You are here: Popular Issues >> Pros And Cons Of Stem Cell Research
Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research - What are Stem Cells? There has been much controversy in the press recently about the pros and cons of stem cell research. What is the controversy all about? "Stem" cells can be contrasted with "differentiated" cells. They offer much hope for medical advancement because of their ability to grow into almost any kind of cell. For instance, neural cells in the brain and spinal cord that have been damaged can be replaced by stem cells. In the treatment of cancer, cells destroyed by radiation or chemotherapy can be replaced with new healthy stem cells that adapt to the affected area, whether it be part of the brain, heart, liver, lungs, or wherever. Dead cells of almost any kind, no matter the type of injury or disease, can be replaced with new healthy cells thanks to the amazing flexibility of stem cells. As a result, billions of dollars are being poured into this new field.
Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research - Where Do They Come From? To understand the pros and cons of stem cell research, one must first understand where stem cells come from. There are three main sources for obtaining stem cells - adult cells, cord cells, and embryonic cells. Adult stem cells can be extracted either from bone marrow or from the peripheral system. Bone marrow is a rich source of stem cells. However, some painful destruction of the bone marrow results from this procedure. Peripheral stem cells can be extracted without damage to bones, but the process takes more time. And with health issues, time is often of the essence. Although difficult to extract, since they are taken from the patient's own body, adult stem cells are superior to both umbilical cord and embryonic stem cells. They are plentiful. There is always an exact DNA match so the body's immune system never rejects them. And as we might expect, results have been both profound and promising.
Stem cells taken from the umbilical cord are a second very rich source of stem cells. Umbilical cells can also offer a perfect match where a family has planned ahead. Cord cells are extracted during pregnancy and stored in cryogenic cell banks as a type of insurance policy for future use on behalf of the newborn. Cord cells can also be used by the mother, the father or others. The more distant the relationship, the more likely it is that the cells will be rejected by the immune system's antibodies. However, there are a number of common cell types just as there are common blood types so matching is always possible especially where there are numerous donors. The donation and storage process is similar to blood banking. Donation of umbilical cells is highly encouraged. Compared to adult cells and embryonic cells, the umbilical cord is by far the richest source of stem cells, and cells can be stored up in advance so they are available when needed. Further, even where there is not an exact DNA match between donor and recipient, scientists have developed methods to increase transferability and reduce risk.
Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research - Embryonic Cells The pros and cons of stem cell research come to the surface when we examine the third source of stem cells - embryonic cells. Embryonic stem cells are extracted directly from an embryo before the embryo's cells begin to differentiate. At this stage the embryo is referred to as a "blastocyst." There are about 100 cells in a blastocyst, a very large percentage of which are stem cells, which can be kept alive indefinitely, grown in cultures, where the stem cells continue to double in number every 2-3 days. A replicating set of stem cells from a single blastocyst is called a "stem cell line" because the genetic material all comes from the same fertilized human egg that started it. President Bush authorized federal funding for research on the 15 stem cell lines available in August 2001. Other stem cell lines are also available for research but without the coveted assistance of federal funding.
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.1 Embryonic stem cells stored over time have been shown to create the type of chromosomal anomalies that create cancer cells.2 Looking at it from a more pragmatic standpoint, funds devoted to embryonic stem cell research are funds being taken away from the other two more promising and less controversial types of stem cell research mentioned above.
Learn More Now!
Footnotes 1 The Real Promise of Stem Cell Research Dr. David Prentice, HealthNewsDigest.com 2 Derivation of Human Stem-Cell Lines from Human Blastocysts, C. A. Cowan and others. March 25, 2004, New England Journal of Medicine, p.1355 with secondary reference to footnotes 13-17 p.1356.
Like this information? Help us by sharing it with others using the social media buttons below. What is this?
View post:
Pros And Cons Of Stem Cell Research - Popular Issues ...
