Stem Cell Research: Like

                After reading an article about a recent trial study taking place concerning stem cells and blindness, I came to realize how many questions I had about the ins and outs of stem cells. Questions like what exactly are stem cells? Where do stem cells come from and how can they help humans? The latter part of this question can be answered by reading the recent online article by Alice Park titled, “Early Success in Human Embryonic Stem Cell trial to Treat Blindness,” (http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/24/early-success-in-a-human-embryonic-stem-cell-trial-to-treat-blindness/), which suggests promising results have been reached in a recent trial concerning the use of embryonic stem cells.

            Embryonic stem cells are extracted directly from an embryo before the embryo's cells begin to differentiate and according to Medical.net and can be defined as a human pluripotent stem cell, one of the cells that are self-replicating, and are derived from human embryos or human fetal tissue, and are known to develop into cells and tissues of the three primary germ layers. Although human pluripotent stem cells can be derived from embryos or fetal tissue, such stem cells are not embryos. "Self-replicating" means the cell can divide and to form cells indistinguishable from it. The "three primary germ layers" -- called the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm -- are the primary layers of cells in the embryo from which all tissues and organs develop.
            According to Alice park, researchers from the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute “launched a first-ever study” to show that stem cells may help to reverse patients’ disease and in this case blindness. Can you imagine healing blindness! The safety trial, which monitored the results after 2 patients suffering from progressive blindness were injected with retinal cells derived from embryonic stem cells, reported small improvements. According to Dr. Steven Schwartz, lead author of the paper and director of the Diabetic Eye Disease and Retinal Vascular Center at UCLA, “It opens the door for multiple strategies in the field.”
            In short, the recent trial, which basically injected retinal cells into humans, gives evidence and encouragement for the scientific community and the field of regenerative medicine. I’m sure that Sue Freeman, age 78 and 1 of the two initial patients, is glad the research is available   the point of this post is to argue for results of stem cell research.  So what is the controversy all about? Those who value human life from the point of conception, oppose embryonic stem cell research because the extraction of stem cells from this type of an embryo requires its destruction. In other words, it requires that a human life be killed. Some believe this to be the same as murder. Against this, embryonic research advocates argue that the tiny blastocyst has no human features. Further, new stem cell lines already exist due to the common practice of in vitro fertilization. Research advocates conclude that many fertilized human cells have already been banked, but are not being made available for research. Advocates of embryonic stem cell research claim new human lives will not be created for the sole purpose of experimentation.

Others argue against such research on medical grounds. Mice treated for Parkinson's with embryonic stem cells have died from brain tumors in as much as 20% of cases. Embryonic stem cells stored over time have been shown to create the type of chromosomal anomalies that create cancer cells. So what is the answer? I think we can no longer grapple with childish hobgoblins of the mind, but we are called to act as accountable responsible stewards of humanity---help those in need of help!

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