This year in College Writing II my topic consisted of stem cells. For my research paper I introduced to my audience what stem cells were and the ethical dilemma behind them. I also illustrated other research that has been done on stem cells, my opinion on them, the Church's belief on stem cells, how stem cells can be beneficial and the breakthroughs that can potentially save millions of lives. In my photo essay I went through the process of how an individual can donate stem cells. In this project I wanted my audience to understand the process of donating stem cells and how easy it really is to donate them. Stem cells are the future of medicine and that is why I wanted to educate my classmates and myself on this medical advancement.

Running Head: STEM CELL RESEARCH PAPER

Stem Cell Research

Dion Ursino

Lewis University College Writing II

        

         

Figure 1: Finding the Best Stem Cell for the Job

Lewin, Sarah. "Finding the Best Stem Cell for the Job." Vector Finding the Best Stem Cell for the Job Comments. N.p., 12 Aug. 2013. Web. 02 May 2014. vectorblog.org

         Think about the world if much of the diseases and illnesses our family and friends and our selves encounter were diminished. Visualize a world where illnesses such as Parkinson’s, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Leukemia and other illnesses could be cured. Recent research has been conducted early on in this century that has suggested that stem cells are the answers in curing these illnesses. This ability to use stem cells has been recently discovered late in the twentieth and beginning of the twenty-first centuries. This enormous discovery can impact the health sciences field in an amazing way. Stem cells are the future in medicine, must be ethically pursued and must fully be utilized and understood through extensive research and careful experimentation because the potential stem cells have is immense.

Figure 5: Organ Transplant Statistics

Parks, Peggy J.  (2009) Stem Cells. San Diego, CA: Reference Point, Print. (p. 74)

         Stem cells have the capability to do amazing things and to fully understand their complexity and abilities an individual must first learn about what stem cells are. A stem cell is “an undifferentiated cell of a multicellular organism that is able to give rise to indefinitely more cells of the same type and from which certain other kinds arise by differentiation” (Damle, 2012, page. 1). Stem cells are parent cells, which have the ability to create all different cells in the body. “The human body is made up of trillions of cells of more than 200 types; all these cells are produced by stem cells” (Parks, 2009, p. 2-3). Two types of stem cells have been the center of attention. One of these types consists of pluripotent or embryonic stem cells. The other consists of adult or somatic stem cells. These types of cells have the potential to make a major impact in our world. According to Peggy Parks stem cells have the potential to grow human organs, prevent and treat birth defects, be used for healthy cell transplantation to cure diseases, have unknown potential and can be used for drug development; 

Figure 2: The Promise of Stem Cell Research

Parks, Peggy J.  (2009) Stem Cells. San Diego, CA: Reference Point,  Print. (p. 64)

However, there is controversy regarding pluripotent stem cells (page, 64). The way pluripotent/embryonic stem cells are harvested is where the ethical dilemma arises.

Figure 4: Stem Cell Treatment and Cancer Survival (1960-2003)

Parks, Peggy J.  (2009) Stem Cells. San Diego, CA: Reference Point, Print. (p. 80)

         Pluripotent stem cells are cells that do not have restrictions. These stem cells can “give rise to any specialized cell in the body” (Damle, 2012, page 2). With this incredible ability, researchers have desired pluripotent stem cells. The only way scientists have been able to obtain these cells is through extracting them from human embryos and fetuses. Harvesting these cells result in the destruction of human life. “Scientists can extract up to 200 stem cells from a three to five day old embryo also known as a blastocyst” (Parks, 2009, page 66). Other advantages pluripotent stem cells have is that they are relatively abundant and they are easy to identify. Disadvantages include immune rejection by the recipient and these pluripotent stem cells are derived from embryos and fetuses. The ethical dilemma scientists face is whether or not taking the life of an unborn human is morally right. Is one embryo worth saving the life of many? What rights does a fetus have? These are some of the questions we have to keep in mind when discussing the issue of pluripotent stem cells.

Figure 3: Stem Cell Location

Parks, Peggy J.  (2009) Stem Cells. San Diego, CA: Reference Point, Print. (p. 69)

         “In agreement with their anti-abortion stance, the Church supports adult stem cell research, but opposes embryonic stem cell research” (Powell, 2007, page 2). According to the Catholic Church life begins at conception. “The Church believes there is dignity in life, and all life needs to be respected” (Powell, 2007, page 2). This belief demonstrates the Catholic Church’s stance against embryonic stem cell research and its practices. A fetus has the right to live and an individual should not decide its fate. A question to consider is whether or not the end justifies the means? Many people would (utilitarian view) argue that helping the greatest number of people is all that matters and it would be worth taking the life of a fetus. Others would also argue that embryonic stem cell research is fine because in vitro fertilization is legal. In vitro fertilization is the process by which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside of the body and then returned into the woman’s uterus. In this process many fertilized eggs are thrown away and not put to use (Parks, 2009, page 70). This can result in the destruction of life because the fertilized eggs that are not used are either thrown away or potentially frozen and never put to use. The solution to this is simple. The fertilized eggs that are not used in in vitro fertilization should go towards stem cell research and to people that may need treatment. This is a solution that is reasonable for the use of embryonic stem cells.

