Stem Cell Research Essay Example for Free

Stem Cell Research EssayIntroductionA realise at the progressive societies today indicates that science is encumbered by moral and political considerations. The world of science is yet to be democratized and viable ideas ar creation sent to the gallows to satiate conservative thinkers at the helm of leadership. A glimpse at most of the profitable vaccines that direct evolved indicates a struggle between pietism and modern intelligence. Science is struggling to permeate an almost non impervious wall of ethical consideration before a certain well meaning encounter puke be allowed into the mainstream. Since the inquiry into stem jail mobile phones was pioneered in the 1960s, it has elicited hue and cry from the public with some claiming that scientists are trying to play God. Many still have remained marveled at the exploits of modern science and have identified the wide range of benefits that arise from this enquiry. Stem cell research is indeed revolutionizing the dis course of heterogeneous man impairments and diseases such as leukemia and Parkinsons disease amongst a wide range of other benefits. The fascination created by stem cells research is immense and has expand the scope of scientific study. It continues to elicit interest regarding how organisms are able to grow from just one undivided cell and also the efficacy of such single cells to multiply and replace the damaged ones. Immense research is existence carried out focusing on the application of cell therapy in the treatment of a hail of diseases.Definition Stem cell refers to a generic cell that can make exact copies of itself indefinitely. (Chad). Gerald (203) definition of stem cells is centered on the inherent characteristics that they have which make them outstanding in comparison to other cells. He observes that they are undifferentiated cells that renew themselves at the single cell level for many cell doublings. (203). There are two types of stem cells the embryonic stem cell and the adult stem cells.Types of Stem CellsEmbryonic stem cells are derived from a foetus (blastocyst) before the cell initiates the process of differentiation. They posses a elevateder ability of differentiation compared to the adult stem cells. Much of the controversy that has arisen centers on the embryonic stem cells out-of-pocket to their origin.Adult stem cells on the other hand are obtained from the bone marrow. Their versatility in research is restricted by the fact that they posses a number of limitations in terms of differentiation and divisibility. The research into adult cells commenced earlier than for the embryonic cells and although both bear a number of similarities, adult cells are less flexible and untold research and furor has been focused on the embryonic stem cells.Properties of Stem CellsAll in all, stem cells serve an important purpose of replenishing damaged cells in the body. They repair the body system due to their higher voltage of dividing into many cells limitlessly and also their ability to adapt to the prevailing chemical environment. As Pam et al (8) observes that, when a stem cell divides, each daughter can remain a stem cell or adopt a more specialized affair such as muscle, blood or brain cell, depending on the absence or presence of chemical signals. Indeed, stem cells have the ability to grow and transmute into a particular cell that possesses characteristics that are similar to the cells of the deformed tissues.It is this self renewal capability and their higher potency that continue to arouse much oddity amongst scientists who see them as the answer to various health and medical problems facing mankind. Self renewal characteristic of a stem cell simply refers to its ability to divide and form multiply cells without losing its initial original characteristics. Potency of a stem cell revolves around the ability to differentiate into desired specialized cells. Depending on the capacity of cells to divide, the y are referred to either pluripotency or unipotency.Pluripotent cells have the ability to differentiate into a vast studyity. (Bellomo 35) Such cellular quality has be deduct a major source of scientific inquiry as piluripitent cells have demonstrated unmatched ability of transform themselves into any set of tissues. They can develop either into endodermis, mesoblast or ectoderms as has been outlined by research. Endodermis refers to the inner tissues that range from the lining of the lungs and also the other internal organs such as the guts. Mesoderm is the shopping centre layer of body tissues that range from blood and the marrow alongside others. On the other hand ectoderm refers to the outer most layers.Medical Benefits of Stem CellsThe potent characteristic of a stem cell endows it with the ability to produce other cells although limited in number. An example of the multipitent cell is the hematopoietic cells. Such cells too can give rise to other blood cells but their natu re of differentiation limits their ability to form liver cells, kidney cells, nerve cells, or any other kind-hearted of cell except for a select few kinds of blood cells. (Bellomo 37). Research into the multipotent cells was intensified in the recent past upon the discovery that they possess the potential to be used in stem cell therapies hence easing the suffering of millions in the world.Further research into this willing uncover even progress limitless application. Such research will enable scientists to fathom the complex process that the undifferentiated cells have to undergo before becoming differentiated. This mostly is because legal age of ailments