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Essays on Stem Cell

Welcome to our collection of essay samples on the fascinating topic of Stem Cells. This category is designed to help you explore various aspects of stem cell research, its applications, and ethical considerations. Whether you're a student looking for inspiration or someone who just wants to learn more about this critical area of science, you've come to the right place!

Understanding Stem Cells

Simplifying it, stem cells are unique cells that have the ability to develop into different types of cells in the body. They play a crucial role in healing and regeneration. There are several types of stem cells, including embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells, each with distinct characteristics and potential uses.

How to Choose an Essay Sample

When browsing through our selection of stem cell essay samples, consider what specific aspect interests you most. Are you curious about medical applications? Maybe you're interested in the ethical debates surrounding stem cell research? By identifying your area of interest first, you'll find an essay sample that resonates with your thoughts.

You can also look for essays that use clear examples or real-life case studies related to stem cell therapy or research breakthroughs. This will not only enhance your understanding but also give you ideas on how to structure your own writing.

Writing Your Own Essay

Once you've found a sample that inspires you, it's time to start crafting your own essay on stem cells! Here’s how:

• Outline Your Ideas: Begin by jotting down key points from the example essay that caught your attention. What arguments did they make? How did they support those arguments?
• Create a Thesis Statement: Formulate a clear thesis statement based on what you've learned. This statement will guide your entire essay.
• Add Personal Insights: Don’t hesitate to add your perspective or experiences related to the topic; personal touches can make your work stand out!
• Edit and Revise: Once you've drafted your essay, take some time away from it before revising. Fresh eyes often catch mistakes or areas for improvement!

The Importance of Research

Your knowledge about the topic can greatly affect how well you write about it. Make sure you do additional research beyond our samples if needed! Read scientific articles or news reports on recent developments in stem cell technology—this can enrich your content significantly.

Your Final Touches

This is where everything comes together! When finalizing your draft on any given theme related to STEM Cells, ensure clarity and coherence throughout. Keep checking back against other essays from our collection; they’re there as reference points for style and format.

A Call To Action

If you're passionate about science and want others to understand its wonders better, don’t hold back—share what you’ve written! You might inspire someone else while learning more yourself along this exciting journey through the world of Stem Cell research.

Dive into our examples today and begin crafting an engaging piece that reflects both knowledge and curiosity around this important subject matter!

Stem Cells – The Ideal of Medicine

Benefits and ethical issues of stem cell research, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

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Stem Cells and Ethics

The discovery and importance of stem cells, stem cells and their types, human embryonic stem cells (hescs), let us write you an essay from scratch.

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Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Lupus Nephritis

Why stem cell research should be sustained by the u.s government, stem cell transplantation, controversial views on stem cell research in america, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

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Research on Correlation of Notch Signaling Pathway in The Prognosis of Breast Cancer

Hematopoietic stem cells specification, mesenchymal stem cells and it's usage in treatment, tissue engineering and stem cells, current research on the ovarian stem cells: a brief review, juvenile diabetes or type 1 diabetes: stem cell therapy, thesis statement for stem cell therapy, stem cell research: persuasive speech.

Stem cells are undifferentiated or partially differentiated cells that can differentiate into various types of cells and proliferate indefinitely to produce more of the same stem cell.

The term stem cell was coined by Theodor Boveri and Valentin Haecker in late 19th century. Pioneering works in theory of blood stem cell were conducted in the beginning of 20th century by Artur Pappenheim, Alexander Maximow, Franz Ernst Christian Neumann. The first therapy using stem cells was a bone marrow transplant performed by French oncologist Georges Mathé in 1958 on five workers at the Vinča Nuclear Institute in Yugoslavia who had been affected by a criticality accident. The workers all survived.

Self-renewal, Potency, Identification

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Stem cell research

1. introduction.

The advent of human stem cell research has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach and treat disease. A grasp of the science and an awareness of the possible ethical, moral, and political reverberations of this new technology are important for all New Zealanders, but most of us find the science somewhat esoteric and the implications are unclear. This document aims to elucidate the science of stem cells, both those found in early embryos and a new rekindled interest in the stem cells that can be isolated from the tissue of an adult. The document is intended to be an explanation that deals with the science in an accurate but accessible way, and will touch on many of the possible future uses of stem cell technologies. The issues of most relevance to New Zealanders, such as the availability of treatment for conditions like diabetes or Parkinson's, the use of human embryos in research, and Maori concerns about genetic modification will be discussed in separate documents. An extensive glossary is included because the terminology of stem cell biology is new and can be confusing, but is important for an accurate understanding of the issues. A short summary of the science of stem cells provides a rapid introduction for those not wishing to read the entire discourse. This document has been compiled for the New Zealand public, and thus has a New Zealand focus. It is a revised summation of a report prepared for the Bioethics Council in 2003 which was intended to provide a balanced view of the science of stem cells and the ethical implications as a resource for New Zealanders involved in the discussion of the issue.

