Stem Cell - Research Paper Example

? Stem-Cell Research Eleanor Thornton Biology 100 January 15, Denise Mittelstaedt Outline Introduction Advantages and Applications of Stem Cells Treatment of genetic diseases Treatment of diseases that require organ transplant Understanding Human and Animal Development Arguments against the Use of Stem Cells Ethical considerations Flaws in the Use of Stem Cell Therapies Normal Development Interruption Personal Opinions Regarding Stem Cell Research and Use Conclusion References Stem Cell Research Introduction Stem cells are the cells found in multi-cellular organisms, both humans and animals. The cells have the ability to renew through miotic cell division where they differentiate into specialized cell types (Hayat, 2011). The stem cell exists in two types, namely the embryonic stem cell and the adult stem cells. The cells have the ability to treat a wide range of diseases which has resulted in many technologies being employed to study their viability and effectiveness. The study of stem cells has become common due to the ability of the stem cells to perform several functions. This is due to the fact that the stem cells have the ability to specialize into any desired cell type. This paper will discuss the benefits of stem cells in the medical industry and the disadvantages associated with using the stem cells. It will also explore my personal opinion on the issue of stem cells. Advantages and Applications of Stem Cells Treatment of genetic diseases Genetic diseases have become a serious issue in the world today. It is therefore, important to understand how the genetic diseases occur and what can be done to remedy the situation. Genetic diseases caused by chromosomal anomalies’ can be rectified by using stem cells. This is due to the fact that stem cells have differentiation and proliferation effects that can help in addressing the situation. Stem cell application is therefore important in the prevention and correction of the genetic diseases (Viegas, 2003). Treatment of diseases that require organ or tissue regeneration Scientific research has shown that stem cells are important in the treatment of several types of diseases that people suffer from (Thomson, Itskovitz-Eldor, Shapiro, Waknitz, Swiergiel, Marshall & Jones, 1998). Stem cells are mainly used in the treatment of diseases that require organ transplant (Hayat, 2011). This is due to their ability to differentiate into cells that exhibit special characteristics (Klimanskaya, Chung, Becker, Lu & Lanza, 2006). Stem cells are currently being used to carry out cancer therapies for those who are diagnosed with the disease. Cell therapy in this case is carried out to replace the tissues affected by the disease with the stem cells. This has helped in the treatment of cancer of the breast and skin. The stem cell is also used in the treatment of brain and blood diseases, and in tissue and organ regeneration (Hayat, 2011). Understanding Human and Animal Development Human beings develop from stem cells. Stem cell study is important as it helps people in understanding how human beings and animals develop from conception to death (Viegas, 2003; Takahashi & Yamanaka, 2006). This is due to the fact that there are some diseases that affect humans as a result of abnormal cell differentiation and proliferations. Due to this fact, abnormal stem cell division may cause certain diseases. Therefore, it is important to have a good understanding of stem cells will assist in the prevention of abnormal changes in the stem cells and assist in getting better treatment for diseases associated with poor stem cells such as cancer. Arguments against the Use of Stem Cells Ethical considerations Despite the many benefits of the stem cells, there are some cons associated with their application. The use of the embryonic stem cell goes against human dignity and right to life. This is because the embryos are considered to be living beings and should be left to develop uninhibited to become an adult. Human life is very valuable and should never be voluntarily destroyed (Sandel, 2004). If embryonic stem cell research is allowed to continue unabated, it may have an effect of reducing the population of the human species. Human life begins at conception and as such once an egg has been fertilized, it should develop fully to become a human being to continue the generation of reproduction. In some cases, therapeutic cloning that involves the production of a cloned embryo is done. The embryos are later destroyed with the aim of harvesting stem cells. This is arguably an immoral act that should not be allowed to continue. Flaws in the Use of Stem Cell Therapies The application of stem cells in therapies like in the treatment of cancers is sometimes flawed. Autologous embryonic stem cells used for therapeutic cloning sometimes fail to work due to immune rejection. This fact has led to failure in some of the tissue transplants, resulting in deaths. The problem of matching the tissues due to immunity makes the research not viable. Embryonic Stem cells are also not good for use in therapies due to their tendencies of developing tumors on areas used. The tumor development in most cases is triggered when there is a problem with division of cells in the body (Wiedemann, Simon, Schicktanz & Tannert, 2004). The tumor has the effect of negatively affecting the normal functioning of the body