The Pros
- Embryonic stem cells have huge medical potential. ...
- Adult stem cells are much more difficult to isolate and identify in comparison to embryonic stem cells. ...
- Embryonic stem cells are harvested five to seven days after conception, which is undoubtedly not enough time for them to develop a personal identity. ...
| Stem cell type | Limitations | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| Embryonic stem cells | (1) Ethical dilemmas (2) Possible immune rejection after implantation (3) Only a small number of differentiated cardiomyoctes can be generated (4) May lead to teratocarcinomas (5) Genetic instability | Can differentiate into cells of all three germ layers |
What are the pros of embryonic stem cell research?
Here Are the Pros of Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Embryonic stem cells have the ability to create new organs, tissues, and systems within the human body. With a little guidance from scientists, these stem cells have shown that they can become new organs, new blood vessels, and even new ligaments for those with ACL tears.
What are embryonic stem cells?
Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos that develop from eggs that were created through the in vitro fertilization process. These eggs are then donated for research purposes with the informed consent of their donors. Researchers do not derive embryonic stem cells from eggs that are fertilized in a woman’s body.
What are the benefits of human stem cells?
Because these cells could be activated to become any type of cell in the body, they could be used to grow organs, repair tendons and ligaments, stop tissue damage, cure cancer, end diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, and much more.
Can embryonic stem cells be used in IVF?
Embryonic stem cells are never derived from eggs that are fertilized within a human. The embryos which are used to collect stem cells are virtually all created within a laboratory setting in the first place. IVF clinics use the most viable embryos created in such a setting for implantation.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using stem cells?
Stem cells have great potential, in treating patients with currently untreatable conditions, growing organs for transplants and research. But there are clinical, ethical and social issues with their use. These issues will be different for growth and transplant of adult , embryonic and therapeutically-cloned stem cells.
What are three reasons that support the use of embryonic stem cells?
SCL: What are the main arguments for and against embryonic stem cell research? MS: Proponents argue that embryonic stem cell research holds great promise for understanding and curing diabetes, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, and other debilitating conditions.
What are 3 advantages of stem cells?
While stem cell treatments provide fast recovery, it also increases the functionality, range of motion and flexibility of the joint, muscle or part of the body that was damaged. One of the amazing benefits of stem cell treatments is to help patients restore their injured body part to the way it was prior to the injury.
Should we use embryonic stem cells for research?
There are no ethical or moral concerns with the appropriate use of adult stem cells. However, human embryonic stem cell (HESC) research is unethical since it results in the destruction of human life for research purposes.
Why shouldn't we use embryonic stem cells?
In the case of embryonic stem cell research, it is impossible to respect both moral principles.To obtain embryonic stem cells, the early embryo has to be destroyed. This means destroying a potential human life.
What are the disadvantages of using stem cells?
Cons of the stem cell therapy include: Adult stem cells are hard to grow for long period in culture. There is still no technology available to generate adult stem cells in large quantities. Stimulated pluripotent cells normally do not have any p method of maintenance and reproducibility.
Why are stem cells important?
Why are stem cells important? Stem cells are the body's “master cells.” They are the building blocks of all organs, tissues, blood and the immune system. In many tissues they serve as an internal repair system, regenerating to replace lost or damaged cells for the life of a person.
What is the importance of stem cells in our body?
Stem cells are important for living organisms for many reasons. In the 3- to 5-day-old embryo, called a blastocyst, the inner cells give rise to the entire body of the organism, including all of the many specialized cell types and organs such as the heart, lung, skin, sperm, eggs and other tissues.
What are the advantages of embryonic stem cells?
List of Advantages of Embryonic Stem Cell Research. 1. It offers possibilities to curing medical conditions. Embryonic cells are undifferentiated cells which can be used in almost all parts of the body for medical purposes. With research, scientists will be able to explore these embryonic cells more and discover how they can be used ...
What is the importance of embryonic stem cell research?
What is important is to ensure these benefits have more bearing than the setbacks. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. An error occurred while retrieving sharing information.
Why is stem cell research controversial?
Stem cell research has been used for medical discoveries such as the potential of these cells to repair damaged tissues and be used for organ transplantation. Despite the benefits it offers, this issue remains to be a controversial one, particularly the use of embryos in one of the two types of stem cell research. This is known as embryonic stem cell research. Supporters and critics argue have conflicting views on this topic because of several factors. Here, we will discuss the positive and negative attributes of this type of medical research.
What is the purpose of harvested embryos?
3. It is capable of turning embryonic cells into models of genetic disorders. Scientists are now able to identify prenatal genetic diagnosis (PGD) ...
How can embryonic cells be used in research?