1.1 Overview

The topic of stem cell research is obscure to many, primarily emerging as an issue in the political and social realm. The current level of human knowledge pertaining to the intricate details of our own biology, as well as its ever-increasing practical application, leaves much to be considered in the future. Identified as an entity that possesses the potential to carry out its namesake, stem cell research is aimed at identifying how certain cells within the human body give rise to more complex cells that manifest as tissue and organs. The ultimate goal is to understand the process of specialization, which will in turn provide the medical field with a powerful tool for the regeneration and repair of damaged tissues. This does indeed suggest a wide spectrum of medical application, stretching from the mending of skin wounds to the repopulation of neural cells in cases of spinal injuries. In order to grasp the full capability and methodology of stem cell research, it is essential to address the types of stem cells, as well as logistic and legislative barriers for the current and future progression in this field. Research in stem cells is a vastly growing field that is comprised of many separate areas. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that have the capability of dividing for indefinite periods. One would realize the potential of such a trait in the sense that an immortal cell line could be created. Immortal not in the sense of conquering death, but rather in the consistent production of replacement cells for the maintenance of optimal bodily function. The categorization of stem cells is a major aspect of research, as there exists a desire to compare cells of different capabilities for a variety of medical applications. This would involve identifying what gives a specific stem cell its defined capabilities, and how said capabilities may be transferred to other more specialized cells. This movement would best be characterized as a transition in the medical field from compensation to restructuring. A contemporary example would be cancer patients, for various types of cancer can be related to improper cell function in tissues. These patients would ultimately benefit from the ability to generate new healthy tissue cells, using the patient's own stem cells with manipulated capabilities. This could be a complex topic to pinpoint, as scientists will likely encounter ethical controversies with the various ways stem cells could be utilized.

1.2 Importance

Stem cell research is a progressive, cutting-edge science with the potential to alleviate a substantial amount of human suffering. Scientists are working to learn how to direct stem cells. If this is successful, the promise of medical applications is extensive. By having a thorough understanding of normal cell development, we can learn what goes wrong in terms of cellular changes that result in abnormal development and lead to conditions such as birth defects and cancer. In the future, the knowledge gained through research in normal and abnormal cell development and cell replacement may be applied to gene therapy. Stem cells may be used to generate healthy cells to replace unhealthy cells as opposed to giving a person new genes. This will likely be a more acceptable form of gene therapy and will be less risky than changing genes. With a better understanding of normal cell biology, it is also possible to reverse the process of cellular degeneration that occurs in conditions such as Parkinson's disease. By growing stem cells in culture, it may be possible to direct the cells to differentiate into the specific cell type that is lost in these conditions, and then transplant those healthy cells into the patient. Some of the most dramatic advances in stem cell therapy have been made in the area of bone marrow transplantation. This is a treatment used for several decades to treat patients with cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. This type of therapy is a form of stem cell therapy because it involves using stem cells that are present in the blood to regrow the blood-forming cells that have been destroyed by the cancer or the chemotherapy and radiation therapy used to treat the cancer. This is referred to as an autologous transplantation because the cells are the patient's own. More recently, it has been discovered that blood-forming stem cells are also present in umbilical cord blood. This has led to a technique called cord blood banking. This blood is being saved for potential use in stem cell therapy to treat diseases of the blood and immune system and to eliminate the need for bone marrow transplantation. This is an up and coming field with many advances being made, and it has already been used to successfully treat several different types of diseases. Overall, the promise of stem cell research is great, but it will take time before its potential can be realized. Like many other fields of research, the transition of knowledge from laboratory experiments to clinical treatments will take years to ensure the safety and efficacy of treatments.

2. Types of Stem Cells

Embryonic stem cells are derived from a four- or five-day-old human embryo that is in the blastocyst phase of development. The cells are taken from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, which includes about 30 cells. The removal of the inner cell mass destroys the embryo, which raises many ethical concerns. The embryonic stem cells are not derived from eggs fertilized in a woman's body. If the eggs were fertilized in a woman's body, they could become a fetus. At this point, it would be illegal and unethical to remove the inner cell mass and destroy the embryo because the blastocyst is given special moral and legal status in many countries and is a developing human. On the other hand, in vitro fertilization is performed in many eggs and the ones not used are going to be destroyed regardless. There are few to no moral or ethical concerns when it comes to using embryos that were going to be destroyed or stored for a long period of time. In conclusion, many believe that embryos left over from in vitro fertilization should be put to good use and donate them to science to be used to derive embryonic stem cells. All in all, embryonic stem cells are virtually a blank slate and are able to differentiate into any type of specialized cell. This makes them very valuable for today's scientific research. An example where they could be used is to repair spinal cord injuries. These injuries are debilitating because the cells in the spinal cord do not regrow and could lead to partial or full paralysis. By using embryonic stem cells to regrow nerve cells, it may be possible to do away with spinal cord injuries. On the contrary, using these cells for research has many legal restrictions because of the destruction of human embryos. The topic of embryonic stem cells is a very controversial one in many countries today.

2.1 Embryonic Stem Cells

Now that various sources of stem cells have been identified, it is important to analyze the comparative value of each type of stem cell in the treatment of disease. The most controversial and the most valuable are embryonic stem cells. As their name suggests, embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos or fetal tissue. An embryonic stem cell is pluripotent, meaning that it can generate any type of cell in the human body. Embryonic stem cells are hugely advantageous in research and treatment of disease. Because of their pluripotent potential, they can be used to regenerate or repair damage to tissue or organs caused by disease or injury. This proves to be a huge asset in the treatment of diseases like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's. For example, if embryonic stem cells were used to treat a Parkinson's patient, the cells would be directed in a laboratory setting to differentiate into dopamine-producing neurons, and then the patient could receive a transplant of these dopamine-producing cells. Embryonic stem cells are also advantageous because of the lack of genetic damage to the cells. Typically, these cells are harvested from in vitro fertilization procedures, and the cells are taken from excess embryos. These embryos have not yet been implanted and violate an ethical boundary if they are used, so these cells are accessed via private funds. The lack of governmental funding means that embryonic stem cells are not restricted by the FDA or other regulatory bodies and can potentially progress in therapy at a faster rate than other types of stem cells. However, it is this lack of regulation that has stunted the progression of research and therapy using embryonic stem cells.

