Self Evaluation Post

Writing this blog helped me grow as a thinker as I researched and developed ideas about the ethical limitations on stem cell research. I was able to grasp a deeper understanding of the subject and was able to understand not only the controversy behind but also the effort to continue stem cell research.
Through the research I conducted I found several links that helped me grasp the bigger picture of how effective and important stem cell research could be for everyone. The breakthroughs that I read about that had occurred with HIV was mind blowing. I remember just a few years ago I was in a English class and we had just watched Philadelphia starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington I remember thinking how terrible it was that people would just die away and nothing could stop it from happening. Today this breakthrough is amazing scientists all but eradicated HIV from a person’s body. The work being done with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis are just as amazing to me because, I am an aspiring doctor and as a child and even now TV shows such as House have always interested me and seeing people coming close to curing people with theses disease is amazing for me.
I have grown and learned so much from my blog project. I have been to do research on both sides of the argument and am slowly understanding the controversy on the topic. Much of what have I read on furthering the embryonic stem cell research effort, or people discussing the fact that the embryo’s still feel pain and therefore should not be used, helps me have a more well rounded view on the topic. There have been many breakthroughs done with cloned cells and tests run on rats and other animals that show so promise for the future. Through my blog I have come to form a more centralized opinion on the topic and have began to fully support the stem cell research effort.

Annotated Links Post

I believe that my links on HIV, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis are extremely interesting because they dive into the actually work that is being done with stem cells research on each of the individual disease. It also shows the work that has been produced from the experimentation that has been done with stem cell research. The links that I found on heart muscles, a heart pump and blood cells were also extremely interesting and almost fundamental to my over arching ideas I developed. Each of these links displayed the effort being done to perfect the use of stem cells to make sure it is safe to use on humans more frequently. These links also displayed the amazing achievements humans have been able to accomplish and discover. These six link together showed me how far we have come to helping millions of people who are sick and dying, and that is awe inspiring.

A New Push from the Government

President Obama lifted the eight-year-old ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, he believed in putting the weight of his office on the side of scientists who believe that stem cells have the potential to cure some of the world’s most harmful diseases. The Obama order reverses that without addressing a separate legislative ban, which precludes any federal money paying for the development of stem cell lines. The legislation, however, does not prevent funds for research on those lines created without federal funding. Obama acted more publicly Monday in moving to allow federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, fulfilling a campaign pledge on an issue that is popular with Democrats and divides Republicans. In signing the order and a second memo designed to wall off scientific research from political influences, Obama said a majority of Americans support lifting the federal funding ban, which would allow researchers to begin using hundreds of already-created embryonic stem cell lines for work on cures for cancer, heart disease, Parkinson's and other illnesses. Researchers say the newer lines created with private money during the period of the Bush ban are healthier and better suited to creating treatment for diseases. Embryonic stem cells are master cells that can morph into any cell of the body. Scientists hope to harness them so they can create replacement tissues to treat a variety of diseases - such as new insulin-producing cells for diabetics, cells that could help those with Parkinson's disease or maybe even Alzheimer's, or new nerve connections to restore movement after spinal injury.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101653356

A Brief History of Stem Cell Reserch

In the 1900s, researchers found that certain cells could even produce blood cells, and the thirst for extensive stem cell research was born. Stem research is conducted using both animal and human stem cells, and according to the National Institutes of Health originally centered around two types of stem cells, embryonic stem cells and non-embryonic "somatic" or "adult" stem cells. Early research focused on bone marrow transplants when researchers discovered that bone-marrow infused mouse blood could battle anemia and leukemia in the mice. The first real breakthrough in stem cell research occurred in the late1950s, human bone marrow transplants were attempted in France after a serious radiation accident. Experts says that large scale bone marrow transplant and stem cell research was not conducted until 1958 when French medical researcher Jean Dausset identified the first of many human histocompatibility antigens, or proteins found on the surface of most cells in the human body. These antigens determine what belongs in the human body and what does not, so learning to manipulate these antigens could mean the difference between the body destroying newly transplanted bone marrow or accepting it. The technology used in transplants has been slowly evolving and becoming more efficient. At first, transplants between twins with compatible antigens were the only successful option. In the 1960s, scientists had learned enough about compatibility to transplant between siblings who were not identical twins, and in 1973 after seven different attempts, doctors were able to perform a bone marrow transplant between two unrelated people. By the 1990s, stem cell research was expanding rapidly, and as organ transplant technology accelerated, so too did the realization that stem cells also may be helpful in regenerating certain tissues such as liver tissue, which might help repair organs damaged by disease.

http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/history-of-stem-cell-research-faq.htm

