Stem Cell Research Pros

Stem cell research, sounds like a plot from a best-selling novel by Robin Cook. However, it's not just a fictional thought, but a reality making waves in genetic research. There is a lot of controversy surrounding stem cell research. There are two groups formed, one supporting and the other against embryonic stem cell research. Both groups use the advantages and disadvantages of stem cell as the basis of arguments. We too shall discuss some of the stem cell research pros in the following paragraphs. This research is a major breakthrough in the scientific world. It is important to understand the positive points of this discovery before we push it over to the recycle bin. Let us have a look at the advantages stem cell research to shed some positive light on this debatable topic.

What are Stem Cells?
Let's first brush up on our basic, by beginning with some information related to what are stem cells. Stem cells are basically naïve cells that have no specific function. This means these cells have not yet made a decision as to which types of cells they would like to develop as. They just make exact copies of themselves and when they receive a stimuli, they mold themselves into specific cell types. This means they differentiate themselves as blood cells, liver cells, brain cells, nerve cells and muscle cells. The stem cells are the only cells within the body that have the ability to differentiate into different cells.

There are different cell division cycles occurring within the undifferentiated stem cells. They are 'potent' enough to develop into different cells. There are different types of stem cells like totipotent, pluripotent, multipotent and unipotent that have specific uses in the research. Stem cells are present in different parts of the body, from where they can be harvested for further research. These include embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, amniotic stem cells and adult cells induced as embryonic cells. Each of these have specific pros in stem cell research.

What is Stem Cell Research?
Have you ever thought what is stem cell research, that has created a furor within the scientific community? It is an investigation of the naïve cells that help in creating a fully developed organism. These primitive human cells are used to develop different cells like blood, brain and spinal cord cells in the laboratory. It is a revolutionary technique that has a lot of potential in medicine to improve the quality of life and survival rate of individuals with genetic disorders, cancer, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and many other health disorders. Now let us have a look at the stem cell research pros list.

Advantages of Stem Cell Research
The basis of stem cell research pros and cons controversy is the related to use of embryonic stem cells. The stem cells from an embryo are extracted before they begin to differentiate. The embryo is called a 'blastocyst' at this stage. When extracted, these cells can be kept alive in a laboratory culture for an indefinite period. However, in order to get these cells, the embryo is destroyed. People who are against this research see this as a murder of an unborn baby. Thus, begins the ongoing debate on the research. The following facts on stem cell research will help you learn the potential of this breakthrough technique.

• The first advantage includes treatment of many medical problems. It is thought to hold the key that will help cure Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, heart aliments, type 1 diabetes, spinal cord injuries, congenital birth defects, etc.
• Stem cells can help in replacing and repairing damaged organs and tissues within the body due to cancer, liver cirrhosis, burns, etc.
• It has a potential in transplantation surgery, where a person can be transplanted with an exact copy of his own organ like a heart.
• Stem cells research may play a major role in finding a permanent cure for cancer.
• The stem cells research may have answers related to cell determination and differentiation for further genetic studies.

There may be many more potential uses of this research that may not have been uncovered as yet. However, those against embryonic stem cell research, see this as murder of a human life. But, there are many adult stem cells present in the human body, that can be tapped for further studies. It is absolutely incorrect to kill a life before it gets a chance to live. Who knows, scientists may find a way to tap embryonic cells without damaging or killing embryos. Till then, this debate on stem cell research pros and cons will continue.

Stem cell research is still an unknown path and scientists as well researchers are threading on it with caution. As you can see there are many benefits associated with this study. But, the ethics of stem cell research prevents one from abusing this potential breakthrough. Killing an unborn life to find a possible cure for someone dying is an ironic and thus a dicey ethical issue. It is up to humanity to weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of the research before passing a judgment over the issue. Playing God, is an idea, man has toyed with over the years. It is only the future who knows the outcome of this kind of role-playing. Hope the above information on stem cell research pros list has helped you understand the positive side of this controversial research technique.