2.2 Adult Stem Cells

Adult stem cells have been identified in many organs and tissues, including the brain, bone marrow, peripheral blood, blood vessels, skeletal muscle, skin, teeth, heart, gut, liver, ovarian epithelium, and testis. They are thought to reside in a specific area of each tissue (called a "stem cell niche"). In many cases, these adult stem cells have been demonstrated to be multipotent, which is to say that they may generate several different cell types from the originating organ or even a specific subset of that organ. The maintenance and identification of adult stem cells are areas of active research. Adult stem cells are frequently used as research tools, for example, in the generation of transgenic animals. In adult organisms, stem cells act as a repair system for the body, replenishing adult tissues. In a developing embryo, stem cells can differentiate into all of the specialized cells (ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm) but also have the potential to form cells for an extra-embryonic tissue such as the placenta. Adult stem cells act as a sort of internal repair system, dividing essentially without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential either to remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.

2.3 Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The third type of stem cells are known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The basic concept of this takes an adult cell (e.g. a skin cell) and induces it to turn back into a stem cell. The first successful method developed was in 2006 by Shinya Yamanaka and his team in Japan. The key was in the introduction of 4 specific genes into the adult cells. These genes consisted of 4 transcription factors, Oct-4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc. These genes were introduced into the cells using viruses which act as a transport mechanism for the genes. This would give the viruses genetically modified DNA. Then the viruses are mixed in with a culture of the adult cells. Once inside the cells, the viruses insert the genes and then die off. When the effects of the genes were tested, it was found that the cell had become de-differentiated and had taken on the properties of an embryonic stem cell. iPSCs hold significant value as it would no longer be necessary to extract cells from an embryo. This would bypass a significant number of ethical concerns that currently surround stem cell research. The use of adult cells would also mean that specific patients may be able to have their own stem cells created. This could be used to grow plates of cells for drug testing to treat specific conditions of the patient or in severe cases with severely damaged tissue, the cells could be used to grow new tissue for transplant to the patient. Currently this type of stem cell is quite new and the methods still have to be refined before it would be considered for medical use. Native iPSCs still carry the characteristics of normal adult cells, and this may partially affect the functionality of the stem cells. Also, it has also been essentially inserting tumor-creating genes into cells. This was first seen when the c-Myc gene was used. This will no doubt be overcome in the future with further innovation in genetic science.

3. Applications of Stem Cell Research

In one form or another, we've all experienced the value of regenerative medicine. Whether it's a cut or a broken bone, our bodies are capable of mending the severest of wounds. The capacity of stem cells to renew themselves and turn into a vast array of specialized cell types makes them the ideal candidate for regenerative medicine through cell-based therapies. With the possibility of matching a patient's own genetic material, the potential for rejection of the treatment is vastly diminished. Stem cells can be guided into becoming a specific cell type required to repair damaged tissue. The process of isolating the stem cells and then injecting them into the patient means new tissue is grown at an accelerated rate. For example, in 2009, a patient suffering from paraplegia due to a spinal injury received the world's first clinical trial using cells derived from embryonic stem cells. The treatment, which is still in the experimental stages, has granted him some returning movement and sensation below the injury site. In the future, it may be possible to develop entire organs in a lab using stem cells. This would put an end to donor organ shortages and the risk of organ rejection. These new organs would be created using the patient's own cells, vastly reducing the likelihood of rejection of the transplant. This is an exciting prospect, but the development of lab-grown organs is still many years away.

3.1 Regenerative Medicine

Repair damaged tissues and organs. This is likely to be the first area in which stem cell therapy is applied. At present, organ transplantation is the only treatment for organ failure. Many organs are in very short supply and the potential for rejection of the new organ by the patient's body is a serious problem. Scientists believe that if the healthy stem cells can be introduced into the patient, the cells will repair the damaged tissue. The organ can then heal and resume its proper function. Given the fact that stem cells can divide and produce many cell types, the scientists are very optimistic about the possibility of treating a wide range of diseases. Bone marrow transplantation is a very well-known form of stem cell therapy, the only therapy widely used in current treatment. It has been used for over 40 years as a treatment for a range of diseases. In this treatment, the patients' faulty cells are first destroyed using radiation or chemotherapy. Then, the patients receive an injection of healthy stem cells to reconstitute their blood system and produce a new immune system to replace the faulty immune system. This treatment has been very successful for patients with diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma, but has been limited as the availability of matching donor stem cells has been very restricted. The recent discovery that some adult cells can be reprogrammed to be "induced pluripotent stem cells" and the fact that stem cells can be derived from embryos opens up the possibility of much wider use of this type of treatment in the future.

3.2 Disease Modeling

Stem cells are used to model disease in two basic ways. First, stem cells derived from a patient can be grown in culture (in a plastic dish) and then differentiated into the type of cells that are affected by some particular disease. This type of work is already being done for certain kinds of hereditary blood disorders using human embryonic stem cells or using induced pluripotent stem cells made from adult skin cells. The particular advantage of using induced pluripotent stem cells in this work is that because they are made from the patient's own cells, they carry the patient's own unique DNA. Therefore, whenever the stem cells are differentiated into the cells affected by the disease in question, the disease cells that are produced can be transferred back into the patient in many cases to generate a kind of 'patient in a dish,' which can then be studied intensively without having to risk the patient's health. Second, it is now possible to use gene editing technology to introduce specific genetic changes into stem cells, thus allowing the creation of 'custom' disease cells of any type. A very recent example of this was the generation of stem cells carrying the gene that causes Gaucher Disease from normal stem cells by gene editing. This type of work has an enormous potential for drug discovery and future therapies.

