Stem Cell Research

Any discussion on stem cell research must first begin by understanding what stem cells exactly are. What are stem cells? Stem cells are basically a particular type of cells that are primitive or immature, and that can be transformed into specialized cells that possess the ability and the functions of the human body. There are two main sources of stem cells namely, embryonic stem cell (embryos that have been formed in the blastocyst phase in the process of embryological development) and adult stem cells (those obtained from adult tissues). Given the abilities of stem cells to develop into independent cells, a lot of research has been done into these varieties and types of stem cells. Though there are two sources of stem cells, greater attention has been paid to embryonic stem cell research.

What is Stem Cell Research?

The process of stem cell research is one that extracts stem cells and transforms them into any or all of the 220 types of cells found in the human body. These cells even include blood and brain cells. As these cells possess the ability to be converted into cells of the human body, researchers believe that these can be used to treat a variety of health conditions faced by human beings, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and conditions of the brain such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. This is one of the biggest benefits of stem cell research.

The reason embryonic stem cells are preferred over adult stem cells is that they are easier to extract. Though adult tissue can be obtained with little or no trouble, it has been found that embryonic stem cells possess greater potential in discovering the power of stem cell therapy. Embryonic stem cells are created to carry out stem cell research, or the excess available from the process of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) may be used for this purpose, though the latter case is slightly rare.

Ethics and Issues in Stem Cell Research

From a detailed look into the various facts about stem cell research, two important issues regarding the ethics of this process have emerged.

• One of the biggest threats posed by this process is the possibility of human cloning. As mentioned earlier, stem cells possess the ability to be differentiated into the cells possessed by human beings. If stem cells can be modified to clone human cells, it poses a big threat to humanity.
• Another big controversy is that embryonic stem cell research marks the end of potential human life. According to the propagators of this side of the debate, an embryo marks the beginning of human life. When embryos are isolated in the blastocyst phase of embryological development, it results in the death of the embryo. This they believe, is equivalent to murder and such an act should be punishable by law.

Though stem cell research has a lot of positive things to offer, it has a negative side too. As such, the various pros and cons of stem cell research have to be carefully considered to be able to identify its scientific potential and its ethical positions. Until very recently, limited funding was provided to those interested in carrying out stem cell research in the US. It is only now that the government has begun funding such attempts, after president Barack Obama made changes to the legislation regarding this field of research. If carried out in an appropriate manner, stem cell research and therapy can prove to be a big boon to human life. If fallen in the wrong hands, this process can be molded to create disastrous consequences. It is essential to have specific guidelines and judicial laws governing stem cell research, only after which can this effort prove useful to humanity.