Essay stem cell research

Stem cell therapy has been an issue for debate as long as I can remember. The potential cure for any number of diseases is exciting and gives us reason to be thankful for the potential for healing in the people that we love. There is a real potential for stem cell therapy to be the future when it comes to health and humanity. However, the story doesn't end without controversy. Since the beginning of this particular type of research, groups vehemently debated its ethical outcome. On one hand, there is a real possibility to save lives or help people who are hurting. On the other hand, when stem cells are gathered from an embryo, that embryo is destroyed. Those who believe human life begins at conception, believe that this process is killing a human person. Proponents of Embryonic stem cell research say that the embryos that were used to extract stem cells were either a byproduct of abortion or gathered from the aftermath of the birth of a living child.

Many people in the around the world have first or second hand encounters with deadly diseases that can lead the person who is afflicted to a lifestyle of medication and therapy. Scientists today have the potential to find cures for these diseases with stem cell research. Stem cells have the potential on making cures for these people. Stem cell research is hindered by the opposing side’s belief that stem cell research is murder since they believe that life begins at conception. Stem cells according to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, “Cells with the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells”. These cells have the ability to become any cell that an ill person requires in order to become better. Reasons why stem cells are not used frequently is that they are still in the infancy stage of research and politics restrict the progress of stem cell research. There are two types of stem cells that are researched but the type that has the most attention are embryotic stem cells. These cells are only acquired from embryos that have been given up for research when they are no longer needed for in vitro fertilization.

In the year 1998, according to Courtney Farrell, when human stem cells were first successfully isolated the Clinton administration allowed federal funding of stem cell research. But that all changed in the 2000 presidential elections. In George W bush’s campaign he openly opposed embryonic stem cell research as he found it unethical, and many agreed with him. When he was elected as president he banned all federal funding of stem cell research, causing outrage in the science community (although, privately funded stem cell research remained legal after George Bush’s law was passed). Later on, bush did change his policy so that research could be federally funded, but only using already existing cell lines. This was a disappointment to both the science community and anti-stem cell groups because the existing cell lines were damaged and unreliable for the researchers and anti-stem cell groups feel that even cell lines that come from a destroyed embryo is a disgrace.

Despite the strong consensus in America against creating embryos to destroy them, those actually involved in embryo research no longer see any serious ethical problem in it. Now the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) says that ASRM's ethical guidelines permit the creation of human embryos to destroy them. Some even argue that such research is morally superior to the use of "spare" embryos, because the egg and sperm donors understand from the beginning what the embryos will be used for.

Extraordinary advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases is believed, by many experts, to lie behind the curtain of stem cell research. Very few other areas of research have received this much attention from the media, political leaders and various groups and organizations from around the nation. The responsiveness to this issue has been incredible because of the potential of these studies as well as the most controversial aspect of the research; the embryonic stem cell. This has much of the nation in an uproar because of ethical and moral views on the situation at hand. Many feel that embryos should be considered human beings and should not be destroyed for the causes of medical

In a lab at the University of California, a scientist carefully isolates several cells and locates them to a petry dish. A few days later, he returns to find the cells pulsating like a human heart (Gorman 58). This account has actually been occurring at several scientific labs across the nation. These cells, known as stem cells, produce nearly all the other cells and tissues found in the human body (Sobel Sep 4, 22). Intensive research has found that when these stem cells are grafted with human tissue, new tissue is formed and the diseases found in that tissue are cured. These diseases can include Parkinson's, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis (Gorman 58).

232). The reason why researchers are so interested in embryonic stem cells is that unlike adult stem cells, these cells have not yet specialized so they have the potential to develop into any type of cell. Embryonic stem cells can be “programmed” to grow cells specific to organs or tissues such as skin, brain, the heart or kidneys. This capability makes embryonic stem cells very attractive for use in developing cures for certain diseases and conditions if researchers can reprogram them to generate healthy cells to replace defective ones in failing organs or tissues.

Stem cells research is one of the most powerful areas of medicine that is both researched and passionately argued. The web page of National Institute of Health (NIH) describes that stem cells are unspecialized cells that are capable of renewing themselves through cell division and they can also be induced to become tissue or organ-specific cells with special functions. Stem cells have the potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. Many individuals believe that there are ethical concerns with stem cell research because they come from destruction of perfectly good embryo however stem cells can be used for cell-based therapies, heart

Supporters of this argument assert that stem cell research can lead to discovering of many advanced cell-based treatments and have many medical applications. Stem cells can be cultured and transplanted into damaged body part for the regeneration of healthy tissue (Stöppler, 2014). Based on the some of the successful outcomes of the research, hematopoietic stem cell transplants (commonly known as a bone marrow transplant) are currently be used to treat patients with blood disorders and some solid tumours (Stem Cell Network, 2013). Hence, it is believed that, more life-saving treatments will be inventing in the near future with the

Stem cells have been a topic of huge controversy in recent years. Many people are opposed to them due to reasons such as religion or ethics. The research of stem cells is still limited and even though they are not widely accepted, they have proven to be extremely helpful.

Stem-cells are very young, specialized cells. Usually coming from a human embryo, they have the ability to develop into more specialized groups of cells or tissues (“Stem Cells: A Primer”). As of 2001, scientists

Stem cell research holds the cures and treatments for most of the major diseases in the world. Many people of all ages with major and deadly diseases may be benefited by stem cell research. Other people have been fortunate enough to have had the benefits of it already. There are two types of cells, which are embryonic and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells can become any type of cell, for example, blood, brain tissue, and skin cells. Many people may not be supportive of this research because of cloning fears. Other people do not support it because of the use of aborted embryos for research. Stem cells will save many people’s lives all over the world. Stem

Stem cell research has a lot of benefits, evidence has shown this. I do see the benefit of the research. The countless thousands of suffering people who would benefit from this form of research are limitless. But the origins of the stem cell is appalling. The taking of embryonic and fetal cells, creating and destroying them in a laboratory setting, is playing God with the human body. There has to be an alternative way in which stem cells can be brought forth.

Stem cells are an important part of the human body. Some scientists, and other people believe that it is unethical to use them for research. I on the other hand have my own opinion about the issue.

In February 1961 Dr. James Till, a Biophysicist, and Ernest McCulloch, a Hematologist, proved that stem cells exist. Stem cells are considered important by many scientists for their trait of being able to adjust and develop into any kind of tissue. The study of stem cells has been mainly the interest of Biologist, however, Chemists have also had an interest in the advancement of stem cells.