3.3 Drug Discovery

Human stem cells are advanced cells that have the potential to develop into many different cell types during the body, serving as a repair system. They will divide basically in nearly any indefinite number of cells, in distinction to specialized cells like red blood cells or muscle cells. Once a stem cell divides, every cell has the potential either to remain a stem cell or become a cell with a more specialized role, for instance, a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or perhaps a brain cell. Stem cells are distinguished from different cells on two qualities. Firstly, they're unspecialized cells. The second is that under certain physiological or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become tissue or organ-specific cells with special functions. Stem cells are either adult or embryonic. Adult stem cells or somatic stem cells are undifferentiated cells found among differentiated tissue or organ, to be used for repair or maintenance on a daily basis. Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos at a developmental stage before the time that the embryo would implant in the uterus and is termed at the pre-implantation stage. At this stage, the embryo is termed a blastocyst and contains about 50-150 cells. These embryonic stem cells are then isolated from the blastocyst. Embryonic stem cells are obtained from embryos that have begun to die throughout spontaneous abortion. In these cases, the embryos are condemned to die and there's no probability of saving them. These stem cells are not taken directly from the patient compatible to adult stem cells. Allogenicity between the embryonic stem cell and the patient would need immunosuppression from the host that destroys the therapeutic aim of using the stem cell. Adult stem cells, conversely, may be transferred from the patient for auto transplantation, but a supply for an allotransplant does not presently exist. This makes them less versatile than embryonic cells since they're predesignated to specialize in a specific organ. Due to these reasons, the most probable way of manufacturing allogeneic cells is going to be using embryonic stem cells.

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Stem Cell Research Essay

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Stem cells essay.

Introduction The use of stem cells can advance drug development, knowledge of disease, patience specific disease treatment, and can bypass the limits of mouse–models for research. According to the National Institute of Health (1), stem cells are unique in the following ways: they can divide and renew themselves for long periods, they are unspecialized, and they can give rise to specialized cell types. The uniqueness of these stem cells allows for the testing of new drugs, cell–based therapies and the study of human development including cancer research. Human stem cell therapies have been used for the treatment of neurological disease in human clinical trials such as Parkinson's disease (2), spinal cord injury (3,4) stroke (5), and.. more content... Background The generation of stem cells from zygotes and blastomeres retain the ability to create all embryonic and extraembryonic tissues (13) these are deemed 'totipotent', while cells that generate embryonic and cannot generate extraembryonic tissues are deemed 'pluripotent'. Induced cells that are in a differentiable state, pluripotent, are the cells chosen to advance medicine. Cells selected for induced pluripotency cannot be terminally differentiated, as these cells lose their ability to be developed into other cells types (14). Pluripotency can be induced by the study of embryonic stem cells. These cells express factors (Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, c–Myc), deemed Yamanaka factors (15) and described as such in this review. There are currently four main methods for delivering these factors including viral vectors, DNA–based induction, RNA molecules and recombinant proteins (fig 1.) (16,17). Fig 1. Induced pluripotent cells from somatic cells by transduction, DNA–based induction, RNA molecules and recombinant proteins, creates a reprogramming wave leading to cells with the potential to become many cell types (16). The equivalency of induced pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells is variable but using screening techniques, bioinformatics assay, cells that are more similar to embryonic stem cells can be selected for cloning techniques (18,19). The reprogramming wave, occurs in two parts, driven by c–Myc/Klf4 (first wave) and Oct4/Sox2/Klf (second wave),

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The ethics of stem cell research essay.

While some people might say that stem cell research is immoral and unethical, others believe that it is a magical solution for almost any problem, thus leading to a very controversial issue. Scientists have been searching for years for ways to eradicate incurable diseases and perform other medical procedures that yesterday's technology would not fix. With the rapidly arising, positive research on stem cell technology, the potential that exists to restore any deficiency is in the same way, likely to destroy humanity. America is suffering from its inability to choose who holds precedence over this issue. Too many of us find it impossible to reach a basis for which our differing opinions can be shared and formed into a universal and.. more content... This begs the question of what is value. Today in America, the definition of "value" can be thought of as something that is of worth and importance, meaning that whoever possesses this value, will indirectly gain from it. So, if these "valuable" cells are used for tissue and organ regeneration, then the recipient is the possessor who will indirectly gain from it. In support of this concept, Gaymon Bennett, co–author of Stem Cell Research and the Claim of the Other in the Human Subject, mentioned: More than one ethical position on stem cell research could be called "religious"; and as a Christian, could ethically support stem cell research because of its potential for relieving human suffering and enhancing human health and well–being. There is more than one way to be moral, more than one way to translate one's faith commitments into public policy. (185) To add opposing force, some ethicists believe that the human embryo is the most vulnerable of human beings and that destruction of it should be forbidden. A Lutheran bioethicist proclaims, "the human embryo is the weakest and least advantaged of our fellow human beings," and citing Karl Barth adds, "and no community is `really strong if it will not carry its.. members' " (Peters and Bennett 187). There are those who hold a parallel yet contradictory position when it comes to embryonic cells. They do not recognize the

