The Pros And Cons Of Embryonic Stem Cell Research

From the first isolation of embryonic stem cells in 1998, to manipulation and differentiation of mice tissue, to produce different cell types in 1999 and 2000 (Marnaghan 2015), there has been huge controversy over the ethical bases behind research of Embryonic Stem Cells (ESC’s) and their ethical uses. Other problems, which have been arising in this field of research, are the issues of patenting (Bergman & D.Graff 2007). For Pharmaceutical companies and scientists, to invest time and money into researching and discovering treatments for diseases, be it neurodegenerative or not, they need more of an incentive. Unfortunately, up until recently stem cells and their experimental method could not be patented due to the cells originating from an

The reason for this poor regenerative ability in the adult CNS could be due to a limited number of stem cells or the location these neuronal stem cells (NSCs) are found in is restrictive. Other factors, which could play a role in the regenerative limitation, are a microenvironment, which is not instructive or supportive of neuronal differentiation. However, the problem of lost neurons may be overcome if NSCs are cultured ex vivo and implanted into such defected regions. Research at the moment are looking into methods to culture these NSCs for implantation so the environment does not inhibit these exogenous NSCs from surviving or inhibiting them to their allocated task. (Lanza, Gearhart & Hogan n.d.) Studies have shown under strenuous conditions in which the neuronal cells are depleted neurogenic cues are established and transiently elaborated during the process of degeneration, and exogenous NSCs which are implanted are able to sense, home in on to these signals and respond appropriately. In other words, in vivo these neurogenic signals cause the NSCs to respond efficiently, and not just during development but even at later stages when being induced for neurodegenerative