Stem Cell Research

Thanks to  for providing the image.

When the discovery of methods to isolate and grow human embryonic stem cells (19985) replenished the belief of researchers, doctors, and diabetes patients and their families that a cure for diabetes may be promising in the near future. Theoretically, embryonic stem cells may be cultured into developing into the pancreas’ insulin-producing islet cells. With a

supply of these cultured stem cells, it is said that a line of embryonic stem cells could be developed as required for anyone in need of a transplant, and in addition be engineered to avoid immune denial. Yes, having a realistic supply of insulin-producing cells for transplant into humans is will most likely not be seen in the near future; researchers have however been making astonishing advancements in their search for it.

Stems Cells and Damaged Hearts

According to Kessler, P.D. and Byrne, B.J. (1999): In the United States; congestive heart failure afflicts 4.8 million people, with 400,000 new cases each year. A major contributor to the growth of this condition is a heart attack (medically known as a myocardial infarction) which occurs in nearly 1.1 million Americans each year. It is easy to distinguish that impairments of the heart and circulatory system is a major cause of death and disability in the United States.

                           

                           Thanks to  for providing the image.

Researchers are increasing their knowledge on about how stem cells are directed to becoming specialised cells. The cardiomyocyte is a heart muscle cell that contracts to expel the blood out of the ventricle – This is one important type of cell that can be developed. Two other cell types are significant to an appropriately functioning heart are the vascular endothelial cell (this forms the inner lining of new blood vessels) and the smooth muscle cell (this forms the wall of blood vessels). Obviously, the heart has a very large demand for blood flow, and these dedicated cells are important for developing a new system of arteries to bring oxygen (and nutrients) to the cardiomyocytes after a heart has been damaged. The potentiality of both embryonic and adult stem cells to develop into these cells types in the damaged heart is now being investigated as part of a method to restore heart function to people who have had heart attacks or have congestive heart failure. This may seem intriguing, but unfortunately there is still no evidence that there are true stem cells in the heart which can reproduce and differentiate6.

The Nervous System

Researchers are trying to solve the nervous system disorder – Parkinson’s Disease by regenerating damaged tissue. Even though Parkinson's is of course difficult to reverse, it is a moderately easy target because a regenerative therapy need only replace one particular cell type in one part of the brain.

However therapies for other disorders come across much bigger problems. Complete restoration after stern spinal cord injury is most dubitably far in the future. Many cell types are damaged and destroyed in injuries such as these, including neurons, which are cells that carry messages to and from the brain and the rest of the body. Getting neurons to develop past an injury site and connect suitably with their targets is extremely difficult7. Spinal cord injury patients would however benefit significantly from an still limited restoration of lost functions—gaining partial use of a limb (compared to none) or being unchained from pain. Such limited restoration is possibly a more realistic and achievable goal.

Stem Cell Research Objections

"We should not as a society grow life to destroy it, and that's exactly what's taking place…"

• George Bush

This report so far has been rather biased with information regarding the potentiality of stem cell research. However I will now explain some of the negative effects with stem cell research; as explained in the introduction, gathering embryonic stem cells destroy the human embryo.

In 1997 Ian Wilmut, after 227 attempts, successfully cloned the first mammal – a sheep. However he opposes the idea of cloning the idea, along with many others. So is this a case of Religion vs. Science, or Ethical Science vs. Bad Science? After all, even a commandment of the Christian Bible is; “thou shalt not play God!” The fact is, when doing scientific research religion can’t be ignored, and religion as well as pro-lifers are a big obstacle for scientists who agree that stem cell research should be carried out.  My personal opinion is that we should focus less on the religious side and more on the ethical side, after all, this may be the 21st century, but there still needs to be a boundary.

Stem cell research is an expensive type of research. In the United States, the Federal government allocates roughly $25 million per year for human embryonic stem cell research (2001-2004). This may seem rather large for something some scientist’s in fact believe is futile, evidence that suggests this is stem cells failing in certain areas, such as cancer.

Stem cells have failed in other cases; one of the renowned cases are the South Korean scientists claiming they modified stem cells to match the individual for the first time; report from the BBC says: “Each of the 11 new stem cell lines that they made was created by taking genetic material from the patient and putting it into a donated egg.

The resultant cells were a perfect match for the individual and could mean treatments for diseases like diabetes without problems of rejection.”

This was followed up by a report just under 7 months later announcing that the South Korean stem cell success was in fact fake: “At least nine of 11 stem cell colonies used in a landmark research paper by Dr Hwang Woo-suk were faked, said Roh Sung-il, who collaborated on the paper.”

Other reasons in which why people suggest we shouldn’t use embryonic stem cells is due to evidence of them causing cancer; Embryonic stem cells are flexible but they can also become malignant. From the editor of the journal Stem Cells; "I continue to think that clinical application is a long way off. Prior to clinical use of embryonic and foetal stem cells, it will be necessary to thoroughly investigate the malignant potential of embryonic stem cells."

Scientists are also suggesting that embryonic stem cells are actually unnecessary to use and adult stem cells are indeed an efficient alternative. In virtually every major organ of an adult body, scientists have found stem cells12.

CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll

"Do you think the federal government should or should not fund research that would use newly created stem cells obtained from human embryos?"

Conclusion

After analysing my evidence from both sides of the argument, I have found that the main issues between the two sides are the moral factor, and the therapy factor. We can divide this report into multiple questions, including:

“Do human embryos have the same rights as us?”

 “Is research on embryonic stem cells worth the consequences?”

“Are the clashes with bad science and religion a legitimate reason to abort research?”

There is of course no correct answer for those questions; however here are my personal answers I have constructed while writing this report:

“Do human embryos have the same rights as us?”

-Obviously it is debatable when life actually begins, however I personally do believe that it is wrong to destroy potential human life.

“Is research on embryonic stem cells worth the consequences?”

-I believe research should be done with strict rules; aborted embryos that will be disposed of should be benefited from, stem cells from these embryos are what should be used.

“Are the clashes with bad science and religion a legitimate reason to abort research?”

-No, being an agnostic person, I personally believe that research should go forward despite what religion and pro-lifers say.

Overall, my opinion is that the positive effects outweigh the negative, and I yet to come across enough valid evidence that supports ideas such as embryonic stem cells may cause cancer, and that they are unnecessary due to adult stem cells.

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