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In order to develop an opinion on whether or not stem cells should be used, one first must understand what they are and how they are used. Simply stated, the definition of a stem cell is an undifferentiated cell, meaning that it has no true function yet. However, all of the genes within a human stem cell have the potential to become other types of cells. The triggering mechanism for this is for the stem cells to be placed among specialized cells. Specialized cells include skin cells, muscle cells, or any other type of cell that has a specific function in the body.
One of the most popular examples-and one of the most effective-is the neuron example. This was originally discovered at the University of Madison at Wisconsin in 1997. In the disease Multiple Scleroses, the myelin sheath protecting the neuron is missing. In the absence of myelin to protect the neuron, pain is a constant sensation. Researchers at UMW gathered a group of mice, which were genetically deficient of myelin.
When the undifferentiated embryonic cells were implanted into their spines, the cells were able to sense that the myelin producing cells were deficient and morphologically changed into replacement myelin cells. Immediately, these new cells began coating the spinal chord with myelin (Embryonic). Effectively, the mice were cured. Soon, other scientists found they were able to repeat this phenomenon in other laboratories around the world. Multiple Sclerosis is not the only disease that scientists have the ability to cure. In some isolated cases, juvenile diabetes has been added to the list of cured diseases (Goldstein n.
p. ). This, however, is not the only disease scientists believe they will be able to cure. Stem cells show promise to have the ability to cure diseases including but not limited to Alzheimer's Disease, Lou Gherig's Disease, Hodgkin's Disease, and nearly every form of cancer. With research allowing the discovery of cures to an ever-growing list of diseases, many scientists are devoting much of their time to push for more support from the people as well as the government to continue their research. The medical world has also stepped in to petition for support. Scientists and doctors alike understand the potential of stem cells, and the number of lives they can save, although, they also understand the necessity of the people's support.
Until Americans understand the vast potential of stem cells, these scientists and doctors will continue to perform their research and medical procedures without drawing undue attention to their activities. However, they strongly believe in what they are doing, and refuse to stop saving lives. Doctor Larry Goldstein, a professor of cellular and molecular biology at the University of California in San Diego explained, when interviewed by NPR's Joe Pack, the possible benefits of the use of ESC's. He answered calls from listeners to try to spread awareness of stem cells. One unique part to his lecture is that he warns that stem cells are very specific. They can only be used in a patient from specific embryos, very similar to organ transplant, although slightly less specific.
To counterbalance this pessimistic point is his optimistic outlook on juvenile diabetes. He portrays the use of the ESC in the pancreas of a patient with juvenile diabetes as the new wonder drug. A select few patients have already been treated with stem cells and have been completely cured of the disease. This is a great improvement over the standard pancreatic transplants that doctors have performed in previous patients.
Three pancreases are required for a standard pancreatic transplant in the medical world (Goldstein). The use of stem cells makes more sense than harvesting pancreases from multiple corpses. Using one batch of stem cells makes much more sense than simply waiting for three donors to die. After reviewing these facts, one can make the conclusion that the use of stem cells is the wonder drug of the century, one that will cure all diseases. While this might appear to be the case, there is one piece left out of the above description. Stem cells are derived from a developing embryo or fetus.
There is no other place to find completely undifferentiated cells than in an undeveloped human. Unfortunately, a developing human needs those cells; the process of removing them kills the unborn child. In effect, an abortion is performed whenever stem cells are obtained. This has caused an outcry from pro-life activists. The moral argument is that scientists are killing fetuses to improve the medical condition of living patients. They say that using stem cells in this manner is exactly the same thing as using fetuses to farm body parts.
John Kass, a speaker against the use of stem cells, uses this argument, and even takes it further. He says that even in the case of aborted tissue, the tissue is still a human being and it is technically an abortion to use the tissue to repair damage in others' bodies. He goes even further, stating that the idea of stem cells saving lives originated from the baby-boomer population consisting of people who were too afraid to die, and relates this to the "body harvesting" frequently seen in science fiction movies (106 - 10). However, this argument is vastly flawed. While it might be true that the doctors who discovered the potential use of stem cells originate from the baby-boomers, the reason they push for the use of stem cells is because they are doctors. They took an oath to save the lives of their patients, and stem cell therapy is one way to do so.
Addressing his "destruction of life" argument, whenever a woman has an abortion, the fetus or embryo is thrown out, using aborted tissue to form cells lost in otherwise incurable diseases and injuries is possibly the best thing to do for both the unused stem cells and the patient. Instead of incinerating aborted tissues, there is no reason that doctors should not be able to use them to save existing life. Because of the close connection stem cells have to abortion, the government has had a difficult time deciding whether scientists should perform research on them. Abortion is one of the most sensitive topics in the United States today. The argument against abortion has understandably been that the action kills living human beings.
Currently, as interpreted by the United States Supreme Court, a result of the decision cast by Roe v. Wade, abortions are legal in a woman's first two trimesters without motive, and in the third trimester if an apparent threat to...
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Research essay sample on Stem Cells The Miracle Cure
