Friday, January 31, 2020
Stem Cell Research Essay Example for Free
Stem Cell Research Essay Introduction A look at the progressive societies today indicates that science is encumbered by moral and political considerations. The world of science is yet to be democratized and viable ideas are being sent to the gallows to satiate conservative thinkers at the helm of leadership. A glimpse at most of the useful vaccines that have evolved indicates a struggle between morality and modern intelligence. Science is struggling to permeate an almost non impervious wall of ethical consideration before a certain well meaning project can be allowed into the mainstream. Since the research into stem cells was pioneered in the 1960s, it has elicited hue and cry from the public with some claiming that scientists are trying to play God. Many however have remained marveled at the exploits of modern science and have identified the wide range of benefits that arise from this research. Stem cell research is indeed revolutionizing the treatment of various human impairments and diseases such as leukemia and Parkinson’s disease amongst a wide range of other benefits.            The fascination created by stem cells research is immense and has expanded the scope of scientific study. It continues to elicit interest regarding how organisms are able to grow from just one single cell and also the ability of such single cells to multiply and replace the damaged ones. Immense research is being carried out focusing on the application of cell therapy in the treatment of a number of diseases. Definition Stem cell refers to a â€Å"generic cell that can make exact copies of itself indefinitely.†(Chad). Gerald (203) definition of stem cells is centered on the inherent characteristics that they have which make them outstanding in comparison to other cells. He observes that â€Å"they are undifferentiated cells that renew themselves at the single cell level for many cell doublings.†(203). There are two types of stem cells; the embryonic stem cell and the adult stem cells. Types of Stem Cells Embryonic stem cells are derived from a fetus (blastocyst) before the cell initiates the process of differentiation. They posses a higher ability of differentiation compared to the adult stem cells. Much of the controversy that has arisen centers on the embryonic stem cells due to their origin. Adult stem cells on the other hand are obtained from the bone marrow. Their versatility in research is restricted by the fact that they posses a number of limitations in terms of differentiation and divisibility. The research into adult cells commenced earlier than for the embryonic cells and although both possess a number of similarities, adult cells are less flexible and much research and furor has been focused on the embryonic stem cells. Properties of Stem Cells All in all, stem cells serve an important purpose of replenishing damaged cells in the body. They repair the body system due to their higher potential of dividing into many cells limitlessly and also their ability to adapt to the prevailing chemical environment. As Pam et al (8) observes that, â€Å"when a stem cell divides, each daughter can remain a stem cell or adopt a more specialized role such as muscle, blood or brain cell, depending on the absence or presence of chemical signals†. Indeed, stem cells have the ability to grow and metamorphose into a particular cell that possesses characteristics that are similar to the cells of the deformed tissues. It is this self renewal capability and their higher potency that continue to arouse much curiosity amongst scientists who see them as the answer to various health and medical problems facing humanity. Self renewal characteristic of a stem cell simply refers to its ability to divide and form multiply cells without losing its initial original characteristics. Potency of a stem cell revolves around the ability to differentiate into desired specialized cells. Depending on the capacity of cells to divide, they are referred to either pluripotency or unipotency. Pluripotent cells have â€Å"the ability to differentiate into a vast majority.†(Bellomo 35) Such cellular quality has become a major source of scientific inquiry as piluripitent cells have demonstrated unmatched ability of transform themselves into any set of tissues. They can develop either into endodermis, mesoderm or ectoderms as has been outlined by research. Endodermis refers to the inner tissues that range from the lining of the lungs and also the other internal organs such as the guts. Mesoderm is the middle layer of body tissues that range from blood and the marrow alongside others. On the other hand ectoderm refers to the outer most layers. Medical Benefits of Stem Cells The multipotent characteristic of a stem cell endows it with the ability to produce other cells although limited in number. An example of the multipitent cell is the hematopoietic cells. Such cells too can give rise to other blood cells but their nature of differentiation limits their ability to â€Å"form liver cells, kidney cells, nerve cells, or any other kind of cell except for a select few kinds of blood cells.