Stem Cell Research Has anyone ever told you that the cure to diabetes could be a type of cell commonly found within your own body? This may sound absurd but let me the first to say that this is a definite possibility and this is called a stem cell.
Each and every tissue which is found within our body is made up of cells. All cells originate from the same place. These are known as stem cells. Stems cells are the earliest form of cells and have not yet grown into a specialized cell. This means that stem cells have the ability to become any kind of cell.
Because stem cells are not yet specialized, it may be possible to manipulate them into becoming a certain kind. This means that there is potential for stem cells to be valuable in medicine. They could be used even to cure many diseases. Let’s look at Type 1 Diabetes for example. Stem cells could be used to end the need for those living with diabetes to be injected with insulin every day. Essentially, stem cells could be developed into insulin producing cells and implanted back into the body. If all had went well, the stem cell would be accepted into the body and thrive, curing type 1 diabetes.
There are two types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. There are advantages for both sources; however they don't come without disadvantages either. Embryonic stems cells are found in the first stages of human life. They begin to develop approximately between the fourth and the fifth day after germination. These cells can be harvested using the blood from umbilical cords, embryos, and fetuses. This may the simplest source because embryonic cells are completely pluripotent. This means any one of them is able to differentiate into whichever type of cell is necessary. As flexible as these cells may be, they still pose the problem of rejection. Our other option, the “adult” cell, is found in each and everyone’s body. Adult stem cells are commonly located in the blood, brain, muscles, and skin tissues. The main benefit of this source is that you are able to take stem cells from your own body. This means that when implanting the cells back in, your body has a far higher chance of successfully accepting the cell. As suitable as this process may seem, adult stem cells don’t go without cons. Disadvantages to using adult stem cells include the fact that not one has been proven pluripotent.
Yes, I feel that stem cell research should be allowed and developed further, however I do not agree with stem cells being collected from aborted babies because Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I