Understanding Stem Cells - Research Paper Example

?Running Head: STEM CELL RESEARCH Understanding Stem Cells Number: Due: Introduction Stem cells are the basic building blocks of the human body. They are more so vital to the human body since they can change and become different cell types. This has brought about a lot of research on them since it is argued that they repair damaged organs and tissues. This brings about therapies in human disorders such as heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's disease. However, at the moment it is unclear whether this is possible. Scientists, moreover, claim that the stem cell research would enable them to learn more about reproduction, cell biology, and the stem cell knowledge would be vital in testing of drugs, and development. There are, thus, three types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and foetal stem cells. The stem cells have been recognized in the animal and human tissues (Ikemoto, 2009). Although it is not possible to replace somebody’s parts such as a leg or finger, it is, however, imminent that the human body usually regenerates blood, skin, and other body tissues. Some past research has brought about some knowledge that somebody’s cells allow the human body tissues to regenerate. This was possible through the existence of stem cells in the body of human beings. Physicians would be able to repair damaged cells through the stem cells' ability to create the body specialized cell types (Tremain, 2010). One would, however, ask what stem cells are? Why would scientists want to research on stem cells and yet they bring about a lot of controversy? And what can be done to bring about ethics in destructive human research? This paper tries to answer these questions based on stem cell research. However, it begins with a brief introduction to the science that is the basis of stem cell research; then the paper goes to explain the upcoming field of regenerative medicine, reasons why stem cell research has brought about many controversies in the scientific field (Parke & Illes, 2011). As later discovered in this paper, the need to use stem cells to repair worn-out cells in the human body has made stem cell research to be linked to the controversy surrounding the cloning technology. There are, moreover, ethical issues the stem cell raised that research studies, including the destructive human embryo research and human cloning, while trying to address the alternatives that are available to solve the immoral issues. The ethical issues that have been raised by studies reveal how the society needs to view stem cells in a way that respects the human dignity. Stem Cell Definition The body of a human being is made up of several different cells. Some of these cells include: bone cells, skin cells, muscle cells, and blood cells. These different body cells have specific shapes and each of them plays different roles in the human body. These cells can also be referred to as differentiated cells since they play several varied functions in the human body. In addition, these specialized cells can be characterized by their lifespan, which is a period of time within which they become old, stop dividing themselves and finally “die”. Moreover, when these cells divide themselves, they cause daughter cells that resemble their own type (Tremain, 2010). This further implies that in case of a skin cell, it can produce another skin cell, a muscle cell can produce another muscle cell; they are like the original parent cells. Human bodies are therefore made up of trillions of differentiated cells. Apart from the differentiated cells, the human body also has stem cells that are scarce. Unlike the differentiated cells, the stem cells are not specialized for certain functions and are, thus, called undifferentiated cells. These cells are immortal and they can divide themselves and continue growing as long they are kept in a suitable environment, such as in the laboratory as they receive the required nutrients. Stem cells in the other case can divide and cause different types of cells depending on the specific environment that it finds itself in. Stem cells such as the embryonic cells that emerge from the destruction of five-day human embryos are able to produce a variety of different cells in the human body. They are, thus, referred to as “pluripotent,” while adult cells are found in the later stages of the human development and include the bone marrow, fat, or liver. They produce also different body cells but not like the embryonic stem cells, and are, thus, called the “multipotent.” Several studies reveal that adult stem cells may be “pluripotent” just like the embryonic stem cells; however, these revelations are only a controversy (Parke & Illes, 2011). Reasons Why Stem Cells are Exciting to Study? The stem cell research has brought about much excitement since its discovery. Many scientific studies have revealed that the stem research has triggered much excitement because with time, it might change the way in which the medical field is being viewed by coming up with a new regenerative field. This regenerative field of medicine would allow physicians to replace damaged differentiated body cells with stem cells. Secondly, scientists share the belief that through stem research, they can be able to understand the origin and causes of different diseases such as chronic and acute diseases through laboratory tools. This would be the solution of the diseases that have led to a million deaths in the world. Research has revealed that most of the human deaths in the developed countries involve the loss of one or several deaths of particular types of cells in the patient. Chronic conditions that have been seen in the human bodies include Parkinson's Disease that results from the loss of specialized nerve cells in the human brain that produce secrete dopamine, and diabetes disease that results from the loss of specialized cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin into the blood. Other disorders such as the acute conditions like heart attacks come as a result of death of spinal cord cells in the heart (Ikemoto, 2009). Thus, there is the need of stem cell research among the scientists that would bring hope to treat these disorders and others by stem cells that can replace the damaged