With research, scientists will be able to explore these embryonic cells more and discover how they can be used to replace damaged tissues and organs in the body. By combining them with mature cells, they can cure many ailments in the future. Moreover, they can reproduce themselves indefinitely so they can be used extensively in research ...
Why are embryos used in research?
2. It keeps the embryos from being destroyed without purpose. Embryos are used for in vitro fertilization and there are several embryos used in a particular attempt.
Is ESCR a scientific breakthrough?
Although ESCR seems to offer scientific breakthroughs, this is not the reality, as seen in different occasions. There have been reports about cases where fetal brain cells where injected in the brain cells of patients with Parkinson’s disease and manifestations of head-jerking, twisting and the like were seen.
Why are embryonic stem cells important?
With further research, they could create new organs tissues, and even entire body systems, resulting in a quicker recovery period for limitless injuries and surgeries. Organ transplants may no longer be necessary; patients will simply receive healthy stem cells to help them regrow and heal their damaged or dysfunctional organs. Numerous scientists firmly believe that using stem cells for treatments and cures will alleviate as much human suffering as the development of antibiotics did when they were first introduced to the public.
How are embryonic stem cells taken from embryos?
Embryonic stem cells are taken from embryos that have developed in vitro and been donated with informed consent from the original owners. They are never taken from an embryo that has been in a woman's body, and they are used when the embryo is approximately seven to ten days old or younger. Once derived from the embryo, stem cells are grown in ...
Why are stem cells used in medicine?
Numerous scientists firmly believe that using stem cells for treatments and cures will alleviate as much human suffering as the development of antibiotics did when they were first introduced to the public. Adult stem cells are much more difficult to isolate and identify in comparison to embryonic stem cells.
How long does it take for embryonic stem cells to develop?
Embryonic stem cells are harvested five to seven days after conception, which is undoubtedly not enough time for them to develop a personal identity. In the simplest terms, it is simply a mass of cells that has the potential to become a human in the correct setting but is not one yet.
Is adult stem cell more efficient than embryonic stem cell?
Adult stem cells are much more difficult to isolate and identify in comparison to embryonic stem cells. Additionally, purification and growth of adult stem cells requires more complicated procedures than their embryonic counterparts, piquing the interest of scientists across the globe. Clearly, the use of embryonic stem cells is more efficient ...
Can you test a drug on embryonic stem cells?
New pharmaceuticals can be accurately tested on embryonic stem cells before they are used on animals and humans , ensuring the best possible outcome when they are released to the public. Not only that, but testing potential new drugs on stem cells is much more humane than testing on animals.
What is the potential of embryonic stem cells?
The field of embryonic stem cell research is still in its earliest stages. The potential of what a line of embryonic stem cells could become is virtually unlimited. Because these cells could be activated to become any type of cell in the body, they could be used to grow organs, repair tendons and ligaments, stop tissue damage, cure cancer, ...
How much money has been spent on embryonic stem cell research?
In the United States, more than $500 million has been spent on embryonic stem cell research since the practice began. Globally, taxpayers are funding research into embryonic stem cell lines at a similar rate. It is a practice that has been outlawed in the US since 1996, but the current stem cell lines under research were exempted from ...
What is IVF clinic?
IVF clinics use the most viable embryos created in such a setting for implantation. The others are then either frozen or discarded. No eggs that are fertilized within a woman’s body are ever used for this type of research. 7. People treated with embryonic stem cells from cord blood have shown benefits.
How many people have been treated with embryonic stem cells?
Although official embryonic stem cell treatments have not been created yet, more than 6,000 people and 66 different diseases have been treated successfully with cord blood therapies.
What is the most promising avenue of medical research in the last generation?
One of the most promising avenues of medical research in the last generation has been embryonic stem cells. These cells are derived from the undifferentiated inner mass of cells that are formed within a human embryo. Because they can grow into all three derivatives of the 3 primary germ layers, it becomes possible to grow them into every one ...
How long does it take for an embryo to feel pain?
The required components of the central nervous system for a developing fetus to sense pain are not developed until around 20 weeks after conception. Embryos that are used for stem cell research are harvested and then destroyed long before this development would occur.
Where do embryonic stem cells come from?
Most embryonic stem cells are from discarded embryos. The IVF process which couples undergo to have children often creates numerous embryos that are discarded. At best, before embryonic stem cell research, these embryos were kept frozen and then stored indefinitely until they became non-viable. Then they were simply thrown away.
What are the applications of embryonic stem cell technology?
The ability to grow pure populations of specific cell types offers a proving ground for chemical compounds that may have medical importance. Treating specific cell types with chemicals and measuring their response offers a short-cut ...
What is an embryonic stem cell?