- Stem cells on the ballot - Science Magazine - January 14th, 2021
- 2021 Startups to Watch: Ronawk's T-Blocks stack the future of stem cell research in an Olathe lab - Startland News - January 14th, 2021
- Towards a Cure: Carleton Research Team Working on Stem Cell Therapy to Reverse Type 1 Diabetes - Carleton Newsroom - January 14th, 2021
- Stem Cell Assay Market | Know the aspects that will serve as game-changers for the market - BioSpace - January 14th, 2021
- Center for cell and gene therapy to open next year - Harvard Gazette - January 14th, 2021
- Covid-19 Impact On Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market 2020 Booming So Rapidly by 2027 | Fibrocell Science, Inc., Genzyme... - January 14th, 2021
- Jasper Therapeutics and Graphite Bio Announce Collaboration to Evaluate JSP191 as Conditioning Regimen for Novel Gene Replacement Therapy in Patients... - January 14th, 2021
- PureTech Founded Entity Vor Announces FDA Clearance of IND Application for VOR33 - Business Wire - January 14th, 2021
- Global Research Antibodies and Reagents Market Report 2020-2027: Significant Opportunities from Emerging Asia-Pacific and Latin-American Markets -... - January 3rd, 2021
- Stem Cell Manufacturing Market Size 2020 Industry Analysis, Key Players, Growth Prospects, Revenue, Production, New Development, Business Share,... - January 3rd, 2021
- Stem Cell Cartilage Regeneration Market : Revenue, Growth, Business Outlook & Forecast 2020-2029 - PharmiWeb.com - January 3rd, 2021
- Global Tissue and Organ Transplantation Market to Surpass US$ 25.6 Billion by 2027, Says Coherent Market Insights (CMI) - Business Wire - January 3rd, 2021
- Viral Clearance Market Is Expected To Reach USD 724.5 Million By 2023 From An Estimated USD 271.2 Million In 2018, At A CAGR Of 21.7% - LionLowdown - December 28th, 2020
- Biobank Market Industry Network, Key Vendors, Growth Analysis, Size, Share, Revenue Strategies and Forecast Report 2020-2026 | Coherent Market... - December 28th, 2020
- Global Neural Stem Cells Market 2020-2026 updated Report with the latest scenarios based on the global COVID-19 Pandemic - Farming Sector - December 24th, 2020
- Organ and Tissue Transplantation and Alternatives - GlobeNewswire - December 24th, 2020
- Comprehensive Report on Animal Stem Cell Therapy Market 2021 | Size, Growth, Demand, Opportunities & Forecast To 2027 | ANIMAL CELL THERAPIES,... - December 22nd, 2020
- Canine Stem Cell Therapy Market Analysis, Growth by Top Companies, Trends by Types and Application, Forecast Analysis to 2026 - Factory Gate - December 22nd, 2020
- Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCS) Market Size Is Expected To Generate Huge Profits and Competitive Outlook - The Courier - December 22nd, 2020
- Webinar on benefits of 3D cell culture techniques - SelectScience - December 22nd, 2020
- Soligenix Announces Topline Results from its Phase 3 Clinical Trial of SGX942 for the Treatment of Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients -... - December 22nd, 2020
- The global cell isolation market size is projected to reach USD 15.0 billion by 2025 from USD 6.9billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 16.8% - GlobeNewswire - December 22nd, 2020
- Orchard Therapeutics Receives EC Approval for Libmeldy for the Treatment of Early-Onset Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) - GlobeNewswire - December 22nd, 2020
- Robert Gallo of the UM School of Medicine Institute of Human Virology and Global Virus Network Awarded Top Life Sciences and Medicine Prize from China... - December 22nd, 2020
- 3D Printing Industry review of the year: February 2020 - 3D Printing Industry - December 22nd, 2020
- Michigans Catholic bishops say 2 COVID-19 vaccines are OK morally but another is problematic - MLive.com - December 21st, 2020
- How Researchers Are Making Do in the Time of COVID-19 - The Wire Science - December 21st, 2020
