...Death: Stem Cells and People Stem cell research, a growing study among scientists and research, has reached new heights and controversy. In 1998, Dr. James Thomson’s scientific breakthrough of a technique to isolate and grow human embryonic stem cells “offered great promise for new ways of treating disease” (AAA). Many researchers and scientists hope to study the stem cells to understand the process of our cells and the cell development and to correct the problems of cells that create defects in human beings. However, there are certain opponents against such research. They believe that is unethical and morally wrong because the embryonic cells are destroying human life and there are other alternatives to embryonic stem cells such as adult cells and cord cells. Is stem cell research ethical? Yes, stem cell research is ethical and can be used to cure any type of disease or injury. Before divulging into stem cell research, one must understand the types of stem cells and where they come from. According to The National Institutes of Health (NIH) website, stem cells are unspecialized cells that are able to “develop into many different many cell types in the body during early life and growth”…and are “capable of renewing themselves through cell division”. With this mind, the cells could form into any type, helping to repair and replace such cells. While it seems fascinating that these cells can repair certain parts of the human organs, there are only three sources of stems cells that...
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...Stem cell research is a massive topic of discussion within many groups of people around the world. Whether it is right or wrong is the question, however in stem cell research there is no such thing as wrong. People are usually against stem cell research because they are also against abortion and there are horror stories of the experiences patients and pathologists have had with abortion. People believe that stem cell research gets embryonic stem cells from an abortion clinic what an abortion clinic does with the fetuses is either send them to a pathology facility or they just throw them away in the trash. Stem cell research does not use aborted fetuses or embryos for collection of embryonic stem cells. The People against the idea of Embryonic...
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...Stem cells are an undifferentiated cell of a multicellular organism that can give rise to indefinitely more cells of the same type, and from which certain other kinds of cell arise by differentiation. Over the years, scientists have learned much more information on stem cells. The information on stem cells has only improved which led to new technologies, cures, and of course controversies. Stem cells are incredible, they are unlike any other cell in the body. They have three unique properties: they are unspecialized; they are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods; and they can give rise to specialized cell types. A stem cell is unspecialized meaning that they are basically blank body cells. They have the potential...
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...Stem Cell Research Stem cells are generic cells that can make exact duplicates of themselves indefinitely and can be used to form specialized cells of each tissue type. They are the foundation for every cell in the body. Stem cells are unique because they can self-sustain and replicate themselves. Scientists have found that stem cells can be programmed to perform many special functions in a body. There are two main types of stem cells that scientists have found to be the most promising in the reproduction of tissues. They are adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells can be found in the earliest stages of fetuses. Embryonic stem cells are unique because they can be programmed to be any kind of cell in the body. Embryonic research has been experimented much more on mice. There have been no proven tests on human embryonic cells. Adult stem cells are not as much of a heated debate as embryonic stem cells are. “The use of ESC’s (embryonic stem cells) is unacceptable to some people because they can only be harvested from embryos that are destroyed in the process” (Aldhous, Reich). Embryonic stem cells have to be taken from an unborn fetus, while adult stem cells can be acquired from a fully developed being. From the highest political viewpoint embryonic stem cell research is not looked upon with fondness. The Bush administration shut down all government funding of embryonic stem cell research. Adult stem cells, also referred to as multi-potent cells...
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...Pushing medicine further Stem cells are cells found in animals and humans. They have the ability to divide and reproduce themselves. They are unspecialized, meaning they do not perform a specific function like muscle cells or nerve cells. But they are also pluripotent, meaning they have the ability to divide and make specialized cells—such as muscle, nerve, or skin cells—and even have the potential to make entire body parts. Some may ask, why haven’t we tried to cultivate this form of medicine? Well, the attention devoted to stem cell research has fluctuated in recent years from being really controversial and not ethical. Well now it’s back and with more evidence and validity. We have progressed recently and found that embryonic stem cells were not the most successful and productive in comparison to adult stem cells, that hold more secrets to be unlocked and more uses. These cells have been proven to have therapeutic benefits, ability to help people with infectious diseases and terminal illnesses and will not be rejected by the body’s defenses. Adult stem cells, not embryonic cells, are the next best form of medicine we have to use to date thanks to much research. Only time can tell where adult stem cells can take us. Adult stem cells can heal the body from ailments with time and apparently, with use of these cells they do the work in enough time. ”In the United States, reports The New England Journal of Medicine, patients suffering from corneal blindness can now see, and...
