The medical field has taken great leaps with the technological explosion. Humans are living longer and are able to cure many diseases that earlier in history would have been fatal. With the field making such leaps, researchers are actively searching for new breakthroughs. Stem cells are expected to be the next great thing. Stem cells are expected to help cure cardiac, ligament, and respiratory illnesses alike. Neurological and blood formed disease could Progress has slowed however, as the use of certain stem cells is seen as inhumane and not morally right to do. While this is important to look out for the benefits of stem cells are too great to pass up. Passing on this gift would greatly affect the advancement of the human race. With this in mind, a further delve into why will be needed if a decision is expected to be made.
With the benefits of stem cell research there comes the belief of inhumane qualities that has drastically lowered the progress. In “Let Him Live?” on page 50, William Buckley Jr. refers to 2001 when President Bush authorized using stem cell lines that were extracted from embryos. However, he went out of his way to distinguish the difference between the use of stem cells with no prospect of developing life, and stem cells that could turn into human life. On the other hand, critics stated that millions of embryos are fated to die so “talking under the knife is useless,” (50). While stem cells issue a huge benefit, inhumane research cannot be accepted. Using adult stem cells is safe and does not prevent a potential human from taking shape. There’s a big misconception about the research of stem cells, but while some cases are warranted for concern, there’s a need for the research. As long as we follow the line President George W. Bush laid out for America, we can obtain the breakthrough we desire humanly. In Yvette Braziers “What are Stem Cells,and What do They do? ” He refers to while it is not illegal to produce embryonic stem cells it was made illegal to use government funding to create them after 2001(“Stem Cells, and What”). Treatments also have to be approved by the FDA before they can be used according to Brazier. In most cases, they have not yet been approved. Another issue with stem cells is the cost for patients. As Lachmann notes in “Stem cell research—why is it regarded as a threat?” Stem cell treatments at the early stages are expected to be expensive and out of reach of many patients. There’s hope that while it is pricey at first, it will drop with more available. Lachmann states that bone marrow transplants are a good example of this trend,(Lachmann, “Stem Cell Research–why”). “For the first few decades, it was expensive, later, however, the price lowered drastically.”,(Lachmann, “Stem Cell Research–why”). Although admittedly this won’t guarantee that the same will occur with stem cell treatments. While this is true, however, this can be a good resource to determine the likelihood. Seeing work of similar difficulty and how the pricing fluctuate could be a good source to look on.
Cardiac Disease is a big cause for concern in America and worldwide alike. Stem cells, however, could be a solution that had previously been overlooked. Stem cell therapy has been thought of as a promising idea for the solution to the fundamental problem with cardiac disease. As Yanli Lui states in “Therapeutic Potential of Menstrual Blood-Derived Endometrial Stem Cells in Cardiac Diseases” “Transplantation of stem cells could improve the function of damaged cardiomyocytes, activate resident cardiac progenitor cells and supply sufficient cardiomyocytes to the sites of need.” This has the potential to fix the issue at its source. The impact this would have on cardiac disease cannot be understated. Lui also described that “Bone marrow-derived MSCs could be used to make cardiomyocytes which can replace the damaged cardiac tissue.”, (“Therapeutic Potential”). The ability to replace the worn down or broken tissues and replace them with new perfectly functioning ones sounds like a dream come true. This, however, can be achieved with improved remodeling and continued research. Finding new ways to cure disease is an important and never-ending job. Testing on animals and later humans would have to take shape before the research bears fruit which could take a while. These types of tests can be seen as inhumane on the animals, and in some cases that’s fair. In The Mayo Clinic article on “Frequently Asked Questions about Stem Cell Research” they elaborate on how being able to view these cells could show how some forms of disease come about. If further medical advances are to be made, testing on animal subjects will have to continue, and with the potential to better and save lives on the table, the payoff is a huge one.
We have heard the controversy of embryonic stem cells as being inhumane, but what exactly are they? As Yvette Brazier explains in “What are Stem Cells, and What do They do”, they are stem cells that are derived from blastocysts that are 3-5 days old. These stem cells are normally taken from are extra embryos that result from in vitro fertilization (Brazier, What are Stem Cells). With that in mind, the stem cells are taken mainly affect any living organisms.This could not account for the chance that they could also grab them from living beings. However, the embryo is not considered to be a living being until after the first trimester of birth according to Brazier (What are Stem Cells). These cells are interesting in that they can become any different type of cell. With the correct form, they can be made into any cell type the body needs. This could not only be used to cure many diseases but could also be used to further the lifespan of the human race. According to Brazier, these cells take about 5 days in the womb before they begin to differentiate (What are Stem Cells). Using then before that time is important as to not destroy a possible human. Keeping our humanity is important and following those boundaries, the goal can still be reached with further research and testing.
