Although there are great
moral, ethical, and political controversies over stem cell research, few to
none can deny that the future medical implications of this could lead to the
greatest discoveries known to man. According to the American Association
for the Advancement of Science, which is a non-profit organization dedicated
to improve the advancement of science, “Human stem cell research holds the
enormous potential for contributing to our understanding of fundamental
human biology…Such studies will offer the real possibility for treatments
and ultimately for cures for many
diseases for which adequate therapies do not exist” [1]. One of man’s most feared diseases,
cancer, could finally be able to be stopped or cease to be a threat through
discoveries from stem cell research. Stem cells have the greatest
potential for  aiding in curing those diseases where cells are malfunctioning
or damaged. If they can be manipulated well enough, they can be able
to replace cells, tissues, and organs that are compatible and that do not
cause autoimmune diseases can be produced for people in desperate need of
them. For example, with successful results from stem cell
research, a heart transplant could be transformed from one of the most
difficult surgeries that extremely few patients actually undergo to a simple
routine surgery that everyone could undergo if necessary. Some other
diseases it could help are Parkinson’s disease, juvenile diabetes, stroke,
spinal chord injuries, and heart muscle damage following heart attacks [2].
One of the primary motivations for studying stem cells is for the
regeneration or replacement of dead or damaged cells. [3] However, before the benefits of stem cell research
and how further research can actually help victims of the aforementioned
diseases, the scientific origins and characteristics of stem cells must
first be discussed. Stem cells are primitive cells that have a unique
characteristic of differentiation. While discussing stem cells, the
word, differentiate, or one of its derivatives, is a word that is primarily
used to describe one of the key characteristics of stem cells. The
significance of this word is that differentiation is the extraordinary
ability of stem cells to transform themselves into specialized cells that
have a variety of different functions. For example, stem cells have
the ability to differentiate into cells such as neurons. Thus, stem cells
have the potential to replace damaged nerves around the body.
Stem cells can be
recovered from two locations: bone marrow and embryos. In all humans, cells
socially known as “adult stem cells” can be found in the bone marrow. These
cells are a type of stem cell that has the function to differentiate into
certain necessary cells. There are two types of stem cells found in the
bone marrow: hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal cells. It
has been found that hematopoietic stem cells can differentiate into blood
cell progeny, which in turn later develop into erythrocytes (red blood
cells), lymphocytes (effector cells), macrophages (engulfer cells), and
other cells that related to the immune system [4]. The hematopoietic stem cells
are essential to the body in replenishing our erythrocyte supply and
producing the proper cells to keep our immune system working. With further
research the mechanisms behind this differentiation can be discovered which
would help in saving the lives of those who are born with or develop poor
immune systems [5].
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