Stem+Cell+Research

__** ﻿ ﻿Stem Cell Research **__



What is Genetic Engineering?

Genetic Engineering is the manipulation of genes in living things[1]. This process allows scientists to insert a gene from a living organism into another. This process is used in Stem Cells. Stem Cell Research

In stem cell research they remove stem cells in the embryo. When the embryo develops the stem cells become the different cells that are needed in our body (nerve cells and blood cells).This is why the stem cells are removed from the embryo and placed in the patient. The stem cells will become nerve cells and blood cells that are needed in the patient’s body, repairing different tissues. This process can help people with different ailments such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

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Main Features

Stem cells have the ability to renew themselves and can be converted into a diverse range of different cell types. Moreover, research has grown from the stem cell’s ability to do this, therefore creating scientific methods to create solutions to human problems. In greater depth, scientists have focused on adult stem cells, which can make copies of themselves for long periods of time as well as can give rise to mature cell types that have characteristic morphologies and specialized functions. Additionally, there are many purposes for stem cell research in humans. First of all, one purpose that stem cells serve to scientists is to test new drugs, and make sure that they are safe to use on humans, yet this is not the most important use for stem cells. An essential use for stem cells is in cell-based therapies, where generated cells and tissues are used. What this means is that often times donated organs and tissue are used to replace ailing or destroyed tissue, but the necessity for these organs far outweighs the supply donated. This is where stem cell research steps in, now stem cells offer the possibility of a renewable source of tissues and replacement cells to treat diseases and illnesses such as:

· Alzheimer’s diseases · Spinal cord injury · Stroke · Burns · Heart disease · Diabetes · Osteoarthritis · Rheumatoid arthritis

The purposes of stem cell research are very controversial; many people say that it is not right to mess with human life. Stem cell research is seen as a main way to cure many diseases and can treat many medical problems.

[] [] __**Advantages**__

· Stem cell research could provide a treatment for a range of diseases such as:

Ø Parkinson’s Disease Ø Alzheimer’s Disease Ø Heart Diseases, Stroke and Diabetes Ø Birth Defects Ø Spinal Cord Injuries Ø Replace or Repair Damaged Organs Ø May cure cancer

· Helps scientists learn more about human growth and also about cell development.

· By using stem cells, limbs and organs could be grown in a lab and then used in transplants.

· The research helps us understand and prevent abnormal human developments.

· Stem cell research could help test potential drugs and medicine without using an animal or a human. To do this, a specific population of cells will simulate the effect of the drug. This can tell us if the drug useful or not.

· It also helps with the study of development stages which are linked to birth defects, pregnancy loss and infertility.

__**Disadvantages**__

· The embryos used in the extraction of stem cells are thought to be living beings. · The ethical issues are brought up when stem cells are derived from embryos or aborted fetuses. · The problem is that no other type of stem cells can match embryonic stem cells in their potency. · Some anti-stem cell organizations claim the research to be anti human and murderous. · Chances Of Tumors · There are chances of uncontrollable growth in the injected stem cells, · Can cause tumors and become major problem. · The tumors caused can actually become a major problem than the actual disease.

__**Example:**__

Heart failure or heart disease has turned into a common threat to life in the past years. Despite the new and improved medicine, heart disease is very difficult to stop once the heart has failed to do its job. Recent studies show that an adult and an embryonic stem cell could replace a damaged heart muscle cells. This would provide the heart new blood vessels and repair any cardiac function.

The process of the destruction of heart muscle cells is cardiomyocytes. This prevents from blood reaching the heart thus, causing a heart attack and would restore heart tissue instead. Because the heart demand a large amount of blood flow to keep the body going, the new stem cells would develop arteries

The stem cells would be injected to the heart muscle, into probably around 10 different locations. Using advanced electromagnetic mapping they can identify where the heart is failing.

To prove the theory that your own stem cells can cure heart failure, rats have been tested. By tying off a major heart blood vessel, the rat was given a heart attack. Then the adult stem cells were injected right in the damaged wall of the heart muscle forming new cardiomyocytes.

This study showed that a rat that was treated with adult stem cells, had a larger percentage of living longer than a rat with no treatment.