Many, as of currently incurable diseases plague the Earth. Thanks to technological advancements and better understandings of cells, scientists believe that it may be possible to cure diseases by the use of embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are cells obtained from an embryo when they are only a few days old. Because they have only begun to differentiate, these cells have the capability of developing into any cell in the human body, and that's why they can be used for the progression of medicine. Scientists hope to cure some diseases but if that isn't possible they at least hope to create treatments using them.
The stem cell of the embryo can divide for long periods of time and still have the ability to produce all cell type in an organism. Their ability to do so is why scientists are trying to find ways to use them to cure or treat diseases. They think that they can programed to repair or replace the disease ridden cells of an infected patient Some diseases that they think can be
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While the study is designed primarily to test the safety of the treatment, researchers will looks for signs of improvement in the patients' vision. The company hopes the approach will work for many conditions, including the leading cause of blindness among the elderly.
"I think this marks the beginning of a new era for stem cell research," Robert Lanza, the company's chief scientific officer, wrote in an email. "After a decade of intense controversy, the field is finally ready to prove itself--and to actually start helping patients suffering from a range of horrific diseases. It also shows the new readiness of the FDA to work with researchers to move exciting new stem cell therapies out of the laboratory and into the clinic." Later this month they plan on cluding and gathering the result of the
Any time someone had to get a lung transplanted there would be no need to find a donor; and once the lung was transplanted, the patient would not have to receive drugs afterwards, because his immune system would automatically accept the lung. Also, organs that cannot possibly be donated and accepted in a new body, like spinal tissue, could be duplicated. This means if an individual was paralyzed, hers or his spinal tissue could be duplicated by stem cells and then transplanted. In addition, it may become possible, with embryonic stem cells, to generate healthy heart muscle cells in the laboratory and then transplant those cells into patients with chronic heart disease. Through the use of embryonic stem cells, brain cells and many other cells can be cultured and then transplanted into a patient to cure Alzheimer's disease and other brain and heart related diseases. A person diagnosed with diabetes, a disease in which a person is unable to produce insulin, can have cells cultured to form insulin producing cells and have them transplanted. Because of the limited number of cells adult stem cells are able to produce; these diseases would be unable to be cured through their use. Stem cells could also be used to test new drugs. With this achievement scientists could be able to cure cancer and many other diseases. This would reduce the view of cancer as a fatal disease, to something that can be overcome, such as a common cold. Patients
Embryonic stem cells have numerous and amazing uses. Stem cells are unspecialized cells with the ability to replicate and renew themselves. They have the ability to transform into many kinds of cell types within the human body. They divide and create a new cell, having the potential to infinitely replenish cells. There are two types of stem cells: embryonic and somatic. Embryonic stem cells are from a fetus and can become all cell types in the body. Somatic stem cells are from an adult and can become only certain things due to the origin of the cells. Scientifically
There are many ways stem cell research can aid the major diseases of today. Stem cell research allows scientists to gather information about the events that are going on during the development of the human body. In the article “Stem Cell Basics”, the author states “A more complete understanding of the genetic and molecular controls of those processes may yield information about how such diseases arise and suggest new strategies for therapy”(National Institutes of Health). These scientists are using information available to them
grow more and more complex. In a topic that has been debated for over a decade, embryonic
Embryonic stem cell research is the incandescent lamp of today's time. on October 21, 1879 in Menlo park Thomas Edison displayed his brilliant creation. Today we don't turn our heads without seeing a light bulb. That sort of success is what embryonic stem cell research can lead to. Edison had predecessors before him who had made incandescent light bulbs and today, we are at that stage. We haven't nearly reached our goal but are just witnessing the miracles of stem cells. In the course of history it has been proven that all great inventions and their inventors are doubted and shunned, is it coincidence that embryonic stem cell research is not supported? It is truly misunderstood. Embryonic stem cell research is simply the process of removing a fertilized egg from a woman then studying the stem cells found in the blastocyst. If support was given to this cause it could create cures and solve many biological mysteries. I have conducted research on this topic and this is fully beneficial to us
This year, eight million innocent lives will be lost due to cancer. (cdc.gov) Eight million lives. That is equivalent to the entire population of New York City being eradicated because of one ravaging disease. However, there is a way to prevent these deaths, and this way is embryonic stem cell research. Embryonic stem cell research has the ability to not only find cures to some of our nation’s most appalling illnesses, but it also involves beneficial utilization of the hundreds of thousands of unused embryos that die each year at fertility centers. For these reasons, it is essential that embryonic stem cell research be funded by the U.S. government.