There’s a variation of stem cells available and knowing the classifications is important for knowing their possible uses for medical technology. For starters, let’s begin with the adult Stem cell. The adult stem cells are tissue specific as Brazier explains (What are Stem Cells). Take skin cells for example. They are being replaced frequently throughout daily life. These cells are predestined to be skin cells while embryonic can vary as to what cell they will end up as. This limit, while they can still use them for good, limits the potential and capabilities that they can hold. They are present in your tissues since development and serve to be a replacement in case certain cells become damaged. These types of stem cells are great for remaking skin cells for injury cases. Let’s say somebody get a deep cut and the doctor stitches it back together. The cells that are lost during the cut are replaced and at some point the stitches are able to be removed.
With this in mind, there are many ways in which Stem cells can possibly be used to cure disease. One way is that it is expected that they can help cure brain disease involving memories such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer ‘s (Brazier, “Stem Cells, and What”). This would be a great advancement in the health field and would help many people who thought they wouldn’t be able to be cured. Using them to correct organ issues or replacing the organ altogether is being actively researched in the hope of ridding the need to wait for organs from other humans. This achievement would save the many people who will inevitably die waiting for an organ for surgery. Researchers are also hopeful of being able to develop pancreas cells for transplant to create the ability to produce insulin in people with diabetes (Brazier, “Stem Cells, and What”). This would be a great breakthrough and would push medicine far ahead. There was a long thought believes that an adult brain could not produce new neurons. According to Hendrick Landgren and Maurice Curtis Recent studies have shown otherwise. Studies revealed progenitor cells are found in the forebrain in the subventricular (Landgren and Curtis,“Locating and Labeling” ). The potential to use these for different types of cells is there. However, more research should be done for as of not this appears to be more of speculation due to the lack of results. Whether or not the cells can be used that way can’t be proven or trusted at this time. Due diligence should be done in order to see just what potential they have. Researchers however are currently differentiating embryonic stem cells into the variation of cells needed and have received positive results (Landgren and Curtis, “Locating and Labeling”). With keeping restrictions in mind, the slow progress is expected as there are many hoops to jump through. Stem cells, however, are also expected to be useful in finding out why certain mutations occur which can lead to preventing some diseases from getting to the later stages.
In the end, it’s about weighing the pros and the cons and seeing if the worth outweighs the potential downsides. Scientists see so much potential in stem cells for medical benefit. For them to take advantage, we must be willing to take a chance and limit the hindrances on their progression. The potential available to grasp is just too great to let slip up due to morality. The ability to cure diseases that humans never thought possible is out for the taking. This is an opportunity that cannot be passed on. It will take time to unlock what stem cells truly have to offer. There are many things about the body and stem cells in particular that are not yet known. New discoveries are what drive advancement in society and increase the odds of continued survival in an ever-changing environment.
Works Cited
- Brazier, Yvette. “What are Stem Cells, and What do they do.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International,Last Reviewed 15 October 2018, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323343.php.
- Lachmann, P. “Stem Cell Research–Why Is It Regarded as a Threat? An Investigation of the Economic and Ethical Arguments Made against Research with Human Embryonic Stem Cells.” EMBO Reports, Oxford University Press, Mar. 2001, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1083849/.
- Landgren, Henrik, and Maurice A. Curtis. “Locating and Labeling Neural Stem Cells in the Brain.” Wiley Online Library, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 23 July 2010, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcp.22319/abstract.
- Liu, Yanli, et al. “Therapeutic Potential of Menstrual Blood-Derived Endometrial Stem Cells in Cardiac Diseases.” Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, vol. 76, no. 9, May 2019, pp. 1681–1695.,Liu, Yanli, et al. “Therapeutic Potential of Menstrual Blood-Derived Endometrial Stem Cells in Cardiac Diseases.” SpringerLink, Springer International Publishing, 5 Feb. 2019, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00018-019-03019-2.
- “Frequently Asked Questions about Stem Cell Research.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 8 June 2019, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bone-marrow-transplant/in-depth/stem-cells/art-20048117.
