“Embryonic stem cells…are in effect, a human self-repair kit,” (Christopher Reeve, activist – Larry King show).
For the advancement of science, stem cells are infinitely valuable, especially when considering all the potential applications in the field of medicine. Stem cells usage is a very controversial topic, because most people think of abortions, cloning, and other negative topics when they here the term stem cells. However I think those thoughts are because they don’t understand what a stem cell is, where it comes from, or its monumental possibilities that could greatly benefit the human race.
There are already demonstrations of Stem cells possibilities, because treatment with stem cells has already begun. Stem Cells are valuable due to the fact that they are blank and they have the ability to divide and multiply indefinitely. Thus, theoretically stem cells could fix and even replace any damaged or lost cells within a body. They are easily found in early embryos, but the different variety of numbers for development seem to become less in the adult stem cells. The information above is only what we know right now, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If we know stem cells can already contribute to helping cancer, curing paraplegics, and repairing/replacing cells, then obviously the more we know, the more useful the use of stem cells would become.
The Term Paper on Stem Cell
... a red blood cell). However, unspecialized stem cells can give rise to specialized cells, including heart muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cells.” (Stem Cell Information, 2009) There are ... stem cells.” (Stem Cell Information, 2009) Embryonic stem cells are found in the blastocyst, “a pre-implantation embryo of about 150 cells produced by cell division following fertilization.” (Stem Cell ...
These helpful stem cells come from three types of cells, based upon their potential developmental capability. Though each of the types are obtained differently, they can complete their own set of useful functions. These are the Tortipotent, Pluripotent, and Multipotent stem cells.
The Tortipotent stem cells are found when the egg is fertilized/conceived. This type isn’t specialized, so can form many different tissues and cells. These are probably the most helpful, because they are immortal stem cells that can even create placenta and other tissues required in fetal development (Science Center, worksheet).
This means that they are super stem cells and can create more than any other type.
Second, the Pluripotent cells can be found in the inner layers of cells in a growing embryo or from a terminated embryo. These can form any organ or tissue, except for placenta and those used for fetal development, and they could easily be obtained through fertility clinics. Pluripotent cells could help with things like re-growing a kidney or leg ligament, if yours has been damaged.
Pluripotent stem cells can create the possibility for a renewable source of replacement tissues and cells, which means a large number of diseases could be cured and treated. This includes debilitating diseases, Parkinson, Alzheimer, Leukemia, Down syndrome, muscular dystrophies, retinal degeneration, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteo-arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, brain repair, skin for burn victims, and maybe even cancer and diabetes (stemcellnetwork.com).
Finally Multipotent cells can be found in children and adults, in blood, bones, and etc. They only have specific functions, and can no longer do anything besides those functions. However, Multipotent cells are still useful in replacing or fixing any damage cells that are similar to the specialized type, which means less people waiting on organ donors. That would be a tremendous accomplishment, because thousands of people die each while waiting for an organ transplant. (MRC).
When scientists completely learn how stem cells work, they could be able to create tissues needed to treat patients with various types of sickness and disease. For example, Birth defects and cancer arise do to abnormal cell specialization and cell division. If scientists were to understand how to manipulate these cells, then they can effectively prevent problems like birth defects and cancer before they ever arise. This helps to show that once stem cell lines can be created, the variety of possibilities will be almost endless.
The Essay on Tissue Types Body Tissues Cells
Biology Assignment 1. Tissue types and their properties! Body tissues! The four core types of tissues in the body are; epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous. Each is designed for specific functions. Epithelial Tissues! Epithelial tissues are spread out all over the body. They cover all surfaces and also line body cavities and hollow organs. These tissues are also the major tissue in glands. ...
Stem cell research would be able to speed up drug testing, and practically eliminate animal testing. If a line of human stem cells was created for new drugs to be tested on, then the negative and positive effects on the stem cell tissue can be assessed, before the drug is ever used on an animal or a human. Also testing new drugs on stem cells increase the amount of information learned because more specific and varied tissues can be targeted than was previously accessible (www.hhs.gov).
Some regular people are already avidly supporting stem cell research. There are various people who would have already offered large sums of money to help fund the research, so that it isn’t all coming from the government. Also there are some notable characters that have already used stem cell research to better their lives. For example, Christopher Reeves (Superman) suffered from Parkinson’s disease to a point that he was told he’d be confined to a wheel chair for the rest of his life, but after the use of stem cells, he can walk again.
I believe it is our duty to do everything possible to improve the quality of life. Despite various arguments, I even believe that any embryo that is already going to be destroyed should be used for research. For example, the women who choose to have abortions. They could easily afterwards allow the stem cells to be harvested. I think in fertility clinics, that women should be given a choice of whether or not to donate the fertilized embryo to stem cell research. supervision, scientists could be allowed to take cells only from women who freely consent to their use. This process would not be open ended; within one to two years a sufficient number could be gathered and made available to the scientists (www.nih.gov).
The Research paper on Embryonic Stem Cell Research How Does It Affect You
Embryonic Stem Cell Research: How does it affect you? Embryonic stem cell research is widely controversial in the scientific world. Issues on the ethics of Embryonic Stem (ES) cell research have created pandemonium in our society. The different views on this subject are well researched and supportive. The facts presented have the capability to support or possibly change the public's perspective. ...
In conclusion, the use of stem cells would be incredibly beneficial. I believe the research should always be legal. Stem cells hold so many possibilities, that I don’t see reasons to ignore them. The more we learn from stem cells, the more chances of threats to human health are eliminated. Over time and with the different types, people will realize that stem research is more good than bad.