Benefits of stem cell research
Stem cell research has been a controversial political issue due to some ethical considerations. However, when one looks at it objectively, there are real advantages in using stem cells in the treatment of a whole host of medical illnesses. Some of those uses are already in place, while many others are still in the development stage. The technological advances made in science means that with stem cell research, we have the potential to find cures for practically everything.
Stem cells are unique in that they are “pluripotent”; that is, they have multiple potentialities. This “plasticity” allows them to develop along a multitude of pathways. Starting with a clone of identical stem cells, scientists can turn some cells into heart tissue, liver tissue, brain tissue, blood cells, etc. Consequently, stem cells can be used to treat a variety of conditions.
One of the earliest uses of stem cells was in blood malignancies. Healthy stem cells were harvested from bone marrow and transplanted into ill individuals. The healthy cells would grow and overtake the defective blood cells. Though it was not always successful, stem cell transplantation has become a major therapy in leukemia.
More recently, stem cells have been used to clone tissue, such as skin, to be used as skin grafts for burn victims. Research has also looked at using stem cells to create healthy heart muscle tissue. These cells, when transplanted into a patient who has suffered heart injury from heart attacks, grow into the scar and are able to return normal function to the heart. Stem cell transplants have restored vision and even created new joints. Further research is ongoing in neurological conditions, such as MS and Alzheimer’s. If the development of neural and brain tissue is successful, we may be able to treat these devastating illnesses.
Stem cells are also being used to create “natural killer cells”. In the human body, these cells act to fight infection and search-and-destroy any foreign or abnormal cells. This could be an important development in the fight against cancers and chronic infections.
Stem cells are available from many sources. One of the most common sources is the umbilical cord. Hospitals in the US have programs in place so that parents may request to have the cord blood stored indefinitely, in case it should be required in the future. Parents must pay a fee for the blood to remain in storage. Other sources include bone marrow, fat tissue, and all the other organs. Fat tissue has become a strong contender as a source given the rise in obesity. Human embryos are a good source, but ethical considerations prohibit their use. Nevertheless, human embryos developed through IVF and not used (for whatever reason) are allowed.
The use of stem cells may eliminate the need for animal research in some cases. It provides a better model, because the stem cells allow scientists to view a human model in vitro. Stem cells have also been considered for cloning. While animals have been cloned, it is questionable whether a human has indeed been cloned. There are serious ethical considerations regarding this aspect as well.
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