Stem cell treatment and research is a new frontier in medicine. It offers possible advancement in treatment for many terminal diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, cancer, spinal injuries, birth defects, burns and many more. The research involves using pluripotent [currently just embryonic] stem cells, which are cells that have the potential to differentiate into one of many different types of cells in the body. These cells would be grown, differentiated, and then used to replace damaged or injured cells in the subject.
There are two types of stems cells: multipotent and pluripotent. Multipotent stem cells are adult cells that can only grow into a limited variety of differentiated cells. Currently, the only clinical use of adult stem cells is for bone marrow, or “blood-forming stem cells”. Pulripotent cells, on the other hand, are stem cells that have the ability to differentiate into any type of human cell. Embryonic cells are the cells that have been previously labeled and researched because of their pluripotency. These are cells obtained from embryoes that have the ability to evolve into any type of human cell. New advancements have been made in altering adult stem cells to mimic the qualities of pluripotent stem cells. This discovery could do away with the debate regarding embryos being used in stem cell research.
The 2008 election provided a change in administration that also opened a new window of opportunity for the advancement of stem cell research. During the Bush Administration two similar bills, The Enhancement of Stem Cell Research of 2005 and 2007, were passed through both houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives, only to later be vetoed by the president. The Obama Administration publicly supports the enrichment of Stem Cell Research which allows advocates an opportunity to change or progress the current legislation.
H.R. 877 The Patient’s First Act of 2009 is a proposed amendment to the Public Health Service Act that requires the Health and Human Services to support and conduct stem cell research, including research involving human pulripotent, (embryonic) stem cells.
Supporters of the proposed House of Representative bill see the ability for possible medical advancement in diseases that have otherwise been deemed incurable. Some people that oppose the bill feel that it is opening up ‘Pandora’s Box’, and could one day lead to genetically engineering humans. Other “Pro-life” opposition, claim that life is achieved at conception and that the embryos providing the stem cells should have human rights.
The advancement in medicine that Stem Cell research could accomplish is without a doubt a positive aspect of this bill. Incurable diseases or disorders that we have been working so hard to raise enough money for research to work towards finding a cure may potentially be cured through Stem Cell Research. The only issue with Stem Cell Research that I forsee is the ongoing ethical debate. It is going to be a question of what is "too far" for this type of research. Therefore, I feel that society will want a clear line of division of what is appropriate and what is not appropriate in this research. I agree that this type of research does have the potential to "get out of hand" in the future.
ReplyDeleteTwo major ethical issues arise with discussion of stem cell research. Obama has addressed some of these concerns and pushed to have the research conducted in a manner that eliminates as much disagreement as possible while still allowing for the resources needed for advancement.
ReplyDeleteObama has made it clear that they must first develop strict guidelines that are rigorously enforced because we will not tolerate misuse or abuse, as well as provide strict oversight to avoid perils. He also said that there will be no research supported involving the use of genetic cloning or reproduction, we are solely using it for the purpose of health promotion.
Hopefully with the advancements in research, we will also be able to eliminate the need to use embryonic stem cells. Please read our post dated 10.21.09 for more on the discussion of ethical dilemmas.