Stem Cell Research : Stem Cells

Stem Cells Stem cells are cells that are found throughout the human body. They reproduce over a long period of time without changing. Stem cells can produce specialized cells, such as brain, muscle or lung cells. Stem cells in the last few years have recently made a big debut because medical professionals have discovered so many unique qualities to stem cells. They are on the cutting edge of medicine because of all their uses and the qualities that make them so unique from any other cell in the body. Stem cells have the power to make so many breakthroughs in the medical world. Medical researchers have all ready found so many ways that stem cells can be used for the better of so many people. Genes play an important role in determining what genetic traits or mutations we receive. Researching stem cells can help determine this. Stem cell research is useful for learning many things about human development and about how the body has the power to repair itself. Researchers are finding new ways each day that stem cells can be used and the possibilities that they find for stem cells could be endless. A few ways they can be used to treat diseases, be used as graphs for burn victims or surgical use, and even to correct birth defects. The pros of stem cells are limitless. Stem Cells have recently have caught the eye of many medical professionals because of their unique properties, so what exactly are Stem Cells? Stem Cells are different from any other cell in the body. They

Stem Cells And The Future Essay

Andrew Matura Professor Akers ENC 1101–20M 1 December 2016 Stem Cells and the Future What exactly are stem cells? How can the use of these cells benefit us and how exactly are they acquired? Believe it or not stem cells have been in play when it comes to medicine since the 1950's in France (Steenblock 1). This topic is very controversial and I surmise that it is strongly due to the lack of knowledge when it comes to stem cells and their importance. I, myself, am very intrigued by stem cells and my goal is to define what they are and layout facts pertaining to them. This paper will be divided up into three main sections: what are stem cells and the different kinds; why stem cells are important and how they are medically beneficial; how stem cells are acquired and used for treatment. The last section will be followed up by the conclusion. There is a lot of information pertaining to this, therefore each section will begin very broad and finish very concise, much like a funnel. So, what are stem cells? According to Kirkpatrick, stem cells are an essential part of the

Stem Cell Research Within the past few years, scientist have made several breakthroughs with human stem cells. These breakthroughs have catapulted the issue of stem cell research into the middle of a national debate. Most people have no problem with the research itself, however the source of the stem cells (adult or human embryos) used in research is the primary cause of the debate. Some people feel that destroying an embryo is comparable to murder, even if the research it promotes may help people with serious illnesses. Other believe that an embryo is not a person and therefore research on an embryo is the same as research on any other group of cells. While private companies are not banned from using human embryos as a source.. more content... For example, someone with diabetes might be given a replacement of pancreatic cells that produce normal amounts of insulin. Similar treatments might be developed for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. This could potentially help the millions of people suffering from these degenerative diseases. Scientists have been injecting cells into the spinal cords of monkeys who have Lou Gehrig's– like disease. The point of this new experiment is to find out if stem cells in human embryos and fetuses can regrow healthy neutrons. If successful, it may be a way to treat Lou Gehrig's in humans. If it works then the FDA may one day let scientist test on desperate patients. Public funding would help to speed up the process of this testing and form of therapy. Anti–abortion activists say that it is immoral to use the cells from discarded embryos from abortion clinics. Both congress and President Bush say that taking cells from discarded embryos is wrong and should not be federally funded. The NIH says that they will only fund for research with already grown cells so that researchers never touch actual embryos. Even though congress and President Bush do not want funding for this scientists are eager to move forward with the testing. I personally believe that that federal funding should be available. Harvard researchers tested this on partially paralyzed mice who were dying and their life span dramatically increased. One of the researchers says, "Our job is to

Stem Cell Research Persuasive Essay

When you ask most people, stem cell research and transplants don't mean anything to them, and some don't even know what stem cells are. Are you one of those people? Are you somebody who is completely blind to the hope this wonderful thing can bring? Stem cells are special cells your body creates that have specific purposes. As said perfectly by the Mayo Clinic staff, "Stem cells are the body's raw materials – cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated"(1). These cells can be used for so many different things. Stem cell research (SCR) and transplants (SCT) can cure diseases or lessen them, and use stem cells in an effective and ethical way. There are many questions that the answer to is unknown. One of the biggest unanswered questions is: what is the cure for all cancer? Of course, chemotherapy can be used to kill cancer cells in lots of types of cancer but the side effects that treatment can have on the human body are unlimited. The next best treatment we have for cancer is hope, and.. more content... This is majorly due to the fact that cells of fetuses are extremely useful. This does sound a little horrid, but the benefits outweigh that. In reality, there are many other places to get cells than aborted fetuses that do the same or extremely similar things. Currently, embryonic cells collected from abortions aren't even allowed to be used and the only cells of this such that are allowed to be used are embryos that come from vitro fertilization that were never placed in a woman's uterus; instead they live in either test tubes or petri dishes (Mayo Clinic Staff 1). Cells can also be extracted from amniotic fluid and umbilical cords and used in extremely similar ways as cells extracted from embryos. In the future, regulations may be changed to allow consenting woman to donate eggs for research; for now that is not permitted. With strict laws, there is no need to worry about the morals of this

