Through Embryonic Stem Cell Research, scientists could eventually alleviate the demand for blood, organ and limb donors by being able to produce new ones as a direct result of the research. This in turn could possibly give amputees and other transplant patients a natural prosthetic without the need for anti-rejection medication. This sort of technology would also eventually be used if not already as a treatment for degenerative diseases such as cancers by aiding and promoting redevelopment of healthy tissue commonly referred to as regenerative medicine. But, like all new technologies Embryonic Stem Cell Research has also come with its fair share of social and political turbulence.
Stem Cells are developmental cells which are found all around the human body and have the potential to develop into any one of up to 220 cell types. Embryonic Stem Cells have the ability to develop into all 220 cell types making them infinitely more versatile.
So, what does the process involve? Human embryo specimens generally 3-5 days old are sourced from IVF treatment facilities by informed consent of donors, cells are harvested and then "programmed" to become any of the human cell types by placing them in a solution known as a culture medium and incubating them. In a way, you could think of the process like a sourdough starter that gets fed and spliced to become more loaves of bread but on a much grander scale.
Stem Cells are developmental cells which are found all around the human body and have the potential to develop into any one of up to 220 cell types. Embryonic Stem Cells have the ability to develop into all 220 cell types making them infinitely more versatile.
So, what does the process involve? Human embryo specimens generally 3-5 days old are sourced from IVF treatment facilities by informed consent of donors, cells are harvested and then "programmed" to become any of the human cell types by placing them in a solution known as a culture medium and incubating them. In a way, you could think of the process like a sourdough starter that gets fed and spliced to become more loaves of bread but on a much grander scale.
Btw, this is still only a rough draft based upon what I've read so far. There is also a lot of my own opinion in there and I don't really think that badly of vegetarians..
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to what you have to say about this like when you talked to me about it a few weeks ago. I feel stem cell research can improve the evolution of human life in my opinion. The more we can modify the human genome, it can open to many possibities that has been untapped by humans. We can kill cancer cells or even increase the lifespan of human beings in genral.
ReplyDeleteTom, I can see you developing your arguement in stages. My initial response is to question what is a pre-embryo? Maybe you could elaborate the terms you use to make it more user-friendly. Also it would be wise to use the term physically disadvantaged, rather than cripples or indeed handicapped.
ReplyDeleteWho knows where stem cell research will take the human race? The impossible is only so for a time. Research has given us so much. Please write more on this subject.
Definitely an intriguing topic. I like the way you have argued for both sides. Do you personally have an opinion on this issue? I think once this 'can of worms' is opened we may create more problems than we can actually solve, but that's what being human means. We try to evolve and find new ways to do things so we can simplify and improve out lives.
ReplyDeleteIm looking forward to your final product.
Yea I have to say it's had its moments that's for sure. Not that I can hope to fit everything in that I've found out but there are some truly fascinating and possibly slightly disturbing concepts involved.
ReplyDeleteI think that considering the amounts of lives this could save it is worth the research.
ReplyDeleteAny moral issues will just fade with time as it slowly becomes more and more mainstream.
As mentioned in a post, we could also extend human lives.
For that reason I kinda wish I had had more time and probably twice the word count to play with as the possibilities are limitless once the techniques are perfected.
ReplyDeleteYour style of writing is very formal and academic and it fits perfectly for the topic you have chosen. Very specific, I am sure the rest of the blog would as informative as the intro already has. Awesome Tom!
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting topic. Embryonic stem cells are expected to become the key to the treatment of intractable illnesses such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, so I'm looking forward to a future of embryonic stem sells research.
ReplyDeleteYou are quite correct in saying what other diseases can human embryonic stem cells be treated besides that you have mentioned. To name a few, diabetes, traumatic spinal cord injury, heart disease, vision and hearing loss and many many more. But I wonder whether the human embryonic stem cells could be developed to form cloned babies. This is absolutely blasphemous against human dignity.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really good question to be asking Joe and one I didn't manage to find an answer for during my research other than that they do not need to take all the cells from an embryo to create a stem cell line, it just takes longer that way.
ReplyDeleteAs for dignity and human classification, I understand and respect your view although I do not necessarily share it as we are essentially talking about something roughly comparable to a bacterium, but with the ability to do a world of good for humankind.