cells. Consequently, the rise of regenerative medicine treats these diseases. It would, moreover, give the physicians the research tools in the laboratories that are aimed at understanding the origin of the disease and its development. For example, a stem cell that is got from a patient suffering from the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis can help scientists to have the knowledge that understands the steady deterioration of motor neurons that most often occur during the process of this neuromuscular disorder. Through this method, the disease specific stem cells that are used as research tools could result in cures for several illnesses. Therefore, the stem cell research is a sign of hope for any patients with different illnesses (Tremain, 2010). Controversies in Stem Cell That Has Brought About the Research Not all stem cell research is controversial. There are, however, ethical solutions to any stem cell research controversy. There are, however, moral and political issues surrounding the human embryonic stem cell research since it is associated with the destruction of the human embryos. This kind of practice can be viewed as immoral because it undermines the human dignity. The Catholic Church, however, is viewed as being against the stem cell research. However, this view by other human beings is inaccurate. While some believe that the Catholic Church is against any kind of stem cell research that undermines the human dignity, others believe that the Church, however, does accept any research that is aimed at coming up with solutions to the problems and other human conditions that have brought much death. Even in the wake of this opposition by the Catholics, other Catholic churches in the rest of the world have funded the stem cell research. The Catholics have shown that they would not be opposed to the stem cell research if it had been done without destroying the human embryo (Ikemoto 2009). Immorality of Human Embryo Destruction The destruction of the human embryo is viewed as immoral since it involves the killing of a human who has the right to live and have the same moral status as any other human being. Thus, the need to protect human dignity calls for the belief that all human beings are worth to live. For the believers such as the Catholics that are against stem cell research, human dignity brings the issue that all human beings are unique in creation since they are made in the image of God. Thus, the human being is the sole creature on earth that God has chosen for its own sake and that they should be allowed to live no matter how minute it is (Tremain, 2010). Other human beings are thus encouraged to share God's love and knowledge to others. The eternity is the sole reason for the presence of human dignity that the society has abandoned. However, to the non-believer, the essence of human dignity is put on the notion that human beings are unique among all animal species and that he is the only one to choose what is to live and what is not to. Despite the different views, the believers and the no-believers should both recognize the need to respect and protect human beings. Thus, there are moral issues that surround the immorality that is practiced in the destruction of human embryo research. Why Cloning for Therapy is Immoral Human embryonic stem cell research is a controversy because it is associated with the cloning technology. It is believed that for regenerative medicine to work better, the patient is injected with stem cells that would not be rejected by the patient's immune system. Yet, the human embryo stem cell research asserts that the human beings need to be cloned to be genetically identical that would make the patient to be immunological safe (Parke & Illes, 2011). However, this practice involves the destruction of the human embryos, which is considered unethical. As discussed above, the human embryo has the same dignity like any other human since lives and, thus, their moral values need to be protected. They cannot be killed in the name of any medical progress such as the stem cell research. This destruction further contradicts the required intention of researchers, legislators, and other human officials to promote human welfare. Just like all other forms of cloning, the cloning for therapy is unethical since it takes the human being now an embryo as a tool that can be used in the research process, thus being destroyed. The stem cell researches fail to recognize that the embryo is a human being. Moreover, the cloning can be viewed as an exploitation of women, especially those that are suffering from poverty since they are used as the egg making factories (Tremain, 2010). An issue arises out of the “spare” embryos and why they are not used in the stem cell research. Studies show that there are more than 400,000 human embryos stored in the infertility clinics in the U.S. These embryos are usually created in the laboratories for couples that need a child but they are no longer needed by the parents, and the destination of these embryos is destruction. This is a show that the destruction of the embryos is an immoral practice. Conclusion The scientists that are involved in stem cell research have often been surprised by the opposition they are receiving from the public concerning their work. They, however, believe that they are trying to come up with ways to save the lives of several patients that are suffering from various diseases that have their eyes on the promise of regenerative medicine. Would, however, this not be a genuine objective? Consequently, the believers of the Catholic Church and other critics should be able to come up with convincing ideas that both sides of stem cell research have the common goals of advancing scientific progress and treating the sick (Ikemoto, 2009). References Ikemoto, L. C. (2009). Eggs as capital: Human egg procurement in the fertility industry and the stem cell research enterprise. Signs: Journal Of Women In Culture & Society, 34(4), 763-781. Parke, S., & Illes, J. (2011). In delicate balance: Stem cells and spinal cord injury advocacy. Stem Cell Reviews, 7(3), 657-663. Tremain, S. (2010). Biopower, styles of reasoning, and what's still missing from the stem cell debates. Hypatia, 25(3), 577-609. doi: 10.1111/j. 1527-2001.2010.01118 Read More