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Stem Cells: Could this be the technology to cure cancer? By: Ali Right Stem cells could be the greatest medical advance in history in the sense that most of our serious diseases can be cured. Stem cells have the potential to morph into other cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person is living.
During mitosis, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of specialized cell, such as a muscle cell, or a red blood cell. (University of Utah, 2004; Vegas et al, 2003; Parson et al, 2004; Facts on File, 2004). There are three kinds of stem cells in the body: Totipotent stem cells, which have the ability to morph into any kind of cell in the body. These are found in embryos undergoing their early stages. Another type of stem cell is plenipotent stem cells which have the ability to morph into almost any kind of cell in the body. These are found in a blastocyst which is the result of the embryo after 7 days after fertilization (University of Utah, 2004). They are enriched with plenipotent stem cells, which are constantly morphing into other types of cells in order to become a fetus.
The last type of stem cell is multi potent stem cells or adult stem cells. These are found in fetuses as well as full grown adults. These stem cells can transform into most kinds of specified cells in the body, but their choices are more limited (Vegas et al, 2003). So why are these stem cells so important and how do they help cure cancer? As of today, there is something called stem cell therapy which is used to treat diseases using stem cells (Munson et al 2002). The goal of stem cell therapy is to repair damaged tissue that cannot heal itself.
This is accomplished by transplanting stem cells into the damaged area and directing them to grow into new healthy tissue (University of Utah, 2004). Some stem cell therapies used today are, adult stem cell transplants using bone marrow stem cells, peripheral blood stem cells and umbilical cord blood stem cells. Cell based therapy is just one way to cure cancer, not the only way. For example, let us take the treatment of leukemia, the cancer of white blood cells (WBC). In order to treat this disease, all the cancerous WBC and the existing ones are destroyed by chemotherapy while simultaneously, fresh bone marrow stem cells from a donor are injected into the bloodstream. If successful, the bone marrow stem cells will start morphing into new WBC (University of Utah, 2004).
Umbilical cord blood stem cells are stem cells found in the cord blood. These function similarly to marrow stem cells, and they are less likely to be rejected. Their availability makes them a good candidate for this therapy (Mcconnaughey, 2004). Other stem cell transplants are very similar to the treatment of leukemia. Basically, there is a source from where the stem cells are obtained from and then chemotherapy is administered to the patient, destroying his / her cancerous and normal cells. Immediately the stem cells are transplanted and the patient will recover within days or weeks.
Currently, there is not a lot of stem cell therapies available. Stem cells cannot be used for patients with lung cancer, because we do not know which stem cells will morph into bronchial epithelial cells (cells that form lung tissue) (Saunders, 1994). Stem cells are obtained in many ways. Adult stem cells are easy to obtain n due to their presence in adults and children. Totipotent and plenipotent stem cells are harder to get, because the embryo is destroyed when taking the stem cells out of it. Scientists actually extract these stem cells by inserting a tiny tube inside the embryo and suck out the stem cells inside.
This causes moral and ethical controversies. Human rights activists say that embryos will eventually become a baby and so, killing them is like killing a baby. Scientists counter by arguing whether embryos are humans in the first place. This dispute has not yet been settled, but the government of the United States has prohibited the killing of embryos for the purpose of stem cell research. This is illogical.
Think of all the lives that we can save by stem cell therapy, even if it means destroying a few bundles of cells which these activists call humans. Recently, there have been many discoveries in this field. A new stem cell option has been presented which eliminates these moral controversies. It involves harvesting viable cells from embryos used to treat infertility which are functionally dead and cannot become a fetus.
These cells become stem cells which then can be obtained (Brown, 2004). Not a lot of research has been done yet on this method, but it could improve stem cell therapy in many ways due to the moral controversies that wouldnt be a barrier. Many other kinds of cancer can be cured, because research without destroying functioning embryos is legal. In the future, there might be more stem cell therapies available using the patients own stem cells instead of a donors, which reduces the danger of cell rejection. Then we could direct the cells to become a certain kind of tissue and put many tissues together to form organs which can be re-transplanted back into the patient (University of Utah, 2004). This is useful in many cancer therapies, where cells in some parts of the body become cancerous and cell rejection could be hazardous.
The cells that are transplanted contain the same DNA and the body will accept them. Stem Cell research is vastly improving today with tests conducted on animals to find out what works best. In one instance, paralyzed mice were injected with stem-cells to help improve their conditions. The mice were paralyzed due to sever injury to the spinal cord and nerves.
The stem cells that were injected had an amazingly positive outcome in which the mice started walking again without any signs of shooting pain or awkwardness. This procedure shows just how much the process has improved since the idea was first started. Even though there are still a lot of questions relating to stem cell research and its morality issue, there is still very great hope in that one day this research will find a way to cure many problems facing the human population today. Stem cells could really benefit humans when it comes to treating or even curing diseases like cancer. These cells could cure many other diseases also such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and heart disease. Their potential is incredulous and with a little more research and support, it would truly be one giant leap for medicine.
Work-Cited Paralyzed mice given stem cells walk again (2005). Retrieved November 29 th, 2005 from the MSN Health website: web Brown, D. (2004, December 4). 2 stem cell options presented. The Washington Post, pp. A 1. Facts on File News Services. (2004). retrieved October 29 th, 2005, from Stem Cells in the Spotlight Web site: web Munson, R. (2002).
Raising the dead: organ transplants, ethics and society. New York City, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc. Mcconnaughey, J. (2004, November 26). Studies: cord blood works vs. leukemia. The Washington Post, pp.
A 12. Page, S. (2002, Jan 23). Ultimate stem cell discovered. New Scientist, Retrieved October 26 th, 2005, from web Parson, A. (2004). The proteus effect: stem cells and their promise for medicine. Washington DC: Joseph Henry Press.
Saunders, N. , Smith, R. , & Jetted A. (1994, August). Differential responsiveness of human bronchial epithelial cells, lung carcinoma cells, and bronchial fibroblasts to interferon-gamma in vitro. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, 11. Retrieved October 27 th, 2005, from web University of Utah. (2004). Retrieved October 28 th, 2005, from Stem Cells in the Spotlight Web site: web Vegas, J. (2003). Stem cell research.
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Research essay sample on Adult Stem Cells Stem Cell Research
