Sophia Kalanski
The advancements in technology over the last century have paved the way for many breakthroughs in medicine and medical research in the nano and molecular scale. One of these breakthroughs lead to the ability to alter genes and change the genetic makeup of an organism by isolating a specific gene from one organism and inserting it into another. After the creation of the first genetically modified organism, many scientists became curious about genetics and therefore more breakthroughs were made in that field respectively.
Stem cell research emerged soon after the first GMO was created. Martin Evans of Cambridge University and Gail Martin of UCSF isolated the first stem cells from embryos of rats in 1981 and soon after in 1998, the first embryonic stem cells were isolated in humans by James Thomson. This was a very pivotal moment in medical research because these stem cells offered great promises in creating new treatments that could be used for and possibly cure many degenerative diseases that millions of people suffer from. From cancer to parkinsons to aged blindness, these cells can be used to repair any damaged or diseased tissue.
Despite the various types of human stem cells that can be used for research, the most effective one throughout the past few decades are the human embryonic stem cells, which have sparked a lot of controversy. These cells come from the inner cell mass of embryos that are 5-7 days old. At that stage of development in which these cells are extracted, the embryos are composed of about 150 cells each and are known as blastocysts, essentially a ball of layered cells waiting to specialize and further develop. The reason why these cells in particular are so effective and special as compared to adult stem cells is because they are pluripotent, having the ability to specialize and become any type of cell in the body. This opens up the idea that an embryonic stem cell, due to their versatility, can be used to regenerate any type of cell and tissue in the body and from that, the birth of regenerative medicine came. Not only can these cells be used for regenerative medicine, but as well as for testing new drugs for safety and effectiveness, and be used for others to learn more about human development through observation.
With all the amazing promises that come with the idea of using regenerative medicine and embryonic stem cells to treat diseases, it has received a lot of backlash and criticism because of the process it takes to obtain viable embryonic stem cells. A lot of religious people, especially those of the Christian faith, believe that the extraction of embryonic cells is an act of murder. This is because an embryo that has the potential of becoming a human has to be destroyed in order for these cells to be extracted and because of that. This, however, boils down to the question of when life begins for a human being and whether or not an embryo is considered to be alive.
While some people believe that a human begins their life once they are born and introduced to the outside world, many religious people believe that life begins at conception. In their perspective, the idea of embryonic stem cell research is built off the basis of muder since it involves the destruction of an embryo, which they consider to be alive. In 2001, US President George W. Bush went as far as fully limiting and cutting off funding of human embryonic stem cells because of the ethical issues behind it, and ever since the ban was lifted in 2009, many guidelines were put in place at every step of the process as well as the need for consent to undergo the process. The controversy behind embryonic stem cell research is associated with the ethical issues that surround abortion and the pro life movement.
Even though people still don’t support human embryonic stem cell research, it has changed the course of how medicine is used. People who have suffered from spinal injuries, blindness, and other degenerative conditions have seen considerable improvements in their capabilities when undergoing regenerative medicine.
References:
Coghlan, Andy. Stem Cell Timeline: The History of a Medical Sensation. 30 Jan. 2014, www.newscientist.com/article/dn24970-stem-cell-timeline-the-history-of-a-medical-sensation/.
“Boston Children's Hospital.” Boston Childrens Hospital, stemcell.childrenshospital.org/about-stem-cells/history/.
“Frequently Asked Questions about Stem Cell Research.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 8 June 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bone-marrow-transplant/in-depth/stem-cells/art-20048117.
L;, Lo B;Parham. “Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research.” Endocrine Reviews, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19366754/.
Stem cell research emerged soon after the first GMO was created. Martin Evans of Cambridge University and Gail Martin of UCSF isolated the first stem cells from embryos of rats in 1981 and soon after in 1998, the first embryonic stem cells were isolated in humans by James Thomson. This was a very pivotal moment in medical research because these stem cells offered great promises in creating new treatments that could be used for and possibly cure many degenerative diseases that millions of people suffer from. From cancer to parkinsons to aged blindness, these cells can be used to repair any damaged or diseased tissue.
Despite the various types of human stem cells that can be used for research, the most effective one throughout the past few decades are the human embryonic stem cells, which have sparked a lot of controversy. These cells come from the inner cell mass of embryos that are 5-7 days old. At that stage of development in which these cells are extracted, the embryos are composed of about 150 cells each and are known as blastocysts, essentially a ball of layered cells waiting to specialize and further develop. The reason why these cells in particular are so effective and special as compared to adult stem cells is because they are pluripotent, having the ability to specialize and become any type of cell in the body. This opens up the idea that an embryonic stem cell, due to their versatility, can be used to regenerate any type of cell and tissue in the body and from that, the birth of regenerative medicine came. Not only can these cells be used for regenerative medicine, but as well as for testing new drugs for safety and effectiveness, and be used for others to learn more about human development through observation.
With all the amazing promises that come with the idea of using regenerative medicine and embryonic stem cells to treat diseases, it has received a lot of backlash and criticism because of the process it takes to obtain viable embryonic stem cells. A lot of religious people, especially those of the Christian faith, believe that the extraction of embryonic cells is an act of murder. This is because an embryo that has the potential of becoming a human has to be destroyed in order for these cells to be extracted and because of that. This, however, boils down to the question of when life begins for a human being and whether or not an embryo is considered to be alive.
While some people believe that a human begins their life once they are born and introduced to the outside world, many religious people believe that life begins at conception. In their perspective, the idea of embryonic stem cell research is built off the basis of muder since it involves the destruction of an embryo, which they consider to be alive. In 2001, US President George W. Bush went as far as fully limiting and cutting off funding of human embryonic stem cells because of the ethical issues behind it, and ever since the ban was lifted in 2009, many guidelines were put in place at every step of the process as well as the need for consent to undergo the process. The controversy behind embryonic stem cell research is associated with the ethical issues that surround abortion and the pro life movement.
Even though people still don’t support human embryonic stem cell research, it has changed the course of how medicine is used. People who have suffered from spinal injuries, blindness, and other degenerative conditions have seen considerable improvements in their capabilities when undergoing regenerative medicine.
References:
Coghlan, Andy. Stem Cell Timeline: The History of a Medical Sensation. 30 Jan. 2014, www.newscientist.com/article/dn24970-stem-cell-timeline-the-history-of-a-medical-sensation/.
“Boston Children's Hospital.” Boston Childrens Hospital, stemcell.childrenshospital.org/about-stem-cells/history/.
“Frequently Asked Questions about Stem Cell Research.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 8 June 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bone-marrow-transplant/in-depth/stem-cells/art-20048117.
L;, Lo B;Parham. “Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research.” Endocrine Reviews, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19366754/.
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