Researches are continuously looking for ways to cure and treat all kinds of diseases, so why are there limits being put on the kinds of treatments that can be used to treat or cure a disease? Embryonic Stem Cells can be used to treat many different diseases, but some people have their opinion that using these stem cells in medicine is unethical because they are coming from a human embryo. There are countries that have banned the use of embryonic stem cells in medicine, and in America there are people arguing that it should be banned here. But what about all of the lives these stem cells are saving, what if research continues and these embryonic stem cells end up being a cure to a disease? With this in mind, human embryonic stem cells
Embryonic stem cells could cure many things such as Alzheimer 's disease, Parkinson 's disease, Diabetes, and many other things (Stem Cell Information). This category could broaden but how will that ever be known
Raise of hands. How many know someone who has or had heart disease? Keep your hands up. How many know someone who has or had diabetes? How many know someone who has or had cancer? Okay, you can put your hands down. Right now, in the United States alone, thirty million people have heart disease (“Heart Disease”), twenty-five million people have diabetes (Santos-Longhurst), and fifteen million people have cancer. (Cancer Statistics”). That equals seventy million moms, dads, or children that are suffering from these chronic diseases, but can be treated with the use of embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are cells derived from the undifferentiated inner mass cells of human embryo. In simpler terms, these cells have the ability to develop into any of the two hundred different cell types in our bodies. Unlike most of the cells in our bodies, such as heart cells or skin cells, which conduct a specific function, a stem cell does not have a specific function until it is specialized (Hogan). A stem cell that is becoming specialized will go through steps, which are simulated by scientists in the laboratory. When scientists manipulate these cells, they first must extract the inner cell mass of an embryo and place the cells in a cell culture, which you can visualize better looking at this diagram (“Basic Stem Cell Facts”). After the cells are placed in the culture, which is just an artificial environment for the cells to grow, the scientists will mimic similar signals in order for
Scientists and researchers believe that Human Embryonic Stem Cells hold potential cures for numerous diseases in today's society, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, Lou Gehrig's disease, Hodgkin's disease, hundreds of immune system and genetic disorders, spinal cord injuries, heart disease and just about every type of cancer. In today's world there's over a million Americans who suffer from deadly diseases, not only adults but innocent children that deserve to live a healthy life. These deadly diseases can be cured or treated in a more effective way than they are treated now with the help of the human embryonic stem cells. According to the Poll on "American views on stem cell research in the wake of the death of Ronald Reagan" which was prepared for results of America, shows that a sum of 73% highly supports and somewhat support this controversial process (Results of America, 2004). Even though this topic has brought continuous political attacks and very limited funding, Human Embryonic Stem cell research has made considerable contribution to the battle against disabilities and incurable diseases. A great example of success by using human embryonic stem cells was made by Dr. Hans Keirstead in the Roman Laboratory at UC Irvine; he restored myelin insulation around damaged nerves, returning motion to partially paralyzed rats. (Journal of Neuroscience, 2005) .
Stem cell research can further develop therapy for those in need. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that are able to develop into any type of cell in the body, since they are able to do so they are one of the major factors in healing ourselves. Despite the hard work stem cells are able to do, people suffering from a major disease may not produce enough cells to fully heal and could look into stem cell therapy to get extra cells to help them heal completely. The therapy is done by transplantations, one is called nuclear transfer it is done by taking the patient's DNA of a cell and transferring it to an egg cell then the egg is placed in a culture dish and when the process is done the cells are re-introduced into the patient and are able to assist in the healing process. Someday using the therapies could possibly create
Just recently, in March of 2009, President Obama lifted the Federal ban on the funding stating: “At this moment, the full promise of stem cell research remains unknown and it should not be overstated. But scientists believe these tiny cells may have the potential to help us understand, and possibly cure, some of our most devastating diseases and conditions.” Obama believes, like many others, that this type of research, though ethically triggering, can improve the survival rate of some diseases and in turn improve the live span of many worldwide. “Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident. They result from painstaking and costly research, from years of lonely trial and error, much of which never bears fruit, and from a government willing to support that work.” Obama also understand that research like this can take years to produce a positive and worthwhile result, but in order to produce such a result, support is needed by both the government and the people. He understands the costs, but believes that the benefits outweigh them. (“Obama on lifting…”)
Scientists once believed that human adult stem cells could be used, but that idea was quickly put to rest when scientists discovered that the cells may be damaged by sunlight or toxins in the air, as well as the fact that adult stem cells may contain more DNA abnormalities. Stem cell research could one day lead to the cures of diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease (NIH, FAQ's, 1).
“I truly believe that stem cell research is going to allow our children to look at Alzheimer’s and diabetes and other major diseases the way we look at polio today, which is a preventable disease” (Solomon). Susan Solomon was the researcher that founded the New York Stem Cell Foundation and has been seen as the hero for stem cell scientists around the world. Over the past couple years, stem cell research has been at its highest; scientists all over the world are using these cells to try to find new ways to cure life threatening diseases. There has been experiments where scientists have used stem cells to treat patients that have been brain dead and they use the cells to be placed on the dead portion of the brain and it then starts making the dead portion become functional again. Also, some scientists and doctors have tried using stem cells as a source of transplant for major organs, like: lungs, liver, and even the heart. The main goal of stem cells is to repair parts of a body due to injury because they are pluripotent. Pluripotent means that they can change into any cell in the body, it could be like: blood cells, brain cells, lung cells, etc. They are believed to divide without limit, and without the body thinking about it and morph into these specialized cells naturally.
Food and Drug Administration is in a position to make it impossible” (Acosta, 2016). In 2008 Obama aided in economic recovery and revoked Bush’s executive order, Obama also appointed the NIH to produce acceptable procedures and to govern federal research funds for stem cell research. Currently, there are now 362 cell lines that have federal funding availability instead of the merely 21 as before. Children, adults and the elderly are fighting with many different medical issues and the answer may be right around the corner and yet people cower at the thought of something different or new as opposed to collectively coming with the proper direction to make it possible.