Remarkable Potential of Stem-Cell Research

Essay by SakibiHabibiJunior High, 9th grade February 2009

download word file, 4 pages 4.3 1 reviews

Remarkable Potential of Stem-Cell ResearchThe new controversial topic of today's society is Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Until recently, moral issues of states and countries haven't allowed research to develop deeply into dept. Within the last ten years though, scientists have made tremendous leaps of progress in finding out concrete facts about the potential of stem cell research. Now just imagine a cure to Alzheimer’s disease or juvenile diabetes. Envision treatments for heart disease, cancer, and spinal cord injuries. These are some potential benefits of human stem cell research if further research is continued. New ways of conducting stem cell research have made the healing and repairing treatment for many diverse functions. Stem cell research is an important venue of study that could lead to imperative medical breakthroughs. Many people believe stem-cell research is unethical but it is actually a benefit to mankind and a doorway to the continuation of life because soon scientists will be able to cure numerous diseases.

But what is Embryonic Stem Cell Research one might ask? It is the research of “undifferentiated cells that have the ability to form any adult cell that could potentially provide an unlimited source of specific cells such as bone, muscle, liver or blood cells (NIH).” Stem cells also possess the ability to renew themselves for long periods through cell division. They are found in embryos during their first few days of development, in fetal tissue, and more rarely, in some adult organs. Specifically, embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized in an in vitro fertilization clinic-and then donated for research purposes. They are not derived from eggs fertilized in a woman’s body. Scientists work with both embryonic and adult stem cells, but embryonic stem cells are the more promising because they are...