Stem Cell Research What is a Stem Cell? Stems cells are immature cells found in embryos that can develop into any kind of specialized cells. They can form virtually any cell of the human body. These types of stem cells are known as pluripotent cells. Multipotent cells are stem cells that are more mature; they can be found in adults and children. Multipotent cells are not as flexible as pluripotent cells, as they have already developed into more specialized human cells. Benefits of Stem Cells Benefits of stem cell research can be overwhelming. Today, millions of people around the world suffer from incurable diseases. Stem cell research could help the scientific community find a breakthrough in developing a cure. By observing.. more content... Stem cells, taken from a cloned embryo of the subject, could be used to grow organs and remedy the organ donation problem. Stem cells from a different embryo could also be used to create organs. If scientists opted to grow an organ from the subject, there would be a much lesser chance of tissue rejection. One of the current problems with organ donation is that the host body rejects the transplant tissue because it is "foreign." If the organ came from the recipient, it would essentially not be foreign tissue. Professional, Legal, and Ethical Issues While there are enormous benefits to stem cell research, many professional, legal, and ethical questions arise about stem cells. Should stem cell researchers continue their research for profit? Or should they continue their research for the benefit of society? Those motivated by personal profits will be more motivated to uncover the most about the benefits of stem cells. However, these same individuals may opt to achieve the end, whatever the means. Individuals motivated by the benefit of society may take longer to research stem cells, but they may be more careful throughout the process. Should stem cell research even be legal? Should the government fund it? Currently, stem cell research continues, but it is limited to research on existing stem cell lines. Opponents of stem cell research are fighting

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A Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine is awarded to researchers who manage to make revolutionary or significant discoveries in their fields. This contributes greatly to the understanding of how organisms function and how to cure diseases previously considered non-treatable. In 2012, the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine was awarded to two scientists: John B. Gurdon of the University of Cambridge in England, and Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University in Japan.

Shinya Yamanaka and John B. Gurdon. Image source: nytimes.com

Yamanaka and Gurdon produced groundbreaking research in a controversial study of stem cells. Their experiments focused on manipulating living cells and generating so-called pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). “They discovered that a mature, adult cell can be turned back to an infant, versatile state called a stem cell” (France-Presse, 2012). Studying stem cells, as it is expected, will cause a breakthrough in curing a wide variety of degenerative diseases. Gurdon and Yamanaka were the first scientists to prove that iPSCs could be created in a laboratory environment, rather than harvested from aborted fetuses, thus avoiding the highly controversial moral issues driving anti-abortion activists’ arguments concerning human life. Stem cell research can now be conducted without controversy, and people with a wide variety of degenerative diseases can have hope for a cure (Cook, 2012).

The research of Gurdon and Yamanaka are 40 years apart and represent many separate milestones. They did not work on this project together. Gurdon was working on cloning with tadpoles in 1962, and Yamanaka discovered how to reprogram mature human cells so that they could revert to their primitive state. Gurdon’s work demonstrated that cells contained the same genetic code and that individual cells were capable of creating an entire animal if manipulated. His work has become the basis for the cloning procedure. Yamanaka took that understanding and built his research on it. Using mouse skin cells, he returned them to an embryonic state and demonstrated how these cells could then redevelop into any part of the body (Holmes, 2012).

The two prize winners’ work has revolutionized not only the way scientists think about cells, but it has also laid the foundations for cures of many diseases. Scientists all over the world are studying cells that have been damaged, such as those damaged by Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. They are examining each disease at the cellular level so they can understand them. Scientists are hoping to replace damaged cells with healthy ones, as well as find therapies that can help control degenerative diseases. Other physical ailments this discovery can help with are type 1 diabetes, serious spinal cord injuries, and muscular degeneration. Doctors are giving heart attack victims infusions of cardiac stem cells to increase the vitality of the heart muscle and to help it pump. Also, special stem cells are used in trials for patients with retinal disease, which causes blindness, to determine whether stem cells can restore their sight (Holmes, 2012).

Yamanaka and Gurdon were awarded the Noble Prize because their revolutionary discovery removed roadblocks to further scientific research. Controversy has hampered research in this area of science, even though it has the potential to make life better for people and also to save many lives. Previously, governments around the world had forbidden experimentation on human embryos and the Vatican had condemned the studies. All of those arguments concerning stem cell research have been removed.

Stem cell research has been a controversial topic for years. Yamanaka purposefully attempted to develop a procedure that would push science forward as well as silence critics. The Nobel Prize Committee awarded the prize to these two scientists because of the potential to research further into areas that will benefit humankind.

References France-Presse (2012). Nobel Prize Winning Stem Cell Research Holds Dramatic Potential . Retrieved on December 31, 2012 from http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/10/08/nobel-prize-winning-stem-cell-research-holds-dramatic-potential/.

Holmes, D. (2012). Stem Cell Scientists Share 2012 Nobel Prize for Medicine . The Lancet, 380(9850), 1295-1295. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61743-7.

Cook, M. (2012). Stem Cell Researchers Win Nobel Prize . Australasian Science, 33, 48- 48. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1178996633?accountid=35812.

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How to Write a Research Paper on Stem Cell

Table of Contents

How to start a research paper on stem cell: tips on how to start.

To start  writing a research paper  on stem cells, students have to know the basics about them first and narrow down the general topic from there. Conduct initial research and determine what stem cells are, their different kinds, and their existing as well as future uses. Furthermore, as writers go along the step of collecting data, they have to choose a sub-topic that is most interesting for them. They should consider the kind of paper though.

For instance, if writing an argumentative paper, the author can choose a specific stance such as being supportive of stem cell use and subsequently provide evidence to sustain this viewpoint. Moreover, writers can explore as many topics and perspectives as possible in order to present compelling arguments which also respond to the strongest counter-positions. On the contrary, if the aim is to write an informative paper, then the tone of writing will be objective or unbiased. After selecting a specific topic, write an outline of the main ideas derived from the research.

Example of an outline

Here is an example of an outline of stem cells.

