Stem Cells

Stem Cells

Could you imagine if one day you were diagnosed with a disease and needed an organ transplant, but were able to grow an organ back instead? This amazing use of healthcare could be made possible by the use of stem cells. Stem cells are unique cells that can become the cure to almost any disease.

Stem cells can transform into specific organ cells capable of doing roles in the body.  Because of cell division, stem cells are able to duplicate themselves. When they split, the new cells have the ability to convert into any type of cell in the body. They can also turn into more stem cells.  (Stem Cell Information)

Containing a unique ability, stem cells can be used to cure diseases by injecting healthy stem cells into the infected body to replace dying organs and tissues. Therefore, stem cells can help cure diseases like spinal cord injuries, stroke, burn, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis by transforming into organs or cells the body is in demand of. If stem cell healthcare becomes more popular, it may substantially reduce the need for organ transplants. (Stem Cell Information)

The use of stem cells is controversial. Some people believe that using an embryonic stem cell is killing the life of a human. (The Stem Cell Story) While others think that we should be able to use anything science gives us. Another place where embryonic stem cells are found is in the umbilical cord. This means that once children are born scientists can extract the blood from the umbilical cord and retrieve the stem cells. (Dr. Avraham Kadar) That way babies do not get killed and the same stem cells that were extracted may save that baby’s life one day.

Abolitionists of embryonic stem cell research believe that scientists should use adult stem cells. Adult stem cells come from grown humans and embryonic stem cells come from live embryos. Embryonic stem cells are far more advanced than adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are new and are able to become any cell in the body, where adult stem cells have been limited to becoming only a few organs. Plus, embryonic stem cells are easier to obtain.  (Stem Cell Information) Accesing adult stem cells are difficult because “[a]dult stem cells are rare in mature tissues, so isolating these cells from an adult tissue is challenging” (Stem Cell Information). Embryonic stem cells are the best form of stem cells for scientific uses.

            Once we get beyond the dilemma of the ethical use of stem cells, major advances in disease treatment will occur.  Stem Cells are a great way to improve our healthcare but are still in preliminary stages. Able to cure almost any disease, stem cells are the healthcare of the near future.

Bibliography

Dr. Avraham Kadar, M.D. "Stem Cells." Brain Pop. 19 4 2012 <http://www.brainpop.com/science/cellularlifeandgenetics/stemcells/>.

Stem Cell Information. 16 April 2012 <http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics1.asp>.

"The Stem Cell Story." JDRF. 16 4 2012 <http://kids.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=109760>.