Stem Cell Research Pros And Cons

The Controversy of Stem Cell Research The research and harvesting of stem cells is often criticized due to the creation, usage and destruction of human embryos (Muchangi, 2014). In the 1960s, research from scientists Ernest A. McCulloch and James E. Till grew into the first findings of stem cells (Canada Science and Technology Museum, 2014). It was not until 1981 that Martin Evans officially discovered embryonic stem cells while experimenting with mice (Cardiff University, 2014). The controversy of stem cells originates from where they are obtained, human embryos. The idea of killing human embryos sparked the global debate on when human life begins. In 2001, President Bush limited federal funding of stem cell research, deeming it unethical

Although the field of stem cell research has the potential to treat many diseases, it is relatively new and most treatments are still in the experimental phase. The first successful stem cell treatment was performed in 1968 when a patient received a bone marrow transplant (Moore, 2014). Bone marrow contains somatic stem cells that can produce all cell types found in blood cells. Bone marrow transplants have become routine, treating a variety of disorders such as blood cancers and immune disorders. The problem facing bone marrow transplants is the risk of rejection by the new host body. Another source of stem cells is from umbilical cords, a by-product of the birth process (Euro Stem Cell, 2012). The blood inside of umbilical cords has a high concentration of stem cells and has a low chance of rejection by the new host body, making them a potent resource for transplant therapies. Amniotic fluid is another by-product of the birth process. In just a few years, the fluid can be used to regenerate any body part of a fetus, while it is still in the womb. Doctors initially told a teen, paralyzed from the neck down, that she would never walk again. The teen underwent surgery, removing the stem cells from the back of her nose and transplanting the cells into the injury site of the spinal cord (Clark, 2014). The stem cells continue to differentiate into bone cells, allowing her to feel down to her abdomen, gaining more sensation each day. Stem cell research has allowed the paraplegic teen to feel most parts of her body, giving her a life she could only dream of. A university in London, England has teamed up with a hospital in an attempt to cure Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) through the use of stem cells (California’s Stem Cell Agency, 2014). AMD is a disease associated with aging that destroys sharp and central vision, occurring in more than 25%