What are embryonic stem cells? All embryonic stem cells are undifferentiated cells that are unlike any specific adult cell. However, they have the ability to form any adult cell. Because undifferentiated embryonic stem cells can proliferate indefinitely in culture, they could potentially provide an unlimited source of specific, ...
How many blastocysts are used in embryonic stem cells?
Scientists have been attempting to isolate and culture human embryonic stem cells for more than a decade. Using 14 blastocysts obtained from donated, surplus embryos produced by in vitro fertilization, the Wisconsin group established five independent cell lines. The cell lines, derived from preimplantation stage embryos, were capable of prolonged, ...
What type of cells are in preimplantation stage?
The cell lines, derived from preimplantation stage embryos, were capable of prolonged, undifferentiated proliferation in culture and yet maintained the ability to develop into a variety of specific cell types, including neural, gut, muscle, bone and cartilage cells.
Why is research necessary?
Research is required to determine how to control the differentiation of stem cells so they will be therapeutically effective. Research is also necessary to study the potential of immune rejection of the Cells , and how to overcome that problem. Share via Facebook. Share via Twitter. Share via Linked In.
What are pluripotent stem cells?
Pluripotent stem cells represent hope for millions of Americans. They have the potential to treat or cure a myriad of diseases, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, spinal cord injuries and burns.
What is the importance of understanding the first stages of development?
Understanding the events that occur at the first stages of development has potential clinical significance for preventing or treating birth defects, infertility and pregnancy loss. A thorough knowledge of normal development could ultimately allow the prevention or treatment of abnormal human development.
What are the pros and cons of embryonic stem cells?
The primary benefit of this research is the enormous amount of potential that it holds. Embryonic stem cells have the ability to create new organs, tissues, and systems within the human body. With a little guidance from scientists, these stem cells have shown that they can become new organs, ...
Why is embryonic stem cell research important?
Because nearly one-third of the population could benefit from treatments and therapies that could originate from embryonic stem cell research, many scientists believe that this field could alleviate as much human suffering as the development of antibiotics was able to do. Because funding was restricted on embryonic stem cell lines ...
What is the debate about embryonic stem cell research?
There often is no in-between view in this area: you either define life at some part of the physical development of the human body during the pregnancy or you define it at conception. This view then tends to lead each person to one side of this debate. Where do you stand?
When was the embryo research field created?
Those against this research argue that since the creation of this research field in the early 1980’s, there have been no advancements in it whatsoever. Because of this lack of advancement, it could mean decades of additional research, thousands of embryos destroyed to further that research, and that is morally unacceptable for some.
Can stem cells be used to repair ACL tears?
With a little guidance from scientists, these stem cells have shown that they can become new organs, new blood vessels, and even new ligaments for those with ACL tears. By culturing stem cells and them implanting them, recovery times could be halved for many serious injuries, illnesses, and diseases. Because nearly one-third of the population could ...
What are the benefits of embryonic stem cells?
Embryonic stem cells are thought by most scientists and researchers to hold potential cures for spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, hundreds of rare immune system and genetic disorders and much more.
Who makes the decisions about embryonic stem cell therapy?
At every step of the embryonic stem cell therapy process, decisions are made by scientists, researchers, medical professionals and women who donate eggs...decisions that are fraught with serious ethical and moral implications. Those against embryonic stem cell research argue that funding should be used to greatly expand adult stem research, to circumvent the many moral issues involving the use of human embryos.
Why did President Bush oppose embryonic stem cell research?
President Bush opposed embryonic stem cell research on ideological grounds. He exercised his first presidential veto on July 19, 2006, when he refused to allow H.R. 810 to become law. Congress was unable to muster enough votes to override the veto.
What did Obama say about the embryonic stem cell ban?
In Obama's Remarks on Lifting the Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ban, he also signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the development of a strategy for restoring scientific integrity to government decision-making.
What is therapeutic cloning?
Therapeutic cloning is a method to produce stem cell lines that were genetic matches for adults and children. Steps in therapeutic cloning are: An egg is obtained from a human donor. The nucleus (DNA) is removed from the egg. Skin cells are taken from the patient. The nucleus (DNA) is removed from a skin cell.
When did stem cells become all purpose?
In August 2005, Harvard University scientists announced a breakthrough discovery that fuses "blank" embryonic stem cells with adult skin cells, rather than with fertilized embryos, to create all-purpose stem cells viable to treat diseases and disabilities.
When did the Bush administration lift the embryonic stem cell ban?
She is a three-time delegate to the California Democratic Party and a former federal elections official. On March 9, 2009, President Barack Obama lifted, by Executive Order, the Bush administration's eight-year ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research .