How exciting would it be to be able to help millions of people who are suffering by separating just one line of cells? That could be possible with stem cell research. Amazing new studies are using human cells, more specifically the stem cell, to help many people. The stem cell has the ability to multiply itself repeatedly, which makes them very important to regenerative medicine ("Stem Cell"). Feeling encouraged by the results, many say this could be a chance to begin the end of illnesses involving these cells: “Human embryonic stem cell (HESC) research offers much hope for alleviating the human suffering brought on by the ravages of disease and injury” (“Ethics of Stem Cell Research”). But there is opposition to this groundbreaking research.
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For example, many believe that from the moment of conception, the mass of cells is a human. And it seems cold, but at the early stage of development from which the stem cells are taken the embryo is hardly human. Many of the groups who are against this research are affiliated with the Church, who believes this research would be abortion. This is the biggest issue that faces stem cell research, but there are other, smaller debates surrounding the groundbreaking research: There has been a discussion of potential issues, such as the passing of viruses or a donor rejection ("Stem Cell"). While this could potentially harm people, researchers have already found solutions. Another reason for the debate surrounding stem cell research, and their application in medicine, is people’s weariness of their ability to regenerate endlessly (Eve et al.). This is because the same ability to regenerate endlessly that makes them so valuable in regenerative medicine could make them deadly due to a potential mutation that would allow them to turn cancerous (Eve et al.). But new studies using malignant embryonic carcinoma cells - a cell very close to the stem cell- show that by putting the cells under retinoic acid (which comes from Vitamin A) treatments which forces the cells to differentiate into human neurons, which would allow biologists to “turn off” their dangerous properties (Eve et al.). Furthermore, it could be argued that stem cells only mimic other malignant cells and have no cancerous qualities themselves(Eve et al.). Like all new scientific discoveries, stem cell research and their use in medicine still have kinks to be worked out before they are perfect. Thus, more research would be necessary to stop the mutations of stem cells (Eve et
For example, many believe that from the moment of conception, the mass of cells is a human. And it seems cold, but at the early stage of development from which the stem cells are taken the embryo is hardly human. Many of the groups who are against this research are affiliated with the Church, who believes this research would be abortion. This is the biggest issue that faces stem cell research, but there are other, smaller debates surrounding the groundbreaking research: There has been a discussion of potential issues, such as the passing of viruses or a donor rejection ("Stem Cell"). While this could potentially harm people, researchers have already found solutions. Another reason for the debate surrounding stem cell research, and their application in medicine, is people’s weariness of their ability to regenerate endlessly (Eve et al.). This is because the same ability to regenerate endlessly that makes them so valuable in regenerative medicine could make them deadly due to a potential mutation that would allow them to turn cancerous (Eve et al.). But new studies using malignant embryonic carcinoma cells - a cell very close to the stem cell- show that by putting the cells under retinoic acid (which comes from Vitamin A) treatments which forces the cells to differentiate into human neurons, which would allow biologists to “turn off” their dangerous properties (Eve et al.). Furthermore, it could be argued that stem cells only mimic other malignant cells and have no cancerous qualities themselves(Eve et al.). Like all new scientific discoveries, stem cell research and their use in medicine still have kinks to be worked out before they are perfect. Thus, more research would be necessary to stop the mutations of stem cells (Eve et