The Research of Stem Cells and Treatments

Overview
Sufficient research studies has shown that stem cells could be used for many reasons in the human population. Those undifferentiated cells are known to have the ability to change into specialized cell types. Further investigation will be shown about how those stem cells work, and how they may cure cancer, diseases, and other health problems. The investigation includes embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, and umbilical cord blood banking.

Positive Facts
Stem cells are quite remarkable as they have the ability to develop into many different cell types. Stem cells are able to divide limitlessly as they replenish other cells. As a stem cell begins to divide, each new cell can stay as a stem cell or become another type of cell even with specialized function. This includes the cells of muscle, red blood, and brain. Stem cells from embryonic stem cells and non-embryonic “adult” stem cells are able to renew themselves through cell division. This shows how stem cells can be used to treat and cure chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, injuries, and disabilities.

Negative Facts
The research of stem cells and treatments is still in process. Researchers and scientists are still trying to understand how to use those cells to treat specific diseases and injuries. The procedure of receiving stem cells to treat a disease or condition has risks, such as how stem cells may become contaminated with bacteria as soon as they leave the body. The issue of human embryonic stem cells was raised with concerns, such as how embryos may be unborn human beings, and how the beginning of life began at conception. Since embryonic stem cells are from embryos; as soon as those stem cells are removed, the embryos would be destroyed. Therefore, stem cells can be found in adult stem cells and umbilical cord blood banking which can be used to treat and cure diseases, injuries, and disabilities.

Current Perspectives of Stem Cells
In the United States, it is legal to work and research on embryonic stem cells. It is not legal to use federal funds for stem cell lines research that were created past 2001. However, there are less restrictions now, and more research studies have been done on stem cells over time, and there are more accepted stem cell therapies than before. President Obama and the U.S. District Court made it possible for the research of embryonic stem cell to receive more federal funds. Recently, researchers were able to use adult stem cells to regrow corneas, which can restore vision in blind people.
There have been many positive perspectives in the media on the use of stem cells than years ago.

References
Knoepfler, P. (2013). Stem Cells, An Inside’s Guide. (1st edition). World Scientific Publishing Company.
This book provides information about the benefits, the risks, and the use of stem cells. How stem cell treatments can be successful yet involves serious risks and ethical challenges as well.
My justification for using this source is that it has a lot of accurate information and reviews about the research of stem cells. The author, Paul Knoepfler, is an expert on stem cells, and the book explains clearly about what stems are, how they work, and more about stem cell therapies.

Crosta, Peter. (2013). What Are Stem Cells? Medical News Today.
Retrieved from: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/stem_cell/
This source explains about how stem cells work, such as those undifferentiated cells are known to have the ability to change into specialized cell types. It also shows how adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells work. Some of the information is provided about the debate of “when does life begin?”.
My justification about this source is that it provides accurate answers for the questions of “How does stem cells work?” It explains how embryos are formed and how embryonic stem cells are found during that phase, and