvantages for the person donating the embryo. Not only can someone else have a complications with the retrieval process but the embryos can be used for women who want children and can’t have them according to the NIH. Beyond the many benefits of embryonic stem cell research the negatives seem to out rule them. I personally am thinking of what can be replaced or what can happen to the person who donates the embryos. So I think that embryonic stem cell research should be avoided because everything would be easier and less

Stem cells are cells with the potential to become any type of cell in the body. There are two different types of stem cells: adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells are very valuable and are used mainly to treat blood diseases, but sometimes adult stem cells from the brain are used to treat neurological diseases. Adult stem cells can also be difficult to recognize in the adult body. Embryonic stem cells are more flexible than adult stem cells and can be used for a bigger variety of diseases (California’s Stem Cell Agency,2011). Some people do not believe in the use of embryonic stem cells, because they believe they are killing future life. Despite the controversy over how stem cells are gathered, stem cells have undeniable

Embryonic Stem Cell Research are pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst. I believe that the use of Embryonic Stem Research is beneficial to society because these cells have unlimited potential. They can allow permanent repair to failing organs by injecting healthy cells into the damaged organ. They also can used for finding and preventing cures for cancers, Parkinson’s disease, birth defects, spinal cord injuries, and strokes. However, Stem Cell Research is a controversial topic, especially when referring to Embryonic Stem Cell Research.

This research has a lot of risks, but the potential outcomes are spectacular. The production of embryonic stem cells could help so many people. People could theoretically be created new tissue for them to use if lost. The immune system, in theory, should not reject the new tissue, due to it being an exact copy. This has been a major concern when it comes to any kinds of transplants. This could resolve that issue and save many lives in the process.

How can one describe the conundrum of life itself? Life comes in many forms, from a single cell, known as the basic unit of life, to the most complex eukaryotic organism upon the planet. On a more detailed level, how can one describe the existence of human life? Life is best described as “The condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally” (Life). Therefore, an embryonic stem cell holds potential promise of a full human life, and should be treated thus. Each In Vitro Fertilized egg could have a life, a personality, accomplishments,

The use of embryonic stem cells has caused many debates because of the destruction of an embryo. It has also become a part of controversies in abortion, religious groups, politicians, and the public. People who are pro-life compare the destroying of an embryo to an abortion. They believe that the embryo is equal to life because it has full opportunity to become a human being. The people against embryonic stem cell use believe that it is immoral to destroy one life to save another. By using the stem cells then getting rid of the embryo, people against the research think that the embryos future life is being taken advantage of. Which can cause problems for future research studies that similarly “belittles” life, even though people find it wrong to use embryos for stem cell research, it is a good way to save

Habitually, the majority of significant scientific discoveries that have occurred over the course of human history have been the center of fierce debate and controversy for one reason or another. From radical perspectives such as the Earth’s orbital around the sun to the theory that the planet isn’t geographically flat, scientists are often at the focal point of ethical debates. In regards to current advancements, nothing may be more controversial in modern day science and it’s general public than the research of embryonic stem cells. The utilization of stem cells in the process of injury and recovery is ethically justified because it involves informed consent by voluntary egg donors who aspire to contribute to research (when referring to embryonic stem cells), and may be the only effective and efficient method in central nervous system/spinal cord injuries that involve impaired cells that are not able to go through the cell cycle for mitosis. Technological advancements pertaining to stem cells and further research towards their significance in the medical field are morally correct and could be a critical method of prevention towards injuries and impairments that may cause permanent paralysis in everyday patients.

People tend to choose opposing sides in a good argument or debate but in reality, the truth is found in the middle. The opposite sides are a formation of distinct opinions that humans make for a simple black and white answer. We can see this in many different debates such as the constant stem cell development or if schools should have uniforms, but even in the running of our democratic republic government.