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...Stem Cell Research Paper Stem Cell Research Paper Human Biology The human body is capable of many miraculous feats. Every hour, every minute, every second, millions of cells are working to maintain homeostasis within the body. This paper is going to focus on one type of cell in particular, the stem cell. The properties of this little cell are amazing. These unique cells self-regenerate through cell division, and in addition to being unspecialized, have the ability to develop into many different specialized cells of the body. Numerous studies have shown the potential of stem cells to cure cancers, as well as slow or reverse the damages of some neurological disorders, yet stem cell researchers have met with both public and legal resistance during their attempts to show the incredible usefulness of these cells. Therefore, the question is, with stem cell research showing the potential to reverse the damage from or slow the progression of neurological disorders, and possible cures for cancer and other diseases and disorders are the possible benefits too much to ignore? The ability to self-regenerate is one the things that makes the stem cell such an appealing area to study. Most cells and organs in the body do not have the ability to self-regenerate, nor self-repair but stem cells can do both. Stem cells themselves are unspecialized, in that they have so special function (Stem Cell Basics, 2009). Part of the beauty of the stem cell is that through cellular...
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...Stem Cell Research Of the several forms of biotechnology, one is stem cell research. “To describe stem cells at the simplest of terms, they are raw materials of the body; cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated.” ( 2013. Stem Cells: What they are and what they do. ) “Embryonic stem cells are the fundamental building blocks for some of 260 kinds of cells within the body and can turn into anything: heart, muscle, brain, skin, blood.” (Hollowell, Kelly. 2002.)”Human embryonic stem cells are interesting to researchers because their pluripotency allows these cells to differ into any type of body tissue. There is a insufficient amount of advantages of stem cell research, this being one, but the many disadvantages outweigh the somewhat positivity.“ ( 2010. Disadvantages of Embryonic Stem Cells.) Embryonic stem cells come from embryos that are three to five days old. ( 2013. Stem Cells: What they are and what they do.) Human embryonic stem cells first came abroad in 1998 from embryos donated by couples no longer having the desire to use them for their own infertility treatments. From there on out, hES cell research has evolved into an ethical controversy. In the US, for example, a sizable amount have objected to the fact that five-day-old human embryos are destroyed in this process ( Hyun, Insoo. 2010. The Journal of Clinical Investigation). There are advantages that come from stem cell research, such as potential treatment...
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...unearthed ways to derive embryonic stem cells from mice, eventually gaining the knowledge to extract them from humans, in 1998. Embryonic stem cell research is when an egg and sperm cell is obtained from a donor, mixed in a Petri dish, and the egg is fertilized to produce a stem cell line for research.The scientists begin this process by conducting in vitro fertilization, or an egg being fertilized out of the womb, and into a lab setting. A stem cell is essentially a “blank” cell, that’s capable of becoming another more differentiated cell type in the body, such as a skin cell, a muscle cell, or a nerve cell. In this case, a host cell where the embryo can prosper and grow to be used later on for research. In humans, mice, and other mammals, the embryo is a ball of approximately one hundred cells at this stage. Although embryonic stem cell research has great potential in deciphering the cause behind puzzling disorders such as Type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's, and heart infractions,...
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...Stem cell technology overview In order to gain a better understanding of the many benefits as well as the concerns raised by stem cells research, it is important to first have a general idea of what stem cells are, along with the specific properties the different categories of stem cells possess that make them such a valuable commodity to modern medicine today. Stem cells contain human DNA, and as a result make up the basic building blocks of human organisms. This essentially gives them “unique regenerative abilities”. In that sense they are unspecialized cells “capable of dividing and renewing themselves” into most, if not all of the cell types found in the human body. Three different types of stem cells have been identified by scientists. Not necessarily in order of importance, they start from the embryonic group which carries the greatest potential for becoming any other cell types and as a result, the greatest subject of controversy. The other two types of stem cells are the adult stem cells, which are to a degree less useful and can only become one of a few cell types; and the induced pluripotent stem cells which are specially treated cells that can be processed to behave somewhat like embryonic stem cells. Induced pluripotent stem cells commonly abbreviated as iPS cells or iPSCs are a type of pluripotent stem cell artificially derived from a non-pluripotent cell - typically an adult somatic cell - by inducing a "forced" expression of specific genes. ...
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...Stem Cell Research One of the numerous scientific topics that creates a great divide between Americans and political party platforms is the approval or disapproval of stem cell research. There is very firm support and opposition to this topic, and it can often provoke heated discussions amid the general public and those in academia. The core of the debate specifically revolves around embryonic stem cell research and the ethical implications that come with experimentation on human embryos. When discussing stem cell research it is important to obtain some background information to know where the debate originated. “There are three main sources for obtaining stem cells - adult cells, cord cells, and embryonic cells” (Stem Cell Research Pros and Cons). Stem cells are cells that are capable of taking on the form of various types of cells. Research in the 90s began the scientific world’s fascination with stem cells. As studies have progressed, scientists have performed experiments on all three types of stem cells in order to differentiate the stem cells with the purpose of finding possible cures for serious illnesses such as leukemia and even cancer. Doctor Irving Weissman of the American Medical Association states, “Rare leukemia stem cells and cancer stem cells have been isolated that contain all of the tumorigenicity of the whole tumor, and it is their properties that will guide future therapies” (Weissman). Stem cell research opens a world of possibilities for the medical...
