Stem cell research - Essay Example

First and foremost argument made by the scientific community is that human stem cell research is said to promise new life changing treatments and possible cures for many debilitating diseases and injuries, including Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, burns and spinal cord injuries (Young, 2-16)1. Human stem cells can be obtained from a number of sources. The first is IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) treatment, where surplus embryos (and unfertilized eggs for creating embryos) are donated for research with the consent of the donor rather than being destroyed following treatment.

The second source is aborted tissue where stem cells are taken from the aborted foetus. Another is umbilical cord blood, rich in stem cells. These cells are harvested following the baby’s birth. The most controversial is perhaps therapeutic cloning, where cells are created for research that is genetically identical to the donor (patient). This is done by removing the nucleus of an egg and fusing this egg with any enucleated cell from the donor. This will create an embryo genetically identical to the donor.

Cells can then be harvested from this embryo for treatment. Being an exact replica, there is potentially less chance of rejection following transplantation. Umbilical cord blood, the placenta and even the amniotic fluid have in fact been found to be rich in stem-cells (McGuckin, et al 245-255)2. Stem-cells have also been found in almost every body tissue such as the brain, pancreas, liver, skin, fat, muscle, blood, bone marrow, lungs, nose and tooth pulp (Fisher, 2005)3. The US President’s Council on Bioethics recently published a whole white paper on Alternate Sources of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.

4 Sometimes these cells could be taken from the recipient patients themselves, avoiding any immune-rejection difficulties. At other times they are