For my biology class I had to answer a few questions:
- Let’s start with a definition, what is a stem cell anyway? Are there different types of stem cells? Explain.
- Name one disease that scientists believe might be cured with the help of stem cells.
- What are some of the ethical concerns regarding the use of stem cells in research and medical treatment?
- What is your opinion on stem cell research?
My Response:
A stem cell is a rudimentary cell which has the ability to mature into any other cell type and is self replicating. The 3 basic types of stem cells (in humans) are embryonic stem cells, cord blood stem cells, and adult stem cells.
Embryonic stem cells are procured from a blastocyst. Cord blood stem cells are harvested from umbilical tissue. Adult stem cells are harvested from mature adult tissue and currently are the only type of stem cell to have common use in modern medicine. Leukemia and other blood/bone cancers are treated using stem cells harvested from bone marrow.
While scientists believe that tissue regeneration will be *possible* with embryonic stem cells, there is established and tested medicine in use today to treat some bone and blood cancers through the use of adult stem cells.
Some individuals are concerned about the use of embryonic stem cells due to the fact that harvesting cells from the blastocyst halts it's development and causes it to self destruct. These same individuals believe that by it's existence alone there is some biological need to let the blastocyst develop further. These same individuals fail to recognize that adplantation has not yet occurred and that the blastocyst is no more likely to develop into a human at this stage than a roll of quarters is likely to turn into a hundred dollar bill. Only through adplantation and the female body failing to reject the blastocyst will it have any chance at developing to viability and later (assuming no further complications arise) into a human being.
I think that in some regards, science for the sake of science is a dangerous thing. While the exploration of the unknown has brought us great things like tin foil, adhesive tape, & edible roll-up fruit it also induces enough paranoia in the ignorant and salavation in the power hungry that the control of the fruits of these academic endeavors inevitably leads to some harm against man as a whole.
Then again, I do like fruit roll-ups.