I. Introduction

A. What Are Stem Cells and Why Are They Important to Study?

II. What Are the Different Kinds of Stem Cells?

A. Embryonic Stem Cells

B. Adult Stem cells

C. Perinatal Stem Cells

III. Why Is There a Debate on Using Stem Cells?

IV. What Are the Uses of Stem Cells and How Can Obstacles to Their Use Be Removed?

V. Conclusion

Example of a stem cell research paper thesis

A thesis includes the main points of the paper. A good thesis is based on thoughtful research and not a simple rewriting of facts. The primary characteristics of a thesis for an argumentative paper are that it must be contestable, specific, focused, and based on evidence. Below is a sample of a thesis on stem cells:

“Stem cells should be used for research because they can reveal the origins of diseases and present effective therapies, especially for those without the cure, while also allowing the testing of these treatments without use for animal or human subjects.”

Example of an introduction

A good introduction should properly state the topic for the readers and hook them from the very start to encourage reading. Many essays start with a general statement for their introductory paragraph followed by supporting sentences. The last sentence is usually the thesis. Here is a sample introduction:

Stem cells have gained significant scientific and public interest as they have the magnificent potential of developing into diverse kinds of cells. When a stem cell divides, in essence, multiplies, each unit has the potential of becoming a replica or another kind with a specialized role, such as a brain cell or a red blood cell. Stem cells are important as they produce the entire body of a living thing, while adult stem cells assist in replacing those that are lost due to wear and tear, injuries, or diseases. Stem cells should be used for research because they can reveal the origins of diseases and present effective therapies, especially for those without a cure, while also allowing the testing of these treatments without use for animal or human subjects.

How to write body paragraphs: Tips on body writing

A good research paper is composed of well-thought and connected body paragraphs. Each paragraph should be a group of interrelated sentences about a specific idea that ties back to the thesis. The basic components of body paragraphs are a clear topic sentence followed by supporting evidence or details, unity and cohesion, and a concluding sentence that unites the evidence and brings the paper to the next point. Every paragraph must be fully developed with the right number and kind of details or evidence, such as personal examples, quotes from credible sources, and statistics. When writing points that use research, an in-text citation is essential to avoid plagiarism. In addition, all paragraphs must have transitions within the sentence and from one body paragraph to the next.

Example of the 1st body paragraph

The first body paragraph should coincide with what is written in the outline. Below is an example of the initial body paragraph:

Stem cells have different kinds. Embryonic stem cells are derived from three- to five-day-old embryos. Also called a blastocyst, this kind has 150 cells. They are likewise pluripotent as they can divide and generate more stem cells or turn into any cell type. Being versatile, embryonic stem cells can regenerate or fix diseased organs and tissues. Adult stem cells are located in many adult tissues, like the bone marrow or fat. Dissimilar to embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells cannot produce different kinds of cells. Perinatal stem cells are found in the amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood and can also change into specialized cells.

Example of the 2nd body paragraph

The second body paragraph deals with the controversy of stem cells. Here is a sample:

Several critics are against the use of embryonic stem cells per se. Since these stem cells are collected from early-stage embryos, there are questions about this procedures’ morality. Harvesting embryonic stem cells can result in the promotion of abortion as well as the objectification of embryos. In other words, some people fear that embryos will now be made not for the purpose of reproduction but to sell and use for research. Thus, the sanctity of the  human body  may be sacrificed in pursuit of stem cell therapies.

Example of the 3rd body paragraph

The third body paragraph tackles the uses of stem cells and the resolutions to controversies. Here is a sample:

Human stem cells can be used for research and find treatment for incurable diseases and remove the need for animal or human experimentation; however, it should be conducted with a moral framework to avoid abuse. Embryonic stem cell research can provide critical information about human development including the formation of diseases. Understanding illnesses at the cellular level, in turn, can produce new therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, stem cells can be used to test new therapies and eliminate animal and human experimentation subjects. Likewise, stem cell research must proceed with an ethical framework to prevent and stop abuses. Related agencies can provide a code of ethics for all scientists to abide by.

How to finish a research paper: Tips on conclusion writing

To write a great concluding paragraph, follow these tips. First, summarize all the main arguments. Second, avoid introducing new topics. Third, you can ask provocative questions. Fourth, evoke strong images that can affect the feelings of readers and possibly motivate changes. Fifth, end with a call to action or suggest outcomes and consequences.

Example of a conclusion

Here is a sample conclusion:

Stem cell research has great potential in understanding illnesses and treating incurable diseases apart from ending human and animal experimentation. Nevertheless, it can be abused and turned into a commercial enterprise without regard for human life. As a result, the paper recommends the creation of an ethical framework that will guide stem cell scientists and hold them responsible for the consequences of their actions. While stem cell studies may have some drawbacks, their benefits are far too important to be stunted; thus, the public should support them and ensure that they continue with a strong moral compass for proper guidance.

Tips on research paper revision

Revision is vital to a well-written paper because writing is a discovery process that does not always yield the perfect first draft. Revising your research work enables you to attain the following advantages. First, you can take a step back from your paper and recognize if everything in it has meaning. Second, you are checking if you said what you truly wanted to express. Third, you evaluate if the writing is clear enough for readers to understand the content. Fourth, if you are writing argumentatively, you can improve the power of your premises. Revising intends to create the best paper after several changes by making it more coherent and persuasive.