- Stem cells in drug development - Nordic Life Science - December 19th, 2020
- Global Cell Culture Market by Product, Application, End-user and Region - Forecast to 2025 - PRNewswire - December 19th, 2020
- Glycostem and Ghent University sign license agreement on NK cell therapy technology | DNA RNA and Cells | News Channels - PipelineReview.com - December 19th, 2020
- EdiGene Expands Management Team by Appointment of Head of US Subsidiary Dr. Bo Zhang and Head of Business Development Dr. Kehua Fan - BioSpace - December 19th, 2020
- Global Primary Antibodies Market To Reflect Impressive Growth Rate by 2028||Leading Players-Thermo F - PharmiWeb.com - December 19th, 2020
- US gets more help in raging battle against COVID-19 as FDA authorizes Moderna vaccine, the second allowed for emergency use - USA TODAY - December 19th, 2020
- Diamyd Medical and Critical Path Institute announce data sharing collaboration to develop advanced drug development tools in type 1 diabetes -... - December 19th, 2020
- Skandalaris LEAP winners announced | WashU Fuse | Washington University in St. Louis - Washington University in St. Louis Newsroom - December 19th, 2020
- Creative Medical Technology Holdings Announces Successful Application of ImmCelz Immunotherapy for Treatment of Stroke - PRNewswire - December 17th, 2020
- Glycostem and Ghent University sign license agreement on NK cell therapy technology - PRNewswire - December 17th, 2020
- Creative Medical Technology Stock Price Increased 80.77%: Why It Happened - Pulse 2.0 - December 17th, 2020
- CRISPR Therapeutics Receives Grant to Advance In Vivo CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing Therapies for HIV - GlobeNewswire - December 14th, 2020
- EdiGene Expands Management Team by Appointment of Head of US Subsidiary Dr. Bo Zhang and Head of Business Development Dr. Kehua Fan - Business Wire - December 14th, 2020
- 3D Cell Culture Market by Scaffold Format, Products, Application Areas, Purpose, and Key Geographical Regions : Industry Trends and Global Forecasts,... - December 14th, 2020
- Akari Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results and Highlights Recent Clinical Progress - GlobeNewswire - December 14th, 2020
- Researchers identify the origin of a deadly brain cancer - McGill Newsroom - December 14th, 2020
- Insights on the Global Stem Cell Therapy Market 2020-2024: COVID-19 Analysis, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Threats - Technavio - Yahoo... - December 9th, 2020
- Better education needed to give patients improved understanding of gene therapies, new review highlights - University of Birmingham - December 9th, 2020
- Extended Virus Shedding After COVID in Some Patients With Cancer - Medscape - December 9th, 2020
- Global Cancer Stem Cells Market to Boost with CAGR of 11.8% and Cross a Margin of $1,898.3 Million During the Covid-19 Outbreak Exclusive Report [150... - December 9th, 2020
- City of Hope Doctors Present Innovative Therapies to Better Treat Blood Cancers at American Society of Hematology Virtual Conference - BioSpace - December 9th, 2020
- New DARZALEX (daratumumab) Data from GRIFFIN Study Show Deeper and Longer Responses in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma - PRNewswire - December 9th, 2020
- CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Present New Data for Investigational CRISPR/Cas9 Gene-Editing Therapy, CTX001 at American Society of Hematology Annual... - December 9th, 2020
- Genetic engineering transformed stem cells into working mini-livers that extended the life of mice with liver disease - Albany Times Union - December 9th, 2020
- Researchers Trace the Origin of Blood Cancer to Early Childhood, Decades before Diagnosis - PRNewswire - December 9th, 2020
- Stem cells: past, present, and future | Stem Cell Research ... - December 8th, 2020
- Jasper Therapeutics Announces Data from First Transplant-naive Patient in Phase 1 Clinical Trial of JSP191 as Conditioning Agent in Patients with SCID... - December 8th, 2020
