Science Essay
By: Elias Dorsey
Authors Note: This essay is about how stem cells are
beneficial, the risks of stem cell treatment, and why there is controversy
surrounding this subject.
What would you do if you were in
critical condition in the hospital, and the only thing that could save you was
a cell that was harvested for a human embryo? Well that’s what the wonderful
cell named the “Stem” cell is. Stem cells are cells that can duplicate without
limit to replenish other cells as long as that animal/person is alive. Examples
are that it has been showing progression in a number of diseases such as
Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, spinal cord injuries, Diabetes, Schizophrenia,
cancer, and many other diseases so why don’t we use them? Stem cells offer a lot of medical benefits in sectors
of regenerative therapy and cloning.
Unfortunately
though, President George W. Bush cut off the funding for researching stem cells
while he was in office. However, that hasn’t stopped the stem cells from
working their magic. A living example of stem cell therapy is 2-year-old Nate
Liao. He used to have a fatal disease that prevented him from eating solid
food, playing with his siblings, and wearing normal clothes, and now, he’s
doing just that. This proves that stem cell treatments are reliable, but it’s
kind of an experiment in progress. They haven’t officially started regularly
using stem cells for treatment of diseases and ailments.
Although
stem cells have worked miracles and saved lives in many cases there is also
risk to using stem cells in such a way. “Much work remains to be done in the
laboratory and the clinic to understand how to use these cells for cell-based therapies to treat disease, which is also
referred to as regenerative or reparative medicine” (Stem Cell Basics, 2009). If the
process of the cell division and differentiation goes wrong, there are serious
medical problems. Some of the worst diseases like cancer and some birth defects
are due to complications with the cell differentiation which is basically what
stem cells do besides the repairing of the tissues.
Although
there are risks and benefits, those aren’t the reasons we’re not using stem
cells regularly. The reason stem cell therapy isn’t a regular type of treatment
is because to get the cell you have to extract it from a human embryo. That in
itself is kind of weird but, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages by a lot.
These cells have the ability to duplicate, and then the duplicated versions of
the cell can turn into undifferentiated (specialized) cells, and regenerate
damaged tissue. They can even duplicate into cells like brain cells. The sole
disadvantage that everyone gets touchy about has to get the cell from an
embryo. If we used stem cells officially, more lives would be saved than
embryos harmed.
If
a family member of anyone was in critical condition in the hospital, I’m sure
they would take the stem cell treatments over potentially losing him/her. In
conclusion it’s understandable why people don’t like taking the cell out of a
human embryo, but if they were in the same position I’m sure they would take
the treatment. Mostly because when you think about the big picture, it’s about
how you can save lives. Only the people that haven’t had the option of whether
to have their family use stem cells would disagree. These cells can open doors
for all medicinal work because instead of testing medicines on animals or
humans, they can test it on the stem cell.
This subject needs to have at least a little bit of light shed on it.
Surely if anyone knew what they could do, they would change their mind too.
Bibliography
II, T. H. (2008, June 7th). Stem cells apparently
cure boy's fatal disease. Retrieved April 19th, 2012, from
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/07/science/sci-stem7
Kinsley, M. (2004, May 23rd). The False Controversy
of Stem Cells. Retrieved April 23rd, 2012, from
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,641157,00.html
Ladock, J. (n.d.). Pro's and Con's of Stem Cell
Therapy . Retrieved April 19th, 2012, from
http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/12366/1/Pros-and-Cons-of-Stem-Cell-Therapy.html
Stem Cell Basics. (2009, April 28). Retrieved April 25, 2012, from Stem Cell Information:
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/defaultpage.asp
No comments:
Post a Comment