Stem cell research Dillon Underwood Karri Newberry

What are stem cells? Stem cells are biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide (through mitosis) and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells. There are two main types in mammals, embryonic and adult stem cells. Stem cells can be taken from a variety of sources, including umbilical cord blood and bone marrow.

There are three sources of autologous adult stem cells: 1)Bone marrow, which requires extraction by drilling into the bone. 2)Adipose tissue (lipid cells), which requires extraction by liposuction. 3)Blood, which requires extraction through pheresis, wherein blood is drawn from the donor and passed through a machine that extracts the stem cells and returns other portions of the blood to the donor.

What are they used for ? Research is being done using stem cells to see if new tissue and cell types can be grown to help replace damaged tissues in human bodies. It is hoped that they can potentially be used to help treat and cure Alzheimer’s diseases, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The first human medical trial for embryonic stem cells started in Atlanta on October 13, 2010 for spinal injury victims.

Pros. Stem cell research can potentially help treat a range of medical problems. It could lead humanity closer to better treatment and possibly cure a number of diseases: – Parkinson’s Disease – Alzheimer’s Disease – Heart Diseases, Stroke and Diabetes (Type 1) – Birth Defects – Spinal Cord Injuries – Replace or Repair Damaged Organs – Reduced Risk of Transplantation (You could possibly get a copy of your own heart in a heart-transplantation in the future – Stem cells may play a major role in cancer – Better treatment of these diseases could also give significant social benefits for individuals and economic gains for society

Cons. Human rights activists and religious proponents claim that stem cell research violates their natural morals, as it is capable of creating a human embryonic stem cell line in the laboratory. The use and sometimes harm of animals in tests They also point out that no cures have yet been produced by embryonic stem cell therapy. studies have found they may be too unpredictable and can cause cancer. Some people think that it is the destruction of life, because an embryo is considered to be a baby