- After boosting gene therapy focus, Bayer signs up to new cell therapy pact with Atara - FierceBiotech - December 8th, 2020
- Data published in Cancer Research show Secarna Pharmaceuticals' LNAplus(TM) ASOs targeting metadherin significantly slow progression and metastasis of... - December 8th, 2020
- Europe Tissue Engineering Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis by Material Type, Applications, and Country -... - December 8th, 2020
- Allogene Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data on ALLO-316 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia at the 62nd Meeting of the American Society of Hematology -... - December 8th, 2020
- Data Evaluating Tafasitamab with and without Lenalidomide in Combination with R-CHOP in Patients with DLBCL Presented at ASH 2020 - Business Wire - December 8th, 2020
- Incyte Announces Parsaclisib Treatment Results in High Rate of Rapid and Durable Responses in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin... - December 8th, 2020
- Enthera Pharmaceuticals Appoints Kazumi Shiosaki to Its Board of Directors and Lisa Olson to Its Scientific Advisory Board to Push Forward Company... - December 8th, 2020
- Meat-Tech Agrees to Acquire Cultured Fat Pioneer 'Peace of Meat' - PRNewswire - December 8th, 2020
- Actinium Reports 67 Percent Overall Response Rate in First Cohort in Actimab-A Venetoclax Combination Trial in Relapsed and Refractory AML at ASH -... - December 8th, 2020
- How do you donate stem cells? Donating cells can help treat cancer, blindness and other conditions - heres how - The Scotsman - December 6th, 2020
- Worldwide Stem Cell Therapy Market Insights to 2025 - Analysis and Forecasts - GlobeNewswire - December 6th, 2020
- Gene therapy gives man with sickle cell disease the chance for a better future - UCLA Newsroom - December 6th, 2020
- Gene-Editing Therapy CTX001 Reports Durable Effects for TDT, Sickle Cell Patients - MD Magazine - December 6th, 2020
- New Cedars-Sinai Biomanufacturing Center to Spur Cell Therapies - Newswise - December 5th, 2020
- Magenta Therapeutics and bluebird bio Announce a Phase 2 Clinical Trial Collaboration to Evaluate Magenta's MGTA-145 for Mobilizing and Collecting... - December 5th, 2020
- Global Single-cell Analysis Market Research Report 2020-2026 Featuring Major Players and Companies to Watch in the Future - PRNewswire - December 5th, 2020
- Cell Therapy Technologies Market | Extensive Information on a Plethora of Aspects Related to the Growth of the Market - BioSpace - December 5th, 2020
- Stem Cell Therapy Market Research Report Forecast to 2029 (Includes Business Impact of COVID-19) - Cheshire Media - December 5th, 2020
- Stem Cell Assay Market Overview, Development by Companies and Comparative Analysis by 2026 - Cheshire Media - December 5th, 2020
- Precision BioSciences Reports Positive Interim Results from PBCAR0191 Phase 1/2a Trial in Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) and R/R... - December 5th, 2020
- Cancer center is a contributor to 49 research studies at the 62nd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting - Newswise - December 5th, 2020
- Bayer Launches Cell and Gene Therapy Platform to Maximize Recent Acquisitions - BioSpace - December 5th, 2020
- Chrysalis BioTherapeutics Receives $10.4 Million From BARDA to Continue Development of TP508 as a Nuclear Countermeasure - Business Wire - December 5th, 2020
- Reversing vision loss by turning back the aging clock - FierceBiotech - December 5th, 2020
- Clinical Trials Offer Opportunities to Change Practice to Improve Prevention and Treatment of Blood Disorders - PRNewswire - December 5th, 2020
- Research Antibodies and Reagents Market to Reach $6.32 Billion by 2027 With COVID-19 Impact, at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2020- Meticulous Research Analysis... - December 5th, 2020