Cloning

Cloning is a controversial topic in stem cell research, people believe that clones will be a 'carbon copy' of the original, but that’s not true. The reality is, cloning is an alternative way of creating an embryo, not a way of copying a fully developed organism. That embryo, once created, is just that: an embryo. Some people fear that 'mad scientists' will recreate such historical figures as Hitler and Stalin. While it is possible, if the scientist had adequate DNA from either man, for a scientist to create someone with matching DNA, the clone would not be the same 'person'--their consciousness would be entirely different than anyone they could have been cloned from.
Also consider the case of Rainbow and CC. CC, which stands for Carbon Copy, was the very first cloned cat. Although CC is an exact genetic copy of Rainbow, each cat has very distinct colorations on their coats. The reason for this is in the X chromosome, which contains a gene that helps determine fur colorations. Because they have the same X chromosomes, each cat has the same two coat color genes--one for black and one for orange. But early in Rainbow's life, each of her cells "turned off" either an entire black or orange color gene. This is called "X-inactivation", and is a very common occurrence in female cats. X-inactivation is how calico cats such as Rainbow develop their complex markings. The specific somatic cell that was used to create CC contained an active black color gene and an inactive orange color gene. As CC developed, her cells stayed exactly the same as that initial one. The result is CC's notable lack of any orange markings.

http://www.mun.ca/biology/scarr/Cloned_Cat.html

A set back for Research

Embryonic stem cell research offers a huge potential to cure a host of diseases including, yet not limited to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. President Bush cut federal funding for this research, thus the advancements that would have been possible did not take place and were not successful, or delayed because lack of money. Pluripotent stem cells, which is just another word for embryonic represent hope for millions of Americans. This research is still in its begining stages, and practical application will only be reached through additional study and research. Scientists need to understand the intricate inner workings of the human body, and to do so, they need resources such as excellent facilities, state of the art equipment, not to mention a large number of embryonic stem cell lines. Nancy Reagan, widow of former president Ronald Reagan gave a speech to congress concerning embryonic stem cell research. She said that there can be no forward advancement under Bush’s decision. Many scientists, patient advocacy groups, politicians and others say that stem cell research can never live up to its promise if the funding restriction is not lifted. Stem cell researchers and advocates for people who hope to benefit from the research say federal funding could speed the development of therapies and keep the United States at the forefront of a medical field it pioneered. Currently, funding for stem cell research is done privately, there were no federal funds to help further the research.

What are Stem Cells?

In my eager attempt to discuss the topic I did not think that some people may not know what stem cells are, so I would like to use this post to discuss what they are. A stem cell is essentially the building block of the human body. The stem cells inside an embryo will eventually give rise to every cell, organ and tissue in the fetus's body. Unlike a regular cell, which can only replicate to create more of its own kind of cell, a stem cell is pluripotent. When it divides, it can make any one of the 220 different cells in the human body. Stem cells also have the capability to self-renew -- they can reproduce themselves many times over.

There are two types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells come from an embryo -- the mass of cells in the earliest stage of human development that, if implanted in a woman's womb, will eventually grow into a fetus. When the embryo is between three and five days old, it contains stem cells, which are busily working to create the various organs and tissues that will make up the fetus.

Adults also have stem cells in the heart, brain, bone marrow, lungs and other organs. They are our built-in repair kits, regenerating cells damaged by disease, injury and everyday wear and tear. Adult stem cells were once believed to be more limited than stem cells, only giving rise to the same type of tissue from which they originated. But new research suggests that adult stem cells may have the potential to generate other types of cells, as well.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stem-cells/CA00081

The Arguement Against Stem Cell Research

Generally the people who are against stem cell research have a moral issue with it. Many believe that the use of embryonic stem cells, taken from aborted embryos is unethical, because they view the embryos just as they’d view fully developed human corpses. An embryo is actually a human; it should be valued as highly as a human life. Therefore, according to their beliefs, research using stem cells extracted from embryos left after abortions or other procedures is on par with research using dead bodies, when the people have not consented to the research. The main argument they have on their side is that stem cells can be taken from other places, including adults, without ‘hurting’ anyone or anything. The reasoning can be summed up by the fact that, once an egg is fertilized, unless inhibited, it will develop into a fully-developed adult. This opinion is often related to religious doctrines which assert that conception marks the beginning of human life or the presence of a soul. Based upon this reasoning, the subsequent argument against embryonic stem cell research is that human life is inherently valuable and should not be voluntarily destroyed. It has been argued that "the line at which an embryo becomes a human life remains as arbitrary as ever". Viability is another standard under which embryos and fetuses have been regarded as human lives. In the United States, the 1973 Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade concluded that viability determined the permissibility of abortions performed for reasons other than the protection of the woman's health, defining viability as the point at which a fetus is "potentially able to live outside the mother's womb, albeit with artificial aid." The point of viability was 24 to 28 weeks when the case was decided and has since moved to about 22 weeks due to advancement in medical technology.

http://www.tourolaw.edu/patch/Roe/