Lauren Tan
AP Lang - Afram
Period 6
30 May 2017
Stem Cells Controversy
Scientists and doctors need to be able to have access to stem cells in order to save and improve more people’s lives. In 2010, there was a two-year-old girl born in South Korea who was born without a windpipe. She was not able to eat, drink, swallow, or breathe on her own for three years and doctors thought she was not going to make it. But, by using the two-year-old girl’s own stem cells from her bone marrow, scientists were able to perform an operation on her, which eventually saved her life. In October 2014, scientists discovered that human embryonic stem cells had the ability to improve the vision in a group of patients who had become legally blind. Stem cells have the
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Stem cell research first started in 1960 when researchers discovered that there were stem cells found in bone marrow (Science Learning Hub). In 1978, blood stem cells were found in the human umbilical cord. In 1999, scientists discovered that stem cells had the ability to differentiate into a variety of cell types. Two years later, President George Walker Bush permitted federal funding for stem cell research. Stem cell research has come a long way; many improvements and discoveries have been made throughout the years, and are still continuing to. Stem cell controversy first started to arise in 1998 when scientists started removing stem cells from human embryos. Some individuals were excited that stem cells had the potential to cure a plethora of diseases. Others wondered if it was morally right to destroy human embryos. This controversy lead to political leaders debating on whether or not stem cell research should receive funding or …show more content…
The removal of inner cell mass prevents blastocysts from developing, which would otherwise be destroyed or discarded by clinics if the blastocysts were not used for research (Mandal). COMMENTARY. Stem cells life-saving benefits and the parents that choose to donate umbilical cord blood are contributing to this fight against deadly diseases (Save the Cord Foundation). Because stem cells are so versatile, they can be used to treat a variety of diseases such as sickle cell anemia, leukemia, or lymphoma. MORE