Since 1868, when Ernst Haeckel, used the term, ‘stem cell’ to describe a single cell organism that acted as an ancestor to all living organisms, stem cells have become the focus for many medical researches (Children 's Hospital Boston). Several studies have shown that stem cells can cure many ailments that cannot be reversed with existing treatment and those that even lead to permanent damages of the human body. Existing studies have shown that stem cells can help to cure macular degeneration, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries, and certain cardiovascular problems (Young, 2014; Björklund et al., 2002; Hodgson et al., 2004; Keirstead et al., 2005). Advances of stem cell research has greatly increased the potential for uses …show more content…
The term ‘stem cell’ was later used by William Sedgwick in 1886 to describe parts of plants that are capable of growing and regenerating. While performing cancer research in 1953, Leroy Stevens, a scientist in Maine, found tumors known as teratomas to contain mixtures of differentiated and undifferentiated cells. Researchers concluded that those cells were pluripotent and could be differentiated into any cell that was found in a fully-grown animal (Boston Children 's …show more content…
(2005), Björklund et al. (2002), and Assady et al. (2001), provide different evidence pertaining to the successful application of stem cell therapy. For instance, Young (2014), notes that stem cells have been successfully used to help people with macular degeneration, which is an eye disease that causes progressive loss of sight. Young (2014), notes that after three years of follow-up the patients had significantly regained their sights by an average of three lines on the standard eye chart and none showed any signs of rejecting the transplanted