         Another source of stem cells are somatic or adult stem cells. “Somatic simply refers to cells of the body” (Blau et al, 2002, page 1). These adult stem cells are capable of changing into only limited types of cells. “The primary roles of adult stem cells in a living organism are to maintain and repair the tissue in which they are found” (Blau et al, 2002, page 1). “Researchers once thought these stem cells were only found in bone marrow” (Wade, 2011, page 1). Recent discoveries have found adult stem cells in other parts of the body. Stem cells can now be found in the blood, fat, skin, intestines and other places (Parks, 2009, page 69). Advantages of adult stem cells include: adult stem cells can be found and isolated in adult patients and there is no immune rejection if the stem cells were originally taken from the same patient (Parks, 2009, page, 82) Disadvantages include: adult stem cells found in the body may be hard to identify and they may be scarce in number (Parks, 2009, page 82.) Further comprehensive research has been done on adult stem cells, and scientists are now able to create induced pluripotent stem cells. “Induced pluripotent stem cells are generated by reprogramming adult stem cells to a pluripotent state by the introduction of specific characteristics” (Parks, 2009, page 70). This new technology allows for scientists to “implant new genes in cells in order for the cell to forget what it is” (Parks, 2009, page 70). These cells could then have the same function of an embryonic stem cell; however, there is one problem with this new technology. Sometimes the cells that have been implanted with new genes tend to remember what their primary purpose was after the manipulation, so then there intended function will not occur. This makes the cells useless for the desired location. More research needs to be done on this method because this can be a huge breakthrough in science.

         There have been many scientists that have been experimenting with stem cells. James A. Thomson was one of the first scientists that worked on embryonic stem cells. Thompson performed many of his own experiments with mouse embryonic stem cells. He theorized that the same mix of chemicals used to grow mouse stem cells would not work with human embryonic stem cells. In 1995, Thompson created a cell culture recipe that derived from monkeys, which is a species much closer to a human (Parks, 2009, page 85). Another Scientist by the name of Shinya Yamanaka of Japan successfully reprogrammed normal human skin cells, which became stem cells with all the versatility of embryonic stem cells (Parks, 2009, page 86). Another scientist, Anthony Atala, director of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Institute for Regenerative Medicine discovered that amniotic fluid shares the versatility of embryonic stem cells. According to Atala he has been able to successfully produce every cell type they have attempted to produce (Parks, 2009, 87). As we have seen from this research embryonic stem cells do not need to be used. Adult stem cells can be reprogrammed, embryonic stem cells can be created and more pluripotent types of cells still have yet to be found or have been already. Further research still needs to be done in perfecting these techniques.

         Stem cell research can cure many different types of illnesses. Illnesses like Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Myeloma, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Leukemia, Severe burns, spinal cord injuries, and heart disease can be cured with stem cells. Extensive experimentation has been done on mice and monkeys. Injecting embryonic stem cells into these animals have proven to be successful in curing illnesses and injuries as the ones listed earlier. According to figure 4 stem cells really have given people hope.

         “In the United States and other countries progress has been slowed by funding and regulatory restrictions” (Aylesworth, 2010, page 33). On the other hand, “adult stem cell-based therapies are already in widespread clinical use and have been for over forty years in the form of bone marrow transplants” (Damle, 2012, page 3). With more research on the potency of adult stem cells scientists hope that adult stem cells will be able to cure much of the illnesses humans encounter. Adult stem cells seem to be the answer. There is no ethical drawback and adult stem cells have already proved to work in humans. Another reason why scientists are so excited about stem cell research is the potential of growing human organs in labs. Several experiments have been conducted, and have accomplished this amazing endeavor. If this technique is perfected, it is possible that organs grown from stem cells could increase the supply of tissues and organs needed for transplants. This procedure can save an enormous amount of individuals.

Ultimately, much of this research comes from funding. This funding comes from our government and other private donors.

         It all started in 1993 with the Clinton Administration. In 1993, “the National Institute of Health Revitalization Act enabled the National Institution of Health direct authority to fund human embryo research for the first time” (Aylesworth, 2010, page 34). In the year 2000, President Clinton allowed funding of research on cells derived from aborted human fetuses, but not from living embryos. When President Bush came into office he initially banned research funding while his administration’s policy was being developed. Bush decided to only fund stem cell lines that existed before 2001. “On March 9, 2009 Barrack Obama reversed the restrictions on embryonic stem cells that had been placed by George Bush” (Aylesworth, 2010, page 35). Stem cell funding continues today in an attempt to further advance medicine.

         Stem cells are the future of medicine. Killing a human to cure others is not the answer; nevertheless, the embryos discarded in in vitro fertilization should be utilized to better understand how a pluripotent cell acts and to save and cure lives. Adult stem cells have had a major influence and further research developing these cells can lead us to an answer with out ethical debate. Millions of lives can be saved with this new scientific breakthrough.

Here is a video to further spark awe and excitement! http://www.ted.com/talks/anthony_atala_printing_a_human_kidney

*photos would not move down to corresponding positions. 

 References:

Aylesworth, B. E. (Ed.) (2010). Stem Cell Research and Science : Background and Issues. New York: Nova Science Publishers. Web 8 April 2014

Blau, H., M. Goddell, and C. Svendsen. "Recent Developments in Stem Cell Research.”         Gerontological Society of America. Oct. 2002. Web. 8 Apr. 2014.

Damle, SG. (E.d) (2012) "Stem Cells? Promise to Cure?" National Center for Biotechnology Information. Medknow Publications, Web. 10 Apr. 2014.

Lewin, Sarah. "Finding the Best Stem Cell for the Job." Vector Finding the Best Stem Cell for the Job Comments. N.p., 12 Aug. 2013. Web. 02 May 2014.

Parks, Peggy J.  (2009) Stem Cells. San Diego, CA: Reference Point, Print. (pages 1-17, 60-94)

Powell, Alvin. (2007) "Stem Cells, through a Religious Lens | Harvard Gazette." Harvard Gazette. Harvard News Office, Web. 10 Apr. 2014.

Wade, Markeda. (Ed.)  (2011) "House Call: Saving a Life by Donating Stem Cells." OncoLog and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Web. 8 Apr. 2014.