Stem-Cell Research

Stem-Cell Research

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As the scientific field continues to progress the use of stem cells, objections have arisen. The use of embryonic stem cells has caused an uproar from many religious communities regarding the question “When does life begin?”, because of their origin in the embryo. However, adult stem cells offer an alternative to embryonic stem cells. The use of these cells defeats many religious group’s arguments on the topic of stem cell research, since the cells are taken from tissue in adults, not human embryo’s. This method releases the constraints put on modern science by religion, opening the avenue for unlimited research and one day, cures for some of the most horrific diseases known to mankind.
Let’s start off by learning a little bit about the history of stem cell research. Stem cells were first discovered in the early 1900’s when it was learned that some cells produce blood cells. Bone marrow transplants were the next step, with the first successful transplant occurring in 1973. However, the first true development in the field of stem cell research occurred in 1998 when James Thompson, a scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, isolated cells from the inner cell mass of early embryos, and created the first embryonic stem cell lines. Meanwhile, during the same year, John Gearhart, a scientist at John Hopkins University, extracted germ cells from cells in fetal gonadal tissue. Both scientists discoveries led to pluripotent stem cell “lines” being derived from both sources (All About Popular Issues).
The American Heritage Science Dictionary states that stem cells are “unspecialized cells found in fetuses, embryos, and some adult body tissues that have the potential to develop into specialized cells or divide into other stem cells.”   To
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illustrate, we have stem cells in our bone marrow which produce many types of blood cells. In the same way, we have cells underneath our skin whose purpose is to make new skin cells (Bohlin). The...