Advantages of Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Embryonic stem cell research is a controversial topic amongst many groups, however, its advantages are numerous. Embryonic stem cells are the basic building block of human life, encoded with all the information on human genetics. Diseases, defects and injuries can all be studied using embryonic stem cells, making the desire to continue research on them a strong one.
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Features
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The number one advantage of embryonic stem cell research is that they can be manipulated and grown into any type of cell in the human body. Unlike adult stem cells, embryonic cells contain the genetic information for every cell type. This means that scientists can use any cell to grow nerve, blood, tissue or other cells. The advantage to this is that scientists can see how and why a certain cell develops. This will aid them in understanding the differences between different cells and their full function within development and growth. According to the American Medical Association, there are approximately 215 clinics around the country that house an estimated 2.2 million human embryos. The majority of these embryos have no use and will be discarded unless research is conducted.
Potential
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By understanding cell development using embryonic stem cells, doctors and scientists will be able to prevent many birth defects. Different forms of defects occur at varying stages of development within the womb. Studies on embryonic stem cells will allow them to find the exact point certain cells mutate and a birth defect is formed. In theory they will be able to prevent this from occurring, either by stimulating or blocking certain enzymes while in the womb. Approximately 3 percent of babies are born with birth defects in the United States according to the University of Virginia. Scientists believe they can limit at least 1 percent of these defects using embryonic stem cell research.
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Benefits
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Because embryos are kept in a permanent state of early development, they are ideal candidates for drug and medical testing. While they are still alive, without a host body in which they can develop, they will never become fully human. However, since they are alive, testing can be conducted in a variety of fashions. A scientist will be able to infect them with a disease and attempt to test various treatments. Advances in the research of cancer, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and schizophrenia can all benefit from this research. In addition, no human or animal testing needs to be conducted, which will save the lives of both. According to PETA, more than 70 million animals are killed, blinded or otherwise injured by medical testing each year. Embryonic stem cell research will help bring this number down.
Significance
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Early testing on embryonic stem cells has shown to be beneficial in understanding the aging process. Beyond the research about early human development, scientists can identify the specific enzymes that cause the aging process to work. Certain proteins are created in our cells which cause humans to age at a specified rate. These enzymes can be blocked or removed to allow for a slower aging process. The possibility even exists that the entire aging process itself could be stopped. This will mean longer and more productive lives for many people. Every year, thousands of people suffer injuries from the aging of their bodies, whether it''s organs that fail or damage sustained from a fall. Without the extreme process of aging, many of these occurrences would be eradicated.
Considerations
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One of the greatest advantages of embryonic stem cell research is the possibilities associated to cloning. Embryonic stem cells are the ideal candidates for cloning. They contain information on every cell in the body and they can be manipulated in nearly any way imaginable. Scientists believe they can grow limbs and organs that could be transplanted into humans. These could be exact DNA matches which would make the transplant process more efficient and have a greater chance of succeeding. Research also shows that embryonic stem cells have the ability to regenerate, opening up the opportunities that an organ or tissue already on a human body could be regrown. Amphibians and reptiles have the ability to regenerate body parts, logically the genetic information should be in human DNA as well.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Chong Dae, Wikimedia Commons, National Science Foundation, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mouse_embryonic_stem_cells.jpg