organs on the region affected especially if it is a malignant tumor (Viegas, 2003). Normal Development Interruption Embryonic stem cell harvesting that involves interrupting the life of an embryo should be avoided and alternative methods used. The alternative method that can be used in this regard is adult stem cells, like blood retrieved from the umbilical cord. This is because they have been found to be more effective than the embryonic stem cells. This is due to the fact that the adult cell does not fundamentally interfere with the life of a person (Sandel, 2004). Personal Opinions Regarding Stem Cell Research and Use I concur with them in certain aspects of the arguments posted by scientists regarding the harvesting and use of stem cells. Stem cells have over the years help in the treatment of diseases of wide range that could not easily be treated using other methods. An example is the cancer that in most cases requires a therapy to be done on the patient. It has also helped in the treatment of diseases that require an organ transplants. This has helped in the treatment of kidney ailments which require transplantation and in the removal of tumor. The stem cell research will also help in getting proper understanding of human development. This is because it will enable people understand defects that occur in human life and how to prevent them from occurring. The success of cancer treatment is dependent on the stage of its detection. If it is detected early enough its treatment becomes easier as opposed to its detection when it has matured (Hayat, 2011). Scientists’ argument that stem cell can be applied in understanding how birth defects occur and how they can be prevented in my opinion is a noble idea and should be supported. The world today experiences many birth defects but people are not able to understand why and how they occur and how they can be prevented. Birth defects caused by chromosomal or genetic problems are not easy to understand or prevent. However, getting better understanding of these defects through stem cell research may help in the prevention and correction of such defects before or after birth. It is therefore in my opinion the stem cell research should be embraced (Hayat, 2011). On the other hand, it is a fact that the use of embryos to develop stem cell has very gross moral effects. With regard to its moral effect on human life I am also of the opinion that it should not be used but instead an alternative used to be used. Every human being irrespective of how young or minute should be respected and treated with dignity. The right to life begins at conception and it is not right to terminate it in order to develop a stem cell. This is because the main purpose of developing the embryonic stem cell is for the treatment of another human being just like the embryo which should be given protection. The process of engaging in a therapeutic cloning in producing cloned human embryos and then latter demolish them in order to produce stem cell is immoral and should not happen. The moral question relating to this issue is, why then destroy a human embryo with capability of developing to become a fully functional human being? Therefore, embryonic stem cell research should be stopped and a better alternative used to treat the serious ailments (Sandel, 2004). Conclusion In conclusion, stem cell research has both its benefits and problems associated with it. As a result, scientists are of the view that it should be embraced due to the fact that its application is useful in the medical industry. This is especially in the treatment of serious diseases like cancer that require therapy on the patient diagnosed. Stem cell can also be used in the treatment of diseases that require an organ transplant. It has also shown that its applicability is important in understanding the defects associated with birth, and understanding of human development. Despite the pros associated with stem cell research, it is also evident that it causes moral questions as to why it should not be embraced. Stem cell research has also been shown to be flawed in some instances and does not give the expected result due to immunity that results from mismatch of tissues. References Hayat, M A, (2011). Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells: Therapeutic Applications in disease and injury. Kean University New Jersey, NJ, USA. Klimanskaya I, Chung Y, Becker S, Lu SJ, Lanza R. (2006). "Human embryonic stem cell lines derived from single blastomeres". Nature 444 (7118): 481–5. Sandel MJ, (2004). “Embryo Ethics — The Moral Logic of Stem-Cell Research”. The New England journal of medicine, July 15, 207-209 Strauer B, Schannwell CM, Brehm M. (April 2009). "Therapeutic potentials of stem cells in cardiac diseases". Minerva Cardioangiol. 57 (2): 249–67. Takahashi K and Yamanaka S (2006). "Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Embryonic and Adult Fibroblast Cultures by Defined Factors". Cell 126 (4): 663–676. Thomson J, Itskovitz-Eldor J, Shapiro S, Waknitz M, Swiergiel J, Marshall V, Jones J (1998). "Embryonic stem cell lines derived from human blastocysts". Science 282 (5391): 1145–7. Viegas, J. (2003). Stem cell research. The library of future medicine. New York, NY: Rosen Publishing. Wiedemann PM, Simon J, Schicktanz S, Tannert C (October 2004). "The future of stem-cell research in Germany". EMBO Rep. 5 (10): 927–31. Read More