The Medical Promise Of Embryonic Stem Cells - 1626 Words

The Medical Promise of Embryonic Stem Cells Why should people suffer from diabetes, Alzheimer’s, sickle cell anemia, leukemia, and plenty of other degenerative diseases while the cure lies in our hands? After James Thompson, a developmental biologist, reported that he had derived the first human embryonic stem cell line (Thomson), the potential of curing degenerative diseases was revealed. Ph.D. holder and deputy director of FDA’s office of Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies, Stephanie Simek, explains that stem cells are unspecialized cells (qtd. in â€Å"FDA Warns About Stem Cell Claims†). In other words, since they are unspecialized cells, they can â€Å"†¦generate lots of cells and, under the right conditions, become one of the many cell types†¦show more content†¦The process when stem cells give rise to blood cells, or any other specialized cells, is called differentiation (â€Å"Stem Cell Basics†). Stem Cells’ ability of differentiation can be targeted and directed to gen erate tissue and therefore to cure degenerative diseases (Panno 24-28). However, such medical promise faces the doubts and gives rise to disputes. In fact, federal funds for stem cell research were banned under President Bush’s administration, but the ban was then lifted by President Obama’s administration (Obama). Despite the different arguments, more medical trials should be conducted with embryonic stem cells in order to determine whether the medical promise is applicable or far-fetched. Richard Doeflinger, an official with the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, argues that â€Å"we must not sacrifice one class of human being to benefit another† (qtd. in â€Å"Stem Cells†). However, ignoring the medical promise of embryonic stem cells would end up sacrificing real, living human beings for microscopic cells. Jean Peduzzi Nelson, the author of ‘Adult Stem Cells Are Already Curing Diseases’, argues that unlike embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells have already cured diseases. To support his argument, Nelson narrates the story of Joe Davis Jr. who suffered from a severe sickle cell anemia since birth. According to Nelson, At the age of two, Joe received an adult stem cell transplant; the adult stemShow MoreRelatedEmbryo Based Stem Cell Research1171 Words   |  5 Pages Embryo-based stem cell research The controversy concerning the ethical dilemma related to stem cell research rages on. One particular basis of this controversy emanates from the fact that embryonic stem cells research derives its stem cells from destroyed embryos. Stem cells are cells that are yet to be specialized into specific tissue that serves specific function in the organism. Some radical scientists have labeled these cells the building blocks of future medical and biotechnical researchRead MoreThe Debate Over Stem Cell Research1601 Words   |  7 PagesThe stem cell controversy has been going on for many years. The two basic controversies surrounding stem cell research is whether or not it is morally justifiable, and if stem cells will ever live up to the medical promises. Most of these controversies concern embryonic stem cells more than any other stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are unspecialized, but have the ability to divide and make specialized cells like muscles, nerves, and skin cells. These cells a re found in the early stage of human developmentRead MoreThe Debate Of Embryonic Stem Cell Research1460 Words   |  6 Pages I believe that embryonic stem cell research should be allowed in the United States. 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This has created controversy since abortion is suchRead MoreSupporting Stem Cell Research Essay1691 Words   |  7 Pagesinformation concerning stem cells and their use in regenerative medicine, and learned about a physician who was creating windpipes out of stem cells and transplanting them into patients. The family got into contact with this doctor and the Children’s Hospital of Illinois at O.S.F. Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois, and eventually Hannah underwent the treatment with impressive results. The doctors had successfully grown a new windpipe for Hannah out of her own cells and saved her life,Read MoreEssay on Stem Cells: The Cure for Uncontrollable Diseases of the Past1246 Words   |  5 PagesLou Gehrig’s disease, Sickle Cell Anemia, Alzheimer’s. This world is plague by countless diseases and there existed a time where, after many failed research attempts, scientists began to believe that people would always suffer from these diseases. However, with the introduction of stem cell research those past notions were dismissed. Upon their introduction, stem cell’s provided a new hope to the world and it proved itself to be an invaluable asset. Through stem cell research, a multitude of curesRead MoreThe Heated Debate Concerning Stem Cell Research Essay1477 Words   |  6 PagesStem Cells Few scientific issues in recent years have managed to draw as much attention, both scientific and otherwise, than stem cell research. I was first introduced to the term ‘stem cells’ when I was in high school, and since then, I have had a keen interest in the direction science is taking them. When considering medical research as a whole, stem cells appear to have the makings of a 21st century medical revolution a la discovery of antibiotics . The open-ended nature of stems cells has