Here are the tips to consider for each part of your paper while doing your revisions. For the introduction, determine if it puts your argument within the context of an ongoing conversation on stem cell research. Next, check if this section includes a definition of key terms, draws readers in, and provides a compelling thesis. The next piece of advice is on revising the thesis. Evaluate if the thesis says what you want to say and offers a statement that is worthy of consideration. Furthermore, ensure that every part of the paper delivers what the thesis promises.

Afterward, assess the structure of the paper. A good practice is making an outline of your written output and determining if it answers your objectives. Make sure that each point is well-developed and improve where necessary. Afterward, determine the coherency of the paragraphs including transition sentences. Check if all the arguments are logical; any sentence that commits fallacies must be removed. Moreover, determine if the conclusion is appropriate in summing up the main point and motivates readers to think about your arguments.

Do the revision in steps and not in one blow. Rest your eyes for an hour or even days, depending on the time you have, in order to have fresh eyes that are ready to identify and correct mistakes. Read the paper loudly as well as this helps catch any mistakes you may miss when reading by the eye. Lastly, you can ask peers and instructors for feedback and consider all their suggestions during revision.

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Stem Cell Research: The Ethical Issues

Shelby montague.

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Stem cell issue

Issue date 2009 Sep.

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons CC BY-NC license, which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. You may not use the material for commercial purposes.

Sometimes ethical issues behind scientific advances are not fully addressed until it is too late, as during the development of the first atomic bomb. In Stem Cell Research , the editors collected essays to stimulate discussion of the ethical issues surrounding the use of stem cells in research and medicine. This collection provides excellent philosophical and biological arguments in support of stem cell research.

The introduction sets the stage for the 10 essays contributed by authors in philosophy, bioethics, and biology, although, as the editors point out, only one contributing author is a scientist. There is a brief introduction to the political history of stem cell research, followed by descriptions of early mammalian development, in vitro models, and cloning. These descriptions are great refreshers for people already familiar with developmental biology, but the use of technical jargon would make them difficult for the average reader to understand.

The essays address the ethics of stem cell research from a variety of viewpoints. The first essay by Katrien Devolder and John Harris argues that our view of embryos is ethically inconsistent. This inconsistency is evident in the example of identical twins, which result from splitting of the early embryo. If life begins at conception, as many conservative groups believe, when did life begin for each of these twins? The authors expand on this argument and others regarding the creation of embryos for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and conclude that the moral arguments against the use of embryos for stem cell research are not consistent with how most people live their lives. Jeff McMahan attacks the moral objection to the use of embryos by arguing that we are not “human organisms.” What we identify as ourselves is typically not our body, but our consciousness. McMahan states that we are “embodied minds.” Since we do not really exist until we develop consciousness, the destruction of embryos for research cannot be morally wrong. Other arguments examined include the moral principle objection, which is the statement that intentionally allowing a human being to die for pursuit of research is wrong, the concern that stem cell research will support abortion, and the use of embryos already created in IVF clinics for stem cell research.

The last three essays address the social issues surrounding stem cell research. An essay by Lori Gruen, one of the co-editors, examines whether women should be paid to donate their eggs for research and therapies. David DeGrazia discusses the concerns raised by the potential production of human-animal chimeras and concerns about the use of animals in general for research. The final essay by Torgjörn Tännsjö describes why the author believes no compromise position on the use of embryos for stem cell research is possible in a liberal society.

Stem Cell Research: The Ethical Issues provides detailed descriptions of the arguments adopted by proponents of stem cell research. It is a great resource for anyone with a biological background seeking intelligent arguments in support of stem cell research.

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What are stem cells.

Stem cells are a special type of cell that is uniquely able to replicate many times and to develop into many different cell types. Stem cells live in tissues and organs throughout the body—including the liver, muscles, and skin—at all stages of life.

Humans have two basic types of stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are only found in the embryo during the early stages of development. They are pluripotent, meaning they can divide and transform—or differentiate —into every kind of cell in the body.

On the other hand, somatic stem cells (also known as adult stem cells) are multipotent, which means they can only differentiate into a small subset of cell types. For example, blood stem cells can only differentiate into the stem cell types that make up the blood, such as red blood cells and immune system cells. Somatic stem cells live throughout the body at all ages and frequently replicate to replace nearby old or dying cells, which is an important part of maintaining healthy tissues. This type of cell is also important for regeneration —the natural process of replacing or restoring damaged tissue. In humans, regeneration is limited to processes like healing broken bones and cuts or scrapes on the skin, but some organisms , like hydras , can regrow entire lost body parts with the help of stem cells!

Scientists can create a third type of stem cells, called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), in the laboratory. To do this, the scientists change differentiated adult cells, like human skin cells, back into a pluripotent state through exposure to specific cell culture conditions. These newly reprogrammed cells then act like embryonic stem cells and are highly useful in biomedical research. For example, scientists use iPSCs to develop and test new medicines and to study the basics of human aging.

Studying Stem Cells

Some NIGMS-funded scientists are studying stem cells to learn more about how the body develops and maintains itself. Their research projects aim to understand topics including:

• The ways in which stem cells undergo asymmetric cell division —a process that creates one cell destined to stay a stem cell and one cell destined to differentiate into a specialized cell type. This process is important for maintaining a population of stem cells in tissues to be able to replace old or dying cells.
• The possibility of mesenchymal stem cells—somatic stem cells that can differentiate into many types of bone cells—from donors being used to treat bone diseases, such as osteoporosis .
• The signals that tell somatic stem cells when to stay dormant or when to divide, which are important for preventing cancer.
• The effect of diet and nutrient availability on the division of neural stem cells, using the fruit fly as a research organism .

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