Presently, there are three types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are able to transform into any type of body cell because they are pluripotent. Adult stem cells are more limited – they can only divide into the same cells from their original tissue. Induced pluripotent stem cells are genetically reprogrammed adult cells that function like an embryonic stem cell (National Institute of Health, 2011).
As you can see, stem cells offer an amazing potential for treatments of many diseases. Not to mention, the regenerative medicine and cloning sectors can benefit from stem cell research. Researchers can learn more about the development and growth of human cells. Furthermore, with stem cells, scientists will not have to experiment on animals and humans any longer. Drugs can be tested directly on a cell population. Regarding stem cell therapy, researchers are able to study the developmental stages of a human embryo, which will lead to a better treatment for abnormal development in pregnancies. In addition, stem cell therapy lowers the rejection risk of adult cells because they come from the same human body (Health Guidance, 2011). Thus, stem cell therapy has the potential to be more beneficial than other types of treatments.
Adult stem cells have the disadvantage that they can only divide into cells of the same type. Therefore, embryonic stem cells are much more valuable beneficially. The controversy surrounding stem cell research focuses on embryonic stem cells. From using stem cells for research, blastocytes from the laboratory-fertilized human eggs are destroyed. This brings up the ethical debate of what a human is, and when human life exactly begins. Some people believe that human life begins at the exact moment when the sperm fuses with the egg (becoming a zygote). Thus, to these people, embryonic stem cell research and use is morally and ethically wrong. On the other hand, because there is so much still that needs to be explored in the area of stem cell research, there may also be unknown long-term side effects due to stem cell therapy (Health Guidance, 2011). So what do you think? Which side of this controversy do you agree or disagree with?
One thing’s for sure – before using stem cells as regular treatment for chronic diseases, scientists have a lot of work ahead of them!
References
"What Are the Similarities and Differences between Embryonic and Adult Stem Cells? [Stem Cell Information]." NIH Stem Cell Information Home Page. National Institute of Health, 20 Jan. 2011. Web. 27 June 2011. <http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics5.asp>.
Ladock, Jason. "Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Therapy." Health Guidance.com. Health Guidance. Web. 27 June 2011. <http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/12366/1/Pros-and-Cons-of-Stem-Cell-Therapy.html>.
