Stem Cell Research

Persuasive Essay

Many controversial and moral stricken issues have been put into question in today's modern society. Some of which include gay marriage, and abortion. Yet one of the most controversial has to be stem cell research. A Stem Cell is a "generic" cell that can make exact copies of itself indefinitely. It also has the ability to make specialized cells for various tissues in the body such as the heart muscle, brain and liver. But why exactly is stem cell research so controversial? Well mostly those who oppose embryonic stem cell research do so on the grounds that the cells die in the process. But what those people might not know is that an embryo is no bigger than a pinhead. And therefore there is no human suffering. Stem cell research is so beneficial it is expected to make tremendous medical advances, if approved by the government, this type of research may help in the understanding and curing of diseases such as, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, diabetes, spinal cord injury, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and cancer. This type of research will be very beneficial for mankind because it will one day save the lives of many people.

There are many positive aspects to this sort of research, for one, the testing of new drugs. Now pharmaceutical companies have the option of testing these new drugs on embryos, instead of living people. Testing has also been done on adult human tissue, yet the problem with using adult human tissue is that it is rather difficult, due to the fact that there are limited quantities of stem cells in every human body. But if embryonic stem cell research is perfected, no longer do human subjects have to be treated like guinea pigs in science experiments. This new advancement will change the way drug companies conduct their studies for a life time to come.

Have you ever wondered when the cure for Cancer is going to be discovered? Well with this research many privately owned companies are using Stem Cells to try and find cures for illnesses such as cancer and other incurable life threatening diseases. Certain people might think this research is going too far in human nature, and that we are tampering with everything that is natural, but others believe this a scientific advancement that will change history. This research has helped the understanding development of birth defects, infertility, and infant mortality. Doctors may also soon be able to prevent some of these problems that affect so many people today. Soon Stem Cells will open a whole new world of medical possibilities. Even among those who, on moral grounds, prefer the use of adult stem cells, or stem cells obtained from the umbilical cord blood, no knowledgeable opponent denies that, from a purely scientific point of view, there are many purposes for which embryonic stem cells are preferable if not indispensable. This extraordinary research is still in the works and hands on application will only be possible with additional study. Scientists need to understand what leads cells to specialization in order to direct cells to become particular types of tissue. For example, islet cells control insulin production in the pancreas, which is disrupted in people with diabetes. If an individual with diabetes is to be cured, the stem cells used for treatment must develop into new insulin-producing islet cells, not heart tissue or other cells. Research is required to determine how to control the differentiation of stem cells so they will be effective. Research is also necessary to study the potential of immune rejection of the cells, and how to overcome