†(Bellomo 37). Research into the multipotent cells was intensified in the recent past upon the discovery that they possess the potential to be used in stem cell therapies hence easing the suffering of millions in the world. Further research into this will uncover even further limitless application. Such research will enable scientists to fathom the complex process that the undifferentiated cells have to undergo before becoming differentiated. This mostly is because majority of ailments experienced in the body are as a result of the abnormal processes of cell differentiation. Scientists are yet to understand â€Å"the signals that turn specific genes on and off to influence the differentiation of the stem cell†(The National Institute of Health Resource of Stem Cell Research). A further grasp of such a process will no doubt provide knowledge of what causes diseases as well as the various strategies to treat such diseases. Hopes are high hence in the medical profession that advances in modern technologies will be able to find a lasting cure to diseases such as cancer and diabetes. This is because there still exists a huge gap in the current knowledge of stem cell research as some of the processes are still shrouded by mystery.  The existing treatments, after a breakthrough of research in the past 30 years, have centered on offering treatment to cancer patient that have complications such as leukemia. Chemotherapy has been used in the destruction of the malignant tissues. This however has proved to be detrimental to other useful cells such as the haematopoietic cells. Advances made in the stem cell research have will be able to address this problem. This is because stem cells will be reintroduced into the system in a bid to replace the destroyed cells during chemotherapy. Further research will be centered on the treatment of cancerous tumors. A look at brain cancer history and trends over time indicates it is one of the most difficult to treat due to the speedy spread of the malignant tissues. Research that has been conducted in dogs indicate that drugs can be developed that will specifically target the cancerous stem cells. Stem cell research has also been found to possess a potential of curing spinal cord injuries. In a study conducted in Korea, scientists have been able to come up with â€Å"stem cells tailored to match an individual†(BBC News channel). Further information on the research indicates that this will result to diseases such as diabetes being treated without a patient’s body rejecting tissues. This is a major discovery that has solved one of the major headaches facing the treatment of diabetes. In addition to diabetes, heart damages and baldness too will be contained in future. This indicates that in the end a wide range of medical maladies facing humanity will be eradicated through stem cell research. Stem Cell Research Controversy            In the face of all the above mentioned benefits, stem cells research has been largely hampered by the opposition that has raged on centering on the use of embryonic stem cells. As afore mentioned, embryonic stem cells have been found to possess unique characteristics that give them a high ability to multiply and differentiate. Research has indicated that they can self divide and be able to maintain their inherent characteristics. This has made them more viable in the stem based therapy than the adult stem cells. They are seen as providing the answers to various diseases facing mankind. This has attracted criticism from pro life activists. The Catholic Church for example has been very vocal in its opposition of the research citing a number of moral grounds. The major argument has been that embryonic research devalues human worth. Critics insist that â€Å"the embryonic human should have the same moral status as the fetus or the child or the adult†(The ebrary ebrary, 210). They criticize the notion that embryos are not yet human insisting that focus hence should be on adult stem cells which may posses the same differentiation and division abilities rather than on embryonic research. This opposition insists that â€Å"the proper test of humanity should be if the embryo has the potential to organize itself into a living human whole†and not on whether it is yet living (Inc ebrary ebrary 210) Conclusion            These arguments made against the stem cell research may hold some water when addressed on the context of morals. Indeed it is important to accord embryos the respect they deserve in the recognition that it is a stage in human growth. However, such arguments fail to recognize the immense benefits that such a research accords to humanity. It hence defeats logic for critics of stem cell research to equate human embryos with human beings. Though a human embryo is important in itself it is not always that it develops into a human being and if there is a way that it can be beneficial to humanity such benefit should be explored.            It is hence important that the public in the understanding of the mentioned benefits urge the political regimes to allocate more funding to the stem cell research to uncover their full potential.   Works Cited. Chad H. Stem cell research. Medical Encyclopedia. National library of Medicine. 2007.           Retrieved on October 30, 2008 from            http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007120.htm Gerald P. Current Topics in Developmental Biology. Academic Press, 2006; 203 Bellomo M. The Stem Cell Divide: The Facts, the Fiction, and the Fear Driving the Greatest Scientific, Political, and Religious Debate of Our Time. AMACOM Div       American Mgmt Assn, 2006; 33-39 BBC.UK. Stem Cells Tailored to Patients. 2005. Retrieved on October 30, 2008 from            http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4555023.stm Inc ebrary ebrary. The Debatabase Book: A Must Have Guide for Successful Debate.            IDEA, 2004; 209-211 Judith A., Erin W.  Stem Cell Research. Congressional Research Service. 2004.  .         Retrieved on October 30, 2008 from            http://www.fas.org/spp/civil/crs/RL31015.pdf. Pam S., Gail P., Mary T. The Promise and Politics of Stem Cell Research. Greenwood  Publishing Group, 2007; 8
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