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...human body to heal injuries. The paradigm of tissue engineering is composed of three major components: a tissue scaffold; biological factors; and cells. Among these three components, the source of the cells used in the medical device is the largest source of controversy. Not only can the origin of the cells affect the funding of an engineering project, but it can even lead to the overall rejection of the project by society if they feel that the source is morally objectionable. This essay will explore two common sources of pluripotent cells used in tissue engineering, the laws that are set in place in accordance with...
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...Stem Cell Research One of the numerous scientific topics that creates a great divide between Americans and political party platforms is the approval or disapproval of stem cell research. There is very firm support and opposition to this topic, and it can often provoke heated discussions amid the general public and those in academia. The core of the debate specifically revolves around embryonic stem cell research and the ethical implications that come with experimentation on human embryos. When discussing stem cell research it is important to obtain some background information to know where the debate originated. “There are three main sources for obtaining stem cells - adult cells, cord cells, and embryonic cells” (Stem Cell Research Pros and Cons). Stem cells are cells that are capable of taking on the form of various types of cells. Research in the 90s began the scientific world’s fascination with stem cells. As studies have progressed, scientists have performed experiments on all three types of stem cells in order to differentiate the stem cells with the purpose of finding possible cures for serious illnesses such as leukemia and even cancer. Doctor Irving Weissman of the American Medical Association states, “Rare leukemia stem cells and cancer stem cells have been isolated that contain all of the tumorigenicity of the whole tumor, and it is their properties that will guide future therapies” (Weissman). Stem cell research opens a world of possibilities for the medical field...
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...Is Stem Cell Research Ethical? Reginald Lawrence Is it ethical for stem cells for the advancement of medical research? In the 1800s it was discovered certain cells could generate other cells. The 1900s brought upon more research in using stem cells. The ethical issue surrounding embryonic stem cells research arises because human embryos are destroyed in the process. I believe that the benefits outweigh the negatives and that a greater good can come out of using embryonic stem cells. The treatment of diseases and illnesses continually grows and improves. Embryonic stem cells have the potential to help rectify or even cure disease and illnesses that are thought to be incurable. However, the ethical battle over the sanctity of life rages on. Stem cells can be compared to the building blocks of the human body. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, they can develop into any other type of cell in the body. They are extracted from a cell before they differentiate. They have the capacity to make any of the 200 different cells in the body and can also self-renew or reproduce themselves. Currently, there are 89 stem cell lines, a family of constantly dividing cells, registered with the National Institute of Health (NIH). The first line was discovered in 1998. In 1996 Congress passed the Dickey-Wicker Amendment, which put restrictions on federally funding embryonic stem cell research if the embryo was created to be destroyed. In 2001, President Bush implemented guidelines to...
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...Harvesting Embryonic Stem Cells Harvesting embryonic stem cells can be an argumentative topic with differing opinions. I believe by researching and experimenting on embryonic stem cells, the results can be beneficial to society through medical treatments. I believe this research will benefit medical science into further advancement. The human body contains more than 220 differentiation cell types that are acquired from a collection of cells that are referred to as embryonic stem cells. Furthermore, these cells originate from an embryo, within the inner cell mass of a blastocyst that is known to be five days old. Moreover, these cells are classified to be pluripotent, which can individualize inside any three layers of the germ. Thus, embryonic stem cells are able to reform relatively any part of the human body. In addition, these cells are capable of cloning endlessly. As a result, these cells can benefit in medicine for both regenerative medicine and medical research. Regenerative therapy is the process of reconstruction or substitution of new tissue developed with the supervision of embryonic stem cells caused by obscured and impaired tissue from a disease or injury. Therefore, when the stem cells are injected into the patient’s body, those cells locate to the injured area and begin to diffuse and expand by renewing the injured cells; thus, recovering the bodily functions in that area. A few of the illnesses that can be treated through the help of embryonic stem cells are genetic...
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...Embryonic Stem Cell Research: The Next Best Thing Have you ever gone to the doctor when you are not feeling well? The doctor probably gave you some good advice and maybe a pill and you felt better in about a week. This happens every day all over the country every day. But what happens when good advice and a pill will not help this time? A diagnosis of organ failure, spinal cord injury, and diabetes, Parkinson’s disease or Huntington’s disease is life altering. After the shock wears off you might start researching different therapies and come across something called stem cell research. Stem cell research has been around since the 1970’s but has gotten a lot of attention in the last several years. It has even risen to the level of Presidential campaigns: Senator John Kerry (D) made embryonic stem cell research a major theme in his 2004 run for President. The controversial issue comes in when the discussion turns toward embryonic stem cell versus adult stem cells. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells found throughout the body in tissue and organs. Undifferentiated cell are cells that have not specialized. They are there to repair and maintain the tissue or organ where they are found. Stem cells are also found in in the cord blood in the umbilical cord of newborns. The last place is embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are very special because they are pluripotent; they are capable of becoming any cell in the body as opposed to an adult stem cell that is limited...
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