Stem Cell Use and Research Essay - 590 Words

a. Stem cells are a very unique and useful medical advancement. The basic idea of a stem cell is: A cell that is able to differentiate into a specialized cell type. These are different from other cells, because each organ and body system has unique cells for their functions (Like how blood has red and white blood cells, while muscles have cardiac, smooth, and skeletal muscle cells). Stem cell aren’t specialized for any function or organ yet, but are able to differentiate into a unique cell type when needed. b. Furthermore, stem cells come from two main sources: Embryo, and Adult tissues. Adult stem cells are found in the body after embryonic development. they lie dormant or unable to divide until activated by an injury or disease. They†¦show more content†¦c. Diseases that benefit from the use of stem cells: Cancer, down syndrome, alzheimers, and possibly sickle cell disease. Diseases that can be treated by the use of stem cells: some forms of cancer, type 1 diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and even rheumatoid arthritis. d. There are a lot of moral and ethical issues raised when using stem cells. When harvesting embryonic stem cells scientist destroy the blastocyst before it can develop into a person. People also believe harvesting stem cells from an embryo is like murder, or abortion. Another issue people have is the creation of chimeras: an organism with both human and animal cells and tissues. Stem cell research sometimes require injecting human stem cells in animals or vise versa. Some people are against the creation of an organism that is â€Å"part human† or a human that is â€Å"part animal†. Embryo stem cell harvesting has been made illegal in most european countries. In the U.S. it is illegal for the government to fund the research of stem cell lines that were created after August 2001. e. Positive effects of stem cell research are treatments of cell diseases, the ability to generate specific organs when needed. Also the ability to generate more cells to organs where cells can’t necessarily divide. Negative effects are ethically based like the fact that the use of embryonic stem cells require harvesting and destroying human embryos. Another is the idea that stem cellShow MoreRelatedEmbryonic Stem Cell Research And Current Use1769 Words   |  8 Pagesdiscussion in this report is ESCR (embryonic stem cell research) and current use. This issue causes controversial concerns because the first isolation of the embryo was in 1998, which is still very recent and the policies around it are grey areas. Many countries including the United States of America have removed funding because of issues that have risen due to religious, ethical and legal formalities. Some of the benefits that ESC (embryonic stem cells) promise are the cure for many diseases andRead More Foolis h to Ban the Use of Stem Cells in Research Essay1538 Words   |  7 PagesFoolish to Ban the Use of Stem Cells in Research      Ã‚   Over the last century, humanity has created an impressive biological technology.   We have crafted an arsenal of vaccines and antibiotics to defend ourselves from the microscopic world of bacteria and viruses.  Ã‚   We have developed the means to diagnose genetic problems, and we are developing means to treat them.   We have developed a huge number of synthetic substances to enhance human performance, and later human behavior.   We have geneticallyRead MoreControversy Surrounding Research And Therapeutic Use Of Stem Cell Technology831 Words   |  4 Pages Controversy surrounding research and therapeutic use of stem cells has been a contentious and socially polarizing matter for a few decades. Arguments lie largely between the scientific community and the general public, although intragroup disagreements also persist today. These disparate views for and against stem cells arise out of the bioethical implications of an inchoate innovation, the general publicâ⠂¬â„¢s tenuous understanding of the underlying technology itself, and sociopolitical ideologiesRead MoreStem Cells And The Ethics Behind Their Use1606 Words   |  7 PagesStem Cells and the Ethics behind their Use Stem cells have the capability to become any type of cell. This process is possible because they are unspecialized and can divide to create new cells through cell division. Stem cells have the ability to become skin cells as well as organ cells (Stem Cell Information, 2015). There are two different types of stem cells which can be used in various ways. The first of the two is the embryonic stem cell which is found inside the embryo within its first few daysRead More Stem Cell Research Essay1316 Words   |  6 PagesStem Cell Research What is a Stem Cell? Stems cells are immature cells found in embryos that can develop into any kind of specialized cells. They can form virtually any cell of the human body. These types of stem cells are known as pluripotent cells. Multipotent cells are stem cells that are more mature; they can be found in adults and children. Multipotent cells are not as flexible as pluripotent cells, as they have already developed into more specialized human cells. Benefits of StemRead MoreThe Debate Of Stem Cell Research1660 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Stem Cell Debate In 1998, President Bill Clinton issued a National Bioethics Advisory Commission to begin to study the question of stem cell research (Stem Cells Fast Facts). Since then many advances have been made and stem cells have been used to aid in the alleviation of several medical conditions such as macular degeneration, bone marrow deficiencies, and growing new sheets of new skin for burn victims (Hug). Even though there is much stigma surrounding stem cell research, the medicalRead MoreStem Cell Research : Ethics, Cloning And Curing The Disease1220 Words   |  5 Pages Research Paper Outline Stem Cell Research - Ethics, Cloning and Curing the Disease Introduction According to former Speaker of the House, John Boehner, †Stem cell research must be carried out in an ethical manner in a way that respects the sanctity of human life.† In recent events, stem cell research has caught the attention of the nation and stirred up controversy about the research and ethics along with it. Ethically, stem cell research has caught more attention than the research behindRead MoreThe Debate Over Stem Cells1144 Words   |  5 Pagesadvance each day, the use of stem cells, in regards to research, is becoming extraordinarily prevalent. I believe that the use of stem cells is unethical to a certain extent. Stem cells are cells that are able to renew themselves as well as the ability to generate specialized cells. Scientists refer to these tiny, magnificent cells as stem cells because many different types of cells can stem from them. Stem cells have the ability to develop into other cell types that mature into cells that have specializedRead MoreIs Stem Cell Research Ethical?1252 Words   |  6 Pages Is Stem Cell Research Ethical? The question that has been asked so many times, is stem cell research ethical? To argue ethics over this topic, one must first know what a stem cell is.Stem Cells are â€Å"cells with the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells† (Stem Cell Basics: Introduction). The National Institutes of Health say that stem cells are distinguished for two different reasons. The first is â€Å"they are unspecialized cells capable of renewingRead MoreStem Cell Research Debate1119 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Stem Cell Research Debate There are only a small number of issues that are controversial as far as the public, the government and scientists are concerned. The father of all issues, however, is the debate that revolves around the ethics of stem cell research. Stem cells can be defined as those cells in an embryo that essentially give rise to the entire organism (Capra, 1999). In the contemporary world of today, the issue of embryonic stem cell research is one of this controversial significant