How Stem Cells Are Changing the Way We Think About Disease - Essay Example

Running head: Stem Cell Promise Where the Promise of Stem Cell’s Lies First and School Where the Promise of Stem Cell’s Lies Disease seems to be an unavoidable part of human existence that affects everyone to some degree. Our bodies are composed of millions of tiny cells and disease is essentially the breakdown, malfunction, or irregularity that occurs in cells that cause problems for the organ and eventually body as a whole. Modern medicine has evolved to be able to help the general population with the symptoms and sometimes reversal of some diseases.

Many life altering and threatening diseases sadly still exist in our world, however, that doctors have not yet been able to cure. There seems to be a form of hope on the horizon with the increased study and awareness of the abilities of stem cells. “Where the promise of stem cell’s lies,” was recently discussed in a Time magazine recently featured an article titled, “How Stem Cells Are Changing the Way We Think about Disease.” After taking a look at were stem cells come from, what the promise is, and how they may very well affect the current generation’s hope for cures to many diseases, stem cells may never be thought of the same again.

Stem cells are the building blocks upon which all life is formed. Every human started as a small grouping of complex cells in the uterus of his/her mother. From a few complex cells, stem cells, all other cells form to create the human body. Until recently, scientists could only gather and study stem cells from direct contact with them via, umbilical cord, or embryo study. Recently, however, they have discovered that they can generate stem cells from almost every part of the body; particularly, they have been able to generate them from skin cells.

We are now led to the promise stem cells hold. The promise is that in using stem cells, from which all life has come; doctors hope to be able to restore cells that are causing disease and find cures that have long been thought impossible. Such as, regenerating brain cells to reverse Alzheimer’s, and aiding a pancreas in a type 1 diabetic person to produce insulin. The hope then would be that debilitating diseases seen and felt world wide might one day be eradicated. Another promise or possibility stem cells hold is in the fact that if they can replace and heal disease ridden cells, they may also be able to replace aging cells.

In doing so the body would age at a much slower rate, and in some cases could actually reverse the affect aging cells have had on the human body. Therefore, life could be extended well beyond what man has seen until now. The signs of aging would also have the possibility of being reversed. Which means that in stem cells man may have finally reached the allusive “fountain of youth” they have so long desired. So upon examination of where stem cells come from, what the promise is and how they can affect future generation’s outlook on diseases, a glimmer of hope can be seen in the future.

Hope that the future may hold fewer diseases and illnesses. Hope that life may be enjoyed to a greater capacity than before. Also, and for some possibly more importantly, a hope that mankind may finally be and look younger than before. Ladies, say goodbye to “Olay” and hello to stem cells! References Park, A. (17, March 2011). How stem cells are changing the way we think about disease. 10 Ideas That Will Change the World, Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2059521_2059712_2059711,00.html