Stem Cell Research

Stem Cells. What comes to someone’s mind when they hear that word? They might think of fetuses being used for research or they just think of something imagined in a fictional world. To be able to discuss whether stem cells are beneficial for mankind or if it is something unethical we must first know what stem cells really are and how we obtain them.

As described by the Mayo Clinic staff on mayoclinic.com stem cells are the body's raw material from which all cells with specific functions are created. One can view them as workers that can have any job assigned to them. Using this ability, researchers have been able to use stem cells to create specialized cells such as brain, muscle and bone cells.
There are several methods which are used to retrieve stem cells. One of the methods is taking the cells from embryos which are only a couple of days old. These embryos consist almost solely of stem cells. These stem cells are also the most versatile ones as they can change into any cell in the human body. Another method used to obtain stem cells is to take adult stem cells from bone marrow or fat which can only be found in small numbers. Initially researchers only managed to use adult stem cells to create cells of similar type such as using bone marrow stem cells to create blood cells. But by using genetic programming adult stem cells can be programmed to act as embryonic stem cells. Scientists have not yet reached a conclusion if this method may have unwanted effects on the human body. More scientific research has to be done.

So why do scientists and researchers go through so much trouble to obtain stem cells? As stated in an article by “The New England Journal of Medicine”  “...research that holds promise for the treatment and cure of devastating conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and spinal cord injury”.  This means that stem cells may be holding the key for a healthier life on earth and a world without incurable diseases.  Scientists have also managed to create live human tissue such as skin by the use of stem cells; this may prove to be of great help to people with skin conditions or burn injuries. 

Despite all the positive factors, there are still individuals who oppose the usage of stem cells and claim that it is unethical. The cause for this weighs heavily on the usage and disposal of embryos, since they believe embryos are humans that have not started growing yet. The embryos are considered as only research material and not treated as living beings. Furthermore, the process to carefully analyze the cells and put them to use is very time consuming and expensive and tax money could be put to better use such as public education and more promising research. 

Since there is a vast amount of people who are not properly informed regarding stem cell research, it is important to get the public involved and to properly demonstrate 
what stem cell research involves. The main argument against stem cell research is the unethical usage of embryos which many people consider to be living human beings. However, this is not the case as the embryos used for research are artificially made in laboratories. These embryos’ sole purpose of existence is to help humans against the many diseases and unfortunate accidents that occur. If one who oppose stem cell research would have their child fall ill and the only cure being the usage of stem cells, would this parent dismiss the idea and let their child die? It is very simple to generalize and follow an ideal without obtaining the proper information. However, when it comes down to a personal situation one’s values may very well drastically alter. 

Embryonic stem cells are not the only option to obtain stem cells. According to an article on smithsonianmag.com written by Marina Koren, non-embryonic stem cells have been used to create artificial organs which could be considered as a great leap for medical research. 
Furthermore, stem cells have not only been used in medical research, Dutch scientists have been using stem cells to create artificial meat. There are many things to consider when producing artificial meat; for example, will the meat taste the same or is it healthy for a human to live solely on artificial meat? The price for lab-produced meat is not something many people can afford. According to a news article on bbc.co.uk written by their science correspondent Pallab Ghosh the cost of a lab created hamburger is approximately £200,000. Even with its many drawbacks and lack of research, artificial meat could possibly hold the resolution to solve world hunger if it is mass produced at a low cost. This could possibly save the life of kettle- animals which humans breed only for food. It is very likely that humans will continue to eat genuine meat since some people just prefer “the real thing”. If humans completely stopped eating animals this would cause issues regarding the rapid growth of farm animals such as pigs or cows. Therefore it is important to find a healthy balance in the future. 

The importance of stem cell research is something that the public should be more aware of. All the incredible progress that has been made through stem cell research truly proves how much value it holds. The many lives that have been saved through stem cell research prove how much value lies within its field, it also provides a clear understanding to why stem cell research is something to support rather than oppose. 


Sources: 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16972761

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp048145

http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2013/02/growing-new-hearts-without-using-embryonic-stem-cells/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stem-cells/CA00081