Barrier to Stem Cell Research Torn Down

By: Shagun Mohan

Stem cell research has been a huge controversy for many years, whether it may be for ethical reasons or medical advancement reasons. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that are found in most multi-cellular organisms. Scientists mainly work with two kinds of stem cells: adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells can be derived from either the peripheral system or the bone marrow. The embryonic stem cells are from the early stage of when the embryo is developing (or differentiating). Specifically, the embryonic stem cells are from the inner cell mast of a blastocyst.

Billions of dollars are being used to fund this research because stem cells have the ability to grow into almost any type of specialized cell. Researchers and scientists have hypothesized that they will be able to cure and treat illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and heart disease. This is possible because, for example, when treating cancer, the cells that are damaged by radiation or chemotherapy can be replaced with stem cells that adapt to the “job” of the cells that were harmed. Therefore, if neurons were damaged, the stem cell will adapt to the specialized neuron and serve the same function.

However, many oppose stem cell research because of moral and ethical issues. The embryonic stem cells are what researchers mostly use. In order to use these cells, a human embryo must be destroyed. People feel that this is devaluing human life and destroying human life in the hope of saving another one is wrong. People should value a fertilized egg equal to a human life, even if it’s in its first few weeks. Furthermore, many people feel that with the deep understanding of stem cells, scientists in the future could possibly conduct human cloning. For these reasons, there were strict limits on human embryonic stem cell research under the Bush administration. Under former President Bush, tax dollars were allowed to support studies on a small number of existing colonies of stem cells that had already been derived from embryos. However, he did not support on creating any new colonies of stem cells.

On March 9, 2009, President Obama announced that he was issuing an executive order intended to advance the

stem cell research. However, Obama drew a strict line against closeup of embryonic stem cell

human cloning, an issue many are against. Regarding human cloning,

he said, “It is dangerous, profoundly wrong and has no place in our society or any society.” With President Obama’s new support and federal funding in stem cell research, there may be a possibility that scientists may finally find a cure to the infamous cancer. The barrier to scientific development and progress in this area has now been torn down. Now, it is only a matter of time until scientists reach a breakthrough in stem cells.

References:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090310/ts_alt_afp/ushealthstemcells_20090310090042

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/04/08/embryo_ethics/



		Barrier to Stem Cell Research Torn Down By: Shagun Mohan Stem cell research has been a huge controversy for many years, whether it may be for ethical reasons or medical advancement reasons. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that are found in most multi-cellular organisms. Scientists mainly work with two kinds of stem cells: adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells can be derived from either the peripheral system or the bone marrow. The embryonic stem cells are from the early stage of when the embryo is developing (or differentiating). Specifically, the embryonic stem cells are from the inner cell mast of a blastocyst. Billions of dollars are being used to fund this research because stem cells have the ability to grow into almost any type of specialized cell. Researchers and scientists have hypothesized that they will be able to cure and treat illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and heart disease. This is possible because, for example, when treating cancer, the cells that are damaged by radiation or chemotherapy can be replaced with stem cells that adapt to the “job” of the cells that were harmed. Therefore, if neurons were damaged, the stem cell will adapt to the specialized neuron and serve the same function. However, many oppose stem cell research because of moral and ethical issues. The embryonic stem cells are what researchers mostly use. In order to use these cells, a human embryo must be destroyed. People feel that this is devaluing human life and destroying human life in the hope of saving another one is wrong. People should value a fertilized egg equal to a human life, even if it’s in its first few weeks. Furthermore, many people feel that with the deep understanding of stem cells, scientists in the future could possibly conduct human cloning. For these reasons, there were strict limits on human embryonic stem cell research under the Bush administration. Under former President Bush, tax dollars were allowed to support studies on a small number of existing colonies of stem cells that had already been derived from embryos. However, he did not support on creating any new colonies of stem cells. On March 9, 2009, President Obama announced that he was issuing an executive order intended to advance the stem cell research. However, Obama drew a strict line against closeup of embryonic stem cell human cloning, an issue many are against. Regarding human cloning, he said, “It is dangerous, profoundly wrong and has no place in our society or any society.” With President Obama’s new support and federal funding in stem cell research, there may be a possibility that scientists may finally find a cure to the infamous cancer. The barrier to scientific development and progress in this area has now been torn down. Now, it is only a matter of time until scientists reach a breakthrough in stem cells. References: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090310/ts_alt_afp/ushealthstemcells_20090310090042 http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/04/08/embryo_ethics/