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English Research Paper
English Research Paper
English Research Paper
Mrs. Johnson
English 3 Honors
1 March 2018
Many people die every year of various types of diseases and conditions. There are many
treatments to ease the symptoms of the disease or condition, but in many cases there are no cures
to them. Stem cells are regenerative cells that can be found throughout the body. Although stem
cells are a very controversial subject, they hold great promise in medicine. Stem cells serve as a
sort of internal repair system and divide throughout the process of mitosis. Many types of stem
cells can be found throughout the body can be retrieved in many ways to help us understand and
treat many diseases and regenerate organs, all with the consent of the patient. Stem cells are
Molly Edmonds writes that stem cells are unique compared to other cells in the body.
Edmonds also writes, unlike most normal types of cells, stem cells are capable of dividing and
regenerating for long periods of time. Stem cells are capable of many things. Stem cells are
capable of transforming into more cells of the same type or multiple other types (Journal of Stem
Cell Research and Therapy). Stem cells also regenerate. Regeneration is the process of
regeneration, renovation, and development that means genomes, cells, organisms, and ecologies
resistant to natural variations or events that cause disruption or damage (Stem Cell Research and
Regenerative Medicine). Regeneration can also be complete where the original tissue is the same
as the absent tissue (Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine). Molly Edmonds writes
once again, stem cells are unspecialized, which means they do not have a unique function, such
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as pumping blood the the heart or supporting muscles in the legs. These unspecialized cells can
be trained, however, which means they could be specialized in whatever area of the body they
are needed (Edmonds). The amounts of stem cells in the body is plentiful.
There are many different types of stem cells throughout the body and many ways to
retrieve them. The two main types of stem cells are adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells.
Adult stem cells are found in various parts of the body, such as the brain, bone marrow, blood,
skin, and heart. Stem cells can be obtained from cord blood or derived by manipulating different
cells, like skin cells (Theresa Phillips). Embryonic stem cells can be derived from embryo in the
blastocyte stage (Journal of Stem Cell Research and Therapy). Kat McGowan writes that
embryonic stem can morph into virtually any cell in the body. Another type of stem cell is a
somatic cell. According to the Stembook authored by Doug Melton, somatic stem cells have
been identified within adult organisms, and are defined by their dual properties of self renewal
and differentiation. Adult somatic stem cells are restricted by their ability to give rise to cell
types within a defined lineage (Melton). These many types of stem cells each open many doors.
Stem cells hold great promise in helping understand and treat many diseases and
conditions. Many of the deadliest diseases, such as cancer, are the results of uncontrolled cellular
division (Edmonds). Cancer stem cells are cells with stem cell like abilities have been observed
breast cancer, colon cancer, leukemia, melanomic, prostate cancer which can form new cells and
lead to tumorigenesis, according to the Journal of Stem Cell and Therapy. There is an estimated
609,640 death for this year predicted just from cancer. This can be prevented with stem cells.
Strokes can also be treated or even cured. During a stroke, brain cells are irreparably damaged;
stem cells could kick start the regenerative process and undergo specialization to replace the lost
cells (Edmonds). Other conditions with potential use for stem cells include Parkinson’s disease.
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Diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, baldness, and spinal cord injuries. Stem cells provide
huge potential for finding treatments and cures to a vast array of diseases stated by Theresa
Phillips. There is endless potential for scientists to learn about human growth and cell
development (Phillips).
Stem Cell researchers have great progress in growing organs from stem cells. The
progress made so far has been made by Takanori Takabe and his colleagues. They succeeded in
generating mini livers, or liver buds, from stem cells that were taken from human skin after
reprogrammed into embryonic state (McGowan). They mixed the skin stem cells with embryonic
stem cells. When mixed with two other types of cells, the fabricated primitive liver cells
(McGowan). Stem cells can also be used to regenerate other parts of the body as well. A
biologist fused an mammalian skin cell with an egg cell, cloning a sheep. An embryo that is an
almost perfect perfect genetic copy of the skin cell donor is a result of this process (McGowan).
Organ transplants are also a critical part of medicine with possible help from stem cells. For
example, some 16,000 ailing Americans are waiting to receive a live transplant, stated by Kat
McGowan. But due to a shortage of viable livers, it is likely that fewer than 7,000 transplants
would be performed in 2013 (McGowan). The scholarly journal, Stem Cell Research and
Regenerative Medicine states, this field holds great promise of engineering impaired nerves and
organs by exalting the body’s own repair mechanisms to functionally heal antecedently
irreversible tissues and organs. These are all possibilities for the future and that are already
present.
Retrieving the stem cells does not occur to any patient that does not give consent. In
2000-2001, governments world wide were beginning to draft proposals and guidelines to control
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stem cell research and handling of embryonic tissues, according to Theresa Phillips. Phillips also
states this was to reach universal policies to prevent “brain-drains”, or emigration of too
scientists, between countries. Australia, Germany, UK and other countries have also formulated
policies (Phillips). These guidelines were made to decrease ethical issues. In attempt to minimize
the ethical issues associated with human embryonic stem cell research so important research can
proceed (Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research and treatment). The policies are government made
and approved as well. They have systematic data to enhance their likelihood that they will meet
their ethical goal. Consent is signed and many papers are signed to ensure the patient is fully
aware of the procedure and treatment. This is one of the many arguments being spoken of in the
community of science.
One of the ethical issues circling the concepts of medicine is the argument that taking the
embryonic stem cells is taking a life. Embryonic stem cells are divided from blastocytes found in
the embryo. Those who believe that life starts at the moment of conception think that harvesting
embryonic cells is akin murder according to Molly Edmonds. Oocyte harvesting, which is
essential to the creation of human embryonic stem cells raises concern related to safety of the
donor (Ethical issues in Stem Cell Research and Treatment). There has also been some ethical
issues related to informed consent of both donors of gametes and embryos as well as recipients
of stem cells and stem cell products. All of these are important ethical issues people should have
some concern about, but some of these issues are based on belief. The embryo becomes a person
in a moral sense at a later stage of development than fertilization stated by the US National
Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. The embryo and embryonic stem cells are
donated when given to stem cell research. Molly Edmonds writes these embryos are usually
furnished by clinics that perform into vitro fertility treatments; for one reason or another, they
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have been rejected for implantation into a womb. These ethical issues all counter into your
It is the embryonic stem cells that cause controversy (Edmonds). This statement is true in
my opinion, but there are many types of stem cells and all stem cells have guidelines. The
government would not let the research of stem cells continue if it was harmful to anyone. Stem
cells not only have many possibilities for the future, such as curing diseases and regenerating
organs, they are the future of medicine. Stem cells could save so many lives and improve their
lives all together. Stem cells would also help doctors and scientists understand disease better and
other conditions. The disease related deaths will drop with stem cells in the future due to all of
the plans with scientists beside them. Many types of stem cells found throughout the body can be
retrieved in many ways to help us understand and treat many diseases and regenerate organs, all
with the consent of the patient. Stem cells are the future of medicine.