Stem Cell Opposition

The Stem Cell Research Argument: Why Stem Cell Research Has Opposition Joshua Jefferson Southern University in Shreveport Stem cell research is one of the most promising study that has been conducted in the past two decades. It has the potential to virtually wipe out the need for organ transplants, to restore motion to those suffering from paralysis, and so many other crippling diseases. Certain groups of people do not agree in the method that stem cells are collected and that causes the ethics behind this method to come into question.

There are ways to avoid this argument all together by understanding the argument against stem cell research, avoiding that method, and then to use methods that will not go against others beliefs. Stem cell research deals with the study of how to manipulate stem cells so that they can restore an organ, to replace an organ, or to be used as a kind of patch work. The list of problems that stem cells are thought to be able to fix is endless. Stem cells are basically cells that have not started to develop into a certain kind of cell. This allows scientist to manipulate these cells so that they became what ever kind of cell that they desire.

In the future, medical researchers anticipate being able to use technologies derived from stem cell research to treat a wider variety of diseases including , Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and  damage, amongst a number of other impairments and conditions. Today they use stem cells to treat diseases like leukemia and bone marrow transplants(Weise, 2005) . The possibility of being able to just produce any type of organ and then replace the bad organ, without the wait of of an organ donor.

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A person would think the knowledge of this kind of work and the possibility of living a longer more comfortable life would make people to support research and to push for funding into this type of research. The reason why the funding for some research groups are not present due to the belief system of some people. There are a number of ways to obtain stem cells that are used today. The use of embryonic and adult stem cells are the two main type of stem cells that are obtained. They differ in the way they are obtained. Adult stem cells can be found in both children and adult.

These stem cells rely on the already present cell population. They are also called somatic cells, these cells contain the blueprints for any cell type that exists within the region, or organ from which they came. Just like the ability to be manipulated into other cells(Weise, 2005) . The difference between these cells and embryonic stem cells is the fact that embryonic cells can make any type of cell type while adult cells can only make certain types. There is much less controversy associated with adult stem cells because there is no destruction of embryonic material.

There is still opposition versus the use of adult stem cells because of how the DNA inside the cells is used. Embryonic stem cell research has the unlimited range on where it can go in the future and it is the most controversial. Embryonic stem cells can start to grow into any type of cell. This is because these cells are in the the first stage of development and have not been given instructions on what to become. These stem cells are preset when an embryo's cells are multiplying. This would be the the first stage in a babies development. This is the reason why there is controversy surrounding embryonic research.

Scientist destroy the embryo to obtain its stem cells ultimately destroying a future life. The embryos tend to be from unwanted pregnancy and would eventually breakdown because the lack of a mother to develop in. People that support certain movements like “Pro-life” are some usually do not want any kind of destruction of any kind of possible human life. The use of these stems cells should be allowed to be used , but the practice of starting off life only to destroy it is completely unethical and should not be funded by. The obtaining of stem cells just has to be reevaluated.

We have to look at the other options that can help us to yield the results we want. There are a number of options that can help us obtain stem cells that can help to cure all the ailments that stem cell can help with. Also known as somatic cells, an adult cell contains the blueprints for any cell type that exists within the region, or organ from which it came. In effect, these cells have the same capabilities in terms of being able to manufacture other cell types. Somatic cell nuclear transfer, also known as therapeutic cloning, involves the use of a hollowed-out ovum cell, meaning all the original DNA material is removed.

An adult cell's nucleus, or DNA material, is then transferred into the ovum cell. Through electrical stimulation, the ovum begins to grow as if its original embryo were intact. Induced pluripotent cells are adult cells that have been genetically engineered to behave like embryonic cells(Jeanty) . This is accomplished by injecting specific genes and catalyst molecules into the DNA of an adult cell. This technique uses no embryonic stem cell materials, however the resulting cells are able to differentiate into any cell type within the body, much like embryonic stem cells can(Jeanty) .

Epidermal neural crest stem cells are adult cells that form the hair follicles on the scalp. These cells are capable of generating a number of different cell types within the body. “Meanwhile, many scientists predict that induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, created by turning back the biological clock of normal adult cells, will one day supplant embryonic stem cells. ”(Katherine Hobson, 2009) The list on the positive effects of stem-cell research is virtually endless. The debate is over how we harvest those stem cells.

If we can find a way has virtually no ethic questions then scientist will be able to help millions of people. Reference Jeanty, J. (n. d. ). ehow. Retrieved from http://www. ehow. com/about_5675956_alternative-embryonic-stem-cell-research. html Katherine Hobson. (2009, July 02). usnews. com. Retrieved from http://health. usnews. com/health-news/family-health/heart/articles/2009/07/02/embryonic-stem-cells--and-other-stem-cells--promise-to-advance-treatments National institutes of health and human resources for stem cell research.

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