The Pros And Cons Of Stem Cell Research

Stem Cell Research: What It Is and Why the Controversy New discoveries in the world of science have opened doors to a new playing field of disease treatment and organ breakdown assistance. People suffering from Alzheimer's or even Parkinson's disease may now benefit from the use of stem cells in this very new field of research. However, groups were heavily protesting the use of embryonic stem cell research, despite its positive influence on human society.

What Are Stem Cells Stem cells are cells that are considered pluripotent, or capable of evolving into multiple types of cells (Oxford Dictionaries, 2016). These cells derive from many different environments: embryonic cells, umbilical cord blood, bone marrow, fat tissues, and amniotic fluid

Stem cell research is helping to cure a non-curable, neurological disease known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. A drug named Kenpaullone was tested on both human and mice subjects; the tests found that motor neuron cell life is elongated due to its use (Yang, 2013). This set stem cell research as a valuable resource in clinical trials for testing drug usage for ALS patients. Schizophrenia (SCZD) is extensive-term mental disorder that causes a person to become unable to differentiate thoughts and motives from behaviors and actions. Until recently, it was unclear what caused the disorder other than a hereditary link factor; however, stem cell research has shed new light on the processes that take place in order for schizophrenia to occur.

It was shown in a study that mice with SCZD exhibited similar DNA/RNA make-up to that of humans since the observation of humanistic traits were not able to be voiced by a mouse patient. In this study, scientists created human-induced pluripotent stem cells from connective tissues that showed significant resemblance to after-death brain growths studied in schizophrenia patients. Researchers could use the virtually infinite human-induced pluripotent stem cells to determine what truly causes

According to a recent study, statistics showed that the disapproval of ES cell research based on religious morals was 57% from a 4,213-person study (Statistic Brain, 2015).

George W. Bush vs. Barrack Obama In 2001, George Bush enacted a bill to restrict the use of taxpayers money to go to ES cell research (Philbrick, 2011). He statured his argument based on a number of references from literature and values, indirectly answering all questions regarding ES cell research. Bush mentioned in his speech that his objective was to protect life. He also claimed that there were over 60 stem cell lines already available for testing, and protected the use of those prior to this bill signage; however, the creation of new stem cell lines was prohibited. In 2009, Barack Obama counteracted this bill with his executive order on March 9, 2009 implying that the need for stem cell research was advantageous in the medical field (CBS News, 2009). Barrack ruled this order due to the national polls stating that a majority of U.S. citizens supported the federal funding of stem cell research. He said in a statement that he believed that we should care for one another harmoniously to reduce humanity's