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>.