Imagine, one day, being able to own your own biological repair kit, designed specifically for your body. This repair kit could have the ability to heal you from the majority of injuries or diseases, without fear of rejection or mechanical parts. This all could potentially be possible with the proper research into stem cells to treat injury or disease. However, the procedures followed for the research of stem cells have stirred up a hefty amount of controversy in the past and the present. Stem Cell research has been argued to be an ethical choice due to its possibilities for simplified treatments in the future, yet it is controversial due to the destruction of embryos, and the undecided moral status of the embryo, which is why …show more content…
Certainly nobody has one-hundred percent confirmed the possibilities for stem cells cures. However, the possibilities for stem cells come at somewhat of a cost. Not many people have thought about the dangers of the stem cell treatments. Stated in an article published by Gale, “Even once embryonic stem cells can be produced in quantity overcoming the inefficiency of today 's methods and potential problems (e.g. efficacy of viruses in implanted cells, use of c-Myc that is known to play a role in the progression of cancer), further research will be needed to determine and provide the correct instructions for an embryonic stem cell to grow into its desired path....” (Sutherland). Not knowing how to properly grow the stem cell into its desired path can result in treatment rejection and also major side-effects including muscle spasms and uncontrolled movements/shaking. So, stem cells have potential to be useful in the future but should not be used for any official treatments yet.
Currently, if somebody has a degenerative disease such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, or Multiple Sclerosis, spell out stem cell treatment is not yet worth it because of the low success rates, but if scientists developed cures for these diseases with stem cells, the patients’ lives would be drastically improved. For example, patients with an incurable disease like
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 disease stem cells could fix is called Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The reason I chose this topic is because I have seen first hand how badly someone who suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease is affected in their daily lives. This disease completely takes over their lives and they turn into a completely different person who can hardly function. AD is very tough on the loved ones of the person suffering from it because that person, most of the time has no idea what is going on or who their loved ones are. The memories for people with AD is completely gone and even the simplest tasks such as remembering to use the bathroom becomes difficult. The way stem cells could be feasible is because stem cell-based therapies could potentially treat
“I truly believe that stem cell research is going to allow our children to look at Alzheimer’s and diabetes and other major diseases the way we look at polio today, which is a preventable disease” (Solomon). Susan Solomon has founded the New York Stem Cell Foundation and has been seen as the hero for stem cell scientists around the world. Over the past couple years, stem cell research has been at its high; scientists all over the world are using these cells to try to find new ways to cure life threatening diseases. Some have used stem cells to treat patients who have been brain dead recently and these cells made the dead portion of the brain start functioning again. Also, some scientists and doctors have
In the past two decades, many technological and scientific advances have been made in order to make life easier for many people who suffer from cancer, disease and sickness. Among these advances there is something revolutionary called stem cells. Stem cells can help restore and regenerate almost all parts of the human body such as the heart, kidney, liver, and many other organs. Although stem cells offer a lot, there are many views against and for stem cells, and among these views lies the debate of whether stem cells should be legalized or not (NIH 2). Stem cells offer exciting new opportunities in the field of science such as regenerating human body parts, but many people are still debating whether or not the use of stem cells is
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.
In the contemporary world of today, the issue of embryonic stem cell research is one of this controversial significant topic regarding which there is neither fair/moral agreement nor understandable, wide-ranging laws. As far as the ethical debate is concerned, it focuses on the verifiable piece of information that stem cell research consists of destroying the very early embryos of the human beings. The federal government has restricted the financial support for stem cell research to research that makes use of the stem cells obtained from a small amount of stem cell "lines" (Shapiro, 2006).
The groundbreaking scientific research underway happening this century is revolving around the field of regenerative medicine, specifically stem cell research. To begin to discuss whether or not stem cell research should be scientifically funded we must understand what stem cells are. According to Jordan Saltzberg, author of “The Current Embryonic Stem Cell Research Federal Funding Policy,” embryonic stem cells have the possibility to reproduce and continue to grow and also form any type of specialized cell unlike adult stem cells (2). Since the embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can form any specialized cell they are more valuable than adult stem cells (hASCs). Saltzberg has also stated, stem cells are present throughout a person 's life but are first found in the embryo (2). This shows that one day we may be able to use human adult stem cells instead of embryonic stem cells. Human embryonic stem cells are, for now, the most promising subfield of regenerative medicine. Stem cell research is debated by many different groups, for example the church, government, and everyday people. The majority of religions along with all of their followers believe the research to be unethical, whereas the government and scientific community think that it is vital for new scientific discoveries. Despite the
There are many benefits of supporting stem cell research, and these benefits include saving the lives of people with critical diseases; “Stem cells are also helpful in potentially treating problems like repair or replace damaged organs, birth defects, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries and Alzheimer’s disease. If people get good treatment of such diseases, it will be beneficial for them as well as the society” (Joseph). This quote demonstrates many of the illnesses that stem cells can cure with the proper research. Many argue that stem cell research is unethical, however the possible outcomes say otherwise. Furthermore, these cells can also undergo the reproduction of more life saving cells on their own; “It is possible to grow embryonic stem cells for a year at the least in a few cases, particularly when well determined protocols are employed.
According to Embryonic stem cell therapy ‘best route’ it states “ if transplanted, these cells might halt and even cure patients of diseases such as type 1 diabetes, parkinson’s disease or heart failure.” This supports my claim because it shows that stem cells could stop some diseases that could kill someone. Also it shows that there is a way to stop parkinson’s
The stem cell controversy has been going on for many years. The two basic controversies surrounding stem cell research is whether or not it is morally justifiable, and if stem cells will ever live up to the medical promises. Most of these controversies concern embryonic stem cells more than any other stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are unspecialized, but have the ability to divide and make specialized cells like muscles, nerves, and skin cells. These cells are found in the early stage of human development. When the human egg is fertilized by sperm and becomes a blastocyst, which is basically a cluster of stem cells, the harvesting for embryonic stem cells begins. In order to harvest the stem cells scientists basically destroy the blastocyst. The embryonic stem cell is an efficient treatment for a variety of diseases that affect many human beings. Those diseases include Parkinson’s, muscular dystrophy, heart diseases, diabetes, vision and hearing loss, or even spinal cord injury.
These cells could help treat and cure many diseases. This type of medicine could improve cancer treatments and help treat “respiratory disease, diabetes, and neurological disorders.” (NYSTEM) Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease cures have parts in stem cell research. (CIRM) Stroke and heart attack patients can benefit from stem cells treatment and improved motor function has been found. (Goldman) These and many more treatments can be created
The topic of stem cells is a controversial one that many do not want to talk about, but perhaps stem cells could help in the treatment of
I chose to conduct research into this topic as currently there is no single cure for Parkinson’s Disease. All that currently exists to help the disease’s estimated 7-10 million sufferers are suppressive medicines that do not cure the patients of the disease but better their symptoms thereof. Stem cell therapy, if proven viable, will be the first treatment of the disease that will truly rid the patients of this disease and immediately improve their lives.
There are many who are of opinion that stem cell research can potentially help in inventing new therapies for many uncured diseases and reversing the aging process.