An Academic Paper Explaining Into Details The Human Stem Cell (Coursework Sample)

Human stem cell
Institution
Name
Introduction to Biology, SC1120
Research project number, 25011100
December 19, 2016
Human Stem Cell
Human stem cells are defined as the undifferentiated cells from which other cells originate. These types of cells have the ability to undergo mutations even when under the artificial environment. The cells can divide indefinitely or can differentiate into other cell types. Stem cells have varying ability to differentiate. While some differentiate only into cells of certain tissues, others differentiate into many cell types. The grouping of the stem cells is determined by their ability to differentiate and also their origin. The stem cell with most capability to differentiate is the fertilized ovum, which is the origin of all available tissue types and the human body development. Other examples of stem cells like the embryonic, fetal and adult stem cells possess more limited ability to differentiate. The stem cells have unique properties hence their difference with other types of cells within the body. The stem cells in the body, regardless of their origin, have the ability to divide and renew themselves for longer periods, are unspecialized and can result into specialized cell types (Willmott, 2012). The stem cells can continuously divide and renew themselves for longer periods. They stem cells are very proliferative and able to replicate many times.
Human embryonic stem cells usually obtained from very early stages embryos, basically within 5-6 days of fertilization. Over the years, parents have been the source of stem cells. The process usually entails the isolation of cells from the embryo then it gives rise to one cell line which eventually produces an infinite cells numbers. The embryonic stem cells are donated in unused IVF embryos while other are created for the purpose mostly from donated eggs or sperm. Adult and fetal cells are isolated from specific tissues where they naturally exist in small numbers. On the other hand, the tissue stem cells are obtained from mature adult tissue like the bone marrow, muscles, and skin, from the fetus, placenta, many others (Willmott, 2012). Human stem cells are critical aspects of research as they provide the insightful understanding of how our bodies work and develop, to study disease at the many cellular levels as a way of drug discovery. In medical treatments, stem cells are useful in cell replacement therapies involving the transplant of cells to enable their integration with the body’s existing tissue. Moreover, the stem cells are also important as they release substances which promote the bodies self-repair. Stem cells have unique regenerative abilities hence offer promising potential for the treatment of many diseases like diabetes and heart disease (Tsien, 2006).
Juvenile diabetes is characterized by insulin insufficiency due to the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. These cells, however, could be produced from the stem cells and transferred to the patient hence curing the disorder. Stem cells are also invention in medicine useful in the treatment and study of Parkinson’s disease. Likewise, blood stem cells mostly from the placenta and the bone marrow are more often used to replace bone marrow cells that may have been destroyed by cancer treatment. The importance of stem cells therapy nevertheless is restricted by the body’s rejection of the foreign cells and tissues. When transplanting the cells into the body, structures present on the cell surface promote this rejection. Stem cell use during tissue and cell transplant is limited by donor and recipient compatibility. The unpredictability of the stem cells differentiation is also a contributing factor in restricting their therapeutic use (Thomson, et al., 1998). Since this feature is shared by the cancer cells, their use is therefore limited Other important uses of the stem cells include the regeneration of body parts and organs like the limbs, kidneys, liver, heart and much more. The said parts could be grown in Petri dishes before being attached to the recipient.
There are growing ethical concerns about the use of stem cells with widespread resistance to the process of extraction, application, and use of human embryonic stem cells. Faith-based organizations that believe on the principle that life begins at conception have registered their dissatisfaction of the stem cell use in the society, for example, the act of taking cells from the unborn baby. Even though scientists view that the embryo is not yet a baby and does not possess life characteristics, ethically moral concerns still arise from this whole concept. Another ethical concern raised by the churches surrounding human stem cells use is the playing of God since the process involves the creation of body parts for human use. Consequently, the practice of stem cell use is faced with the looming threat of cloning humans which is a significant threat to human national security based on the hands it may get into (National Bioethics Advisory Commission, 1999). The ethical and legal debates revolve around the time an embryo gains personhood. The act of patenting life is also a gruesome ethical challenge as question over the morality behind applying intellectual property rights on anything representing life forms rather than the technology used to carry out the stem cell research
Even though the novel medical technology involving stem cells are very expensive, evidence and history have shown that these innovations usually get cheaper as the scale of their use increases. For example, bone marrow transplantation was a very expensive adventure at inception but is currently affordable worldwide. Therefore the widespread use of stem cell interventions will rapidly lower the cost of these procedures due to advancement in the efficiency of manufacturing processes and also the expiry of patents. Over the years major research in healthcare and clinical research have resulted in ways of controlling diseases rather than curing and preventing them. The human stem cell debate provides us with the opportunity as researchers to revert our focus on the prevention and curing diseases as our broader and significant healthcare strategy (Stem Cells, 2010).
In conclusion, despite of the dri...