Breanne Genewick

Mrs. Johnson

English 3 Honors

1 March 2018

Stem cells are the Future of Medicine

Many people die every year of various types of diseases and conditions. There are many

treatments to ease the symptoms of the disease or condition, but in many cases there are no cures

to them. Stem cells are regenerative cells that can be found throughout the body. Although stem

cells are a very controversial subject, they hold great promise in medicine. Stem cells serve as a

sort of internal repair system and divide throughout the process of mitosis. Many types of stem

cells can be found throughout the body can be retrieved in many ways to help us understand and

treat many diseases and regenerate organs, all with the consent of the patient. Stem cells are

unlike any other cell in the body.

Molly Edmonds writes that stem cells are unique compared to other cells in the body.

Edmonds also writes, unlike most normal types of cells, stem cells are capable of dividing and

regenerating for long periods of time. Stem cells are capable of many things. Stem cells are

capable of transforming into more cells of the same type or multiple other types (Journal of Stem

Cell Research and Therapy). Stem cells also regenerate. Regeneration is the process of

regeneration, renovation, and development that means genomes, cells, organisms, and ecologies

resistant to natural variations or events that cause disruption or damage (Stem Cell Research and

Regenerative Medicine). Regeneration can also be complete where the original tissue is the same

as the absent tissue (Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine). Molly Edmonds writes

once again, stem cells are unspecialized, which means they do not have a unique function, such

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as pumping blood the the heart or supporting muscles in the legs. These unspecialized cells can

be trained, however, which means they could be specialized in whatever area of the body they

are needed (Edmonds). The amounts of stem cells in the body is plentiful.

There are many different types of stem cells throughout the body and many ways to

retrieve them. The two main types of stem cells are adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells.

Adult stem cells are found in various parts of the body, such as the brain, bone marrow, blood,

skin, and heart. Stem cells can be obtained from cord blood or derived by manipulating different

cells, like skin cells (Theresa Phillips). Embryonic stem cells can be derived from embryo in the

blastocyte stage (Journal of Stem Cell Research and Therapy). Kat McGowan writes that

embryonic stem can morph into virtually any cell in the body. Another type of stem cell is a

somatic cell. According to the Stembook authored by Doug Melton, somatic stem cells have

been identified within adult organisms, and are defined by their dual properties of self renewal

and differentiation. Adult somatic stem cells are restricted by their ability to give rise to cell

types within a defined lineage (Melton). These many types of stem cells each open many doors.

Stem cells hold great promise in helping understand and treat many diseases and

conditions. Many of the deadliest diseases, such as cancer, are the results of uncontrolled cellular

division (Edmonds). Cancer stem cells are cells with stem cell like abilities have been observed

breast cancer, colon cancer, leukemia, melanomic, prostate cancer which can form new cells and

lead to tumorigenesis, according to the Journal of Stem Cell and Therapy. There is an estimated

609,640 death for this year predicted just from cancer. This can be prevented with stem cells.

Strokes can also be treated or even cured. During a stroke, brain cells are irreparably damaged;

stem cells could kick start the regenerative process and undergo specialization to replace the lost

cells (Edmonds). Other conditions with potential use for stem cells include Parkinson’s disease.

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Diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, baldness, and spinal cord injuries. Stem cells provide

huge potential for finding treatments and cures to a vast array of diseases stated by Theresa

Phillips. There is endless potential for scientists to learn about human growth and cell

development (Phillips).

Stem Cell researchers have great progress in growing organs from stem cells. The

progress made so far has been made by Takanori Takabe and his colleagues. They succeeded in

generating mini livers, or liver buds, from stem cells that were taken from human skin after

reprogrammed into embryonic state (McGowan). They mixed the skin stem cells with embryonic

stem cells. When mixed with two other types of cells, the fabricated primitive liver cells

organized themselves into three-dimensional structures, complete with blood vessels

(McGowan). Stem cells can also be used to regenerate other parts of the body as well. A

biologist fused an mammalian skin cell with an egg cell, cloning a sheep. An embryo that is an

almost perfect perfect genetic copy of the skin cell donor is a result of this process (McGowan).

Organ transplants are also a critical part of medicine with possible help from stem cells. For

example, some 16,000 ailing Americans are waiting to receive a live transplant, stated by Kat

McGowan. But due to a shortage of viable livers, it is likely that fewer than 7,000 transplants

would be performed in 2013 (McGowan). The scholarly journal, Stem Cell Research and

Regenerative Medicine states, this field holds great promise of engineering impaired nerves and

organs by exalting the body’s own repair mechanisms to functionally heal antecedently

irreversible tissues and organs. These are all possibilities for the future and that are already

present.

Retrieving the stem cells does not occur to any patient that does not give consent. In

2000-2001, governments world wide were beginning to draft proposals and guidelines to control

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stem cell research and handling of embryonic tissues, according to Theresa Phillips. Phillips also

states this was to reach universal policies to prevent “brain-drains”, or emigration of too

scientists, between countries. Australia, Germany, UK and other countries have also formulated

policies (Phillips). These guidelines were made to decrease ethical issues. In attempt to minimize

the ethical issues associated with human embryonic stem cell research so important research can

proceed (Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research and treatment). The policies are government made

and approved as well. They have systematic data to enhance their likelihood that they will meet

their ethical goal. Consent is signed and many papers are signed to ensure the patient is fully

aware of the procedure and treatment. This is one of the many arguments being spoken of in the

community of science.

One of the ethical issues circling the concepts of medicine is the argument that taking the

embryonic stem cells is taking a life. Embryonic stem cells are divided from blastocytes found in

the embryo. Those who believe that life starts at the moment of conception think that harvesting

embryonic cells is akin murder according to Molly Edmonds. Oocyte harvesting, which is

essential to the creation of human embryonic stem cells raises concern related to safety of the

donor (Ethical issues in Stem Cell Research and Treatment). There has also been some ethical

issues related to informed consent of both donors of gametes and embryos as well as recipients

of stem cells and stem cell products. All of these are important ethical issues people should have

some concern about, but some of these issues are based on belief. The embryo becomes a person

in a moral sense at a later stage of development than fertilization stated by the US National

Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. The embryo and embryonic stem cells are

donated when given to stem cell research. Molly Edmonds writes these embryos are usually

furnished by clinics that perform into vitro fertility treatments; for one reason or another, they

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have been rejected for implantation into a womb. These ethical issues all counter into your

personal opinion on the matter.

It is the embryonic stem cells that cause controversy (Edmonds). This statement is true in

my opinion, but there are many types of stem cells and all stem cells have guidelines. The

government would not let the research of stem cells continue if it was harmful to anyone. Stem

cells not only have many possibilities for the future, such as curing diseases and regenerating

organs, they are the future of medicine. Stem cells could save so many lives and improve their

lives all together. Stem cells would also help doctors and scientists understand disease better and

other conditions. The disease related deaths will drop with stem cells in the future due to all of

the plans with scientists beside them. Many types of stem cells found throughout the body can be

retrieved in many ways to help us understand and treat many diseases and regenerate organs, all

with the consent of the patient. Stem cells are the future of medicine.