Controversies of Stem Cell Research
ABSTRACT
Stem cells have offered much hope by promising to greatly extend the numbers and range of patients who could benefit from transplants, and to provide cell replacement therapy to treat debilitating diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson 's and Huntington 's disease. The issue of stem cell research is politically charged, prompting biologists to begin engaging in ethical debates, Stem cell research offers great promise for understanding basic mechanisms of human development and differentiation, as well as the hope for new treatments. However, human stem cell research also raises sharp ethical and political controversies. This paper will discuss the types of stem cells as well as some of the controversies involved in stem cell research.
Introduction
According to Wikipedia, stem cell can be defined as “biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide (through mitosis) and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells.”
A stem cell could be regarded as one of the basic building blocks of the human body. Stem cells are important because they have the ability to become different cell types, and scientists are working on developing ways to use stem cells to repair or regenerate damaged organs or tissues. This could lead to therapies for a whole range of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson 's disease or Alzheimer 's, although at present it is impossible to tell whether this will happen within a few years or even within our lifetimes. Furthermore, Scientists also say that by studying stem cells they will learn more about reproductive and cell biology and can also use this knowledge for drugs testing and development. Although, there is some debate among scientists about this. Broadly speaking, there are three different types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells (including stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood). These stem cells are found in
Stem cells have offered much hope by promising to greatly extend the numbers and range of patients who could benefit from transplants, and to provide cell replacement therapy to treat debilitating diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson 's and Huntington 's disease. The issue of stem cell research is politically charged, prompting biologists to begin engaging in ethical debates, Stem cell research offers great promise for understanding basic mechanisms of human development and differentiation, as well as the hope for new treatments. However, human stem cell research also raises sharp ethical and political controversies. This paper will discuss the types of stem cells as well as some of the controversies involved in stem cell research.
Introduction
According to Wikipedia, stem cell can be defined as “biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide (through mitosis) and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells.”
A stem cell could be regarded as one of the basic building blocks of the human body. Stem cells are important because they have the ability to become different cell types, and scientists are working on developing ways to use stem cells to repair or regenerate damaged organs or tissues. This could lead to therapies for a whole range of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson 's disease or Alzheimer 's, although at present it is impossible to tell whether this will happen within a few years or even within our lifetimes. Furthermore, Scientists also say that by studying stem cells they will learn more about reproductive and cell biology and can also use this knowledge for drugs testing and development. Although, there is some debate among scientists about this. Broadly speaking, there are three different types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells (including stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood). These stem cells are found in
References: 1. Spangrude GJ, Heimfeld S, Weissman IL. Purification and characterization of mouse hematopoietic stemcells. Science. 1988;241:58-62. 2. Morrison SJ, Weissman IL. The long-term repopulating subset of hematopoietic stem cells is deterministic and isolatable by phenotype. Immunity. 1994;1:661-673