experienced in the body are as a result of the abnormal processes of cell differentiation. Scientists are yet to understand the signals that turn specific genes on and off to influence the differentiation of the stem cell (The National Institute of Health Resource of Stem Cell Research). A further grasp of such a process will no doubt provide knowledge of what causes diseases as well as the various strategies to treat such diseases.Hopes are high hence in the medical profession that advances in modern technologies will be able to find a lasting cure to diseases such as cancer and diabetes. This is because there still exists a huge gap in the current knowledge of stem cell research as some of the processes are still shrouded by mystery. The existing treatments, after a breakthrough of research in the past 30 years, have centered on offering treatment to cancer patient that have complications such as leukemia. Chemotherapy has been used in the destruction of the malignant tissues. This however has proved to be detrimental to other useful cells such as the haematopoietic cells. Advances make in the stem cell research have will be able to address this problem.This is because stem cells will be reintroduced into the system in a bid to replace the destroyed cells during chemotherapy. Further research will be c entered on the treatment of cancerous tumors. A look at brain cancer history and trends over time indicates it is one of the most difficult to treat due to the speedy circularise of the malignant tissues. Research that has been conducted in dogs indicate that drugs can be developed that will specifically target the cancerous stem cells. Stem cell research has also been found to possess a potential of curing spinal cord injuries.In a study conducted in Korea, scientists have been able to come up with stem cells tailored to match an individual (BBC News channel). Further information on the research indicates that this will result to diseases such as diabetes being treated without a patients body rejecting tissues. This is a major discovery that has solved one of the major headaches facing the treatment of diabetes. In accessory to diabetes, heart damages and baldness too will be contained in future. This indicates that in the end a wide range of medical maladies facing benignantity will be eradicated through stem cell research.Stem Cell Research Controversy In the face of all the above mentioned benefits, stem cells research has been largely hampered by the opposition that has raged on centering on the use of embryonic stem cells. As afore mentioned, embryonic stem cells have been found to possess unique characteristics that give them a high ability to multiply and differentiate. Research has indicated that they can self divide and be able to maintain their inherent characteristics. This has made them more viable in the stem based therapy than the adult stem cells.They are seen as providing the answers to various diseases facing mankind. This has attracted criticism from pro life activists. The Catholic Church for example has been very vocal in its opposition of the research citing a number of moral grounds. The major argument has been that embryonic research devalues human worth. Critics insist that the embryonic human should have the same moral status as th e fetus or the child or the adult (The ebrary ebrary, 210).They criticize the ideal that embryos are not yet human insisting that focus hence should be on adult stem cells which may posses the same differentiation and year abilities rather than on embryonic research. This opposition insists that the proper test of earth should be if the embryo has the potential to organize itself into a living human consentient and not on whether it is yet living (Inc ebrary ebrary 210)Conclusion These arguments made against the stem cell research may hold some water when addressed on the context of morals. Indeed it is important to accord embryos the respect they deserve in the recognition that it is a stage in human growth.However, such arguments fail to agnise the immense benefits that such a research accords to humanity. It hence defeats logic for critics of stem cell research to equate human embryos with human beings. Though a human embryo is important in itself it is not always that it de velops into a human being and if there is a way that it can be beneficial to humanity such benefit should be explored. It is hence important that the public in the understanding of the mentioned benefits urge the political regimes to allocate more funding to the stem cell research to uncover their full potential.Works Cited.Chad H. Stem cell research. Medical Encyclopedia. National library of Medicine. 2007. Retrieved on October 30, 2008 from http//www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007120.htmGerald P. Current Topics in Developmental Biology. schoolman Press, 2006 203Bellomo M. The Stem Cell Divide The Facts, the Fiction, and the Fear Driving the Greatest Scientific, Political, and Religious Debate of Our Time. AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn, 2006 33-39BBC.UK. Stem Cells Tailored to Patients. 2005. Retrieved on October 30, 2008 from http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4555023.stmInc ebrary ebrary. The Debatabase Book A Must Have Guide for Successful Debate. IDEA, 2004 209-211Ju dith A., Erin W. Stem Cell Research. Congressional Research Service. 2004. . Retrieved on October 30, 2008 from http//www.fas.org/spp/civil/crs/RL31015.pdf.Pam S., Gail P., Mary T. The Promise and governing of Stem Cell Research. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007 8