Stem Cell Research – Pros and Ethical concerns
According to research, stem cell treatments are the best hope for advancement in the medical field. As we are aware of, stem cells have the ability to grow into any kind of cells. For example, the neural cells in the spine cord and the brain which has been damaged beyond repair can be easily replaced by the stem cells. Even those cells which have been destroyed by radiation, during treatment for cancer, can be replaced with healthy new stem cells, whether it is in the brain, liver, lungs or any other part of the body.
There have been a lot of controversies facing stem cell treatments because of way it has to be extracted. The stem cells extracted from the bone marrow are the most superior stem cells, but the procedure to remove it is very painful and destroys parts of the born marrow too. The other ways of removing stem cells are from embryo or the umbilical cord. The stem cells of the umbilical cord are second in superiority and are also a rich source of it. This can be used by the immediate family successfully for treatment for any disease.
The controversy surrounds the embryonic stem cells which are extracted from the embryo before the embryo’s cells begin to separate. The people who value life from the time of conception are against the embryonic stem cell research, as to get this type of stem cells, it ends in the destruction of the embryo. This according to them is equal to destroying a human life, even though the argument is that the embryo does not have human features. Due to this the researchers have made the announcement that there is no need to use embryo for stem cell research as it can be extracted from a live adult without any harming the donor.
The latest discovery by the research group lead by the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, have shown that the aging process of the human adult stem cells can be reversed. These are used to help regenerate damaged old tissues. This finding will provide medical treatments which can repair those illnesses which occur due to tissue damage as people grow old. The report of this study is available in the edition of the journal Cell Cycle, dated 1st September, 2011.
Since, stem cells have the unique ability to regenerate; they offer new possibilities for treating many diseases like heart disease and diabetes. But there is still a lot of research and work to be done to properly understand the way these wonderful stem cells really work.
