Stem Cell Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Stem Cell Research - Essay Example ern, it is important to remember that stem cell research should not be used as just another tool in the long standing debate between science and religion. There are certainly plenty of other concerns in that genre. Stem cell research is a new and necessary technological advance that will help cure many previously incurable diseases and genetic defects. This research also adds more insight into the miracle that is this universe. The real debate here is between ethical principles that upon closer scrutiny may not be so far apart. What are stem cells? The general scientific definition is as follows, "Stem cells are self-renewing, non-differentiated cells with the ability to differentiate into a number of specialized phenotypes in response to appropriate signals." (Cai, Fu, & Sheng, 2007, p. 655) More simply stated, stem cells are the progenitor cells, the building blocks, of all the diverse cells in our bodies. Starting in the embryo, these cells are what scientist also call "undifferentiated." They have not yet begun the process of forming the myriad variety of differentiated cells that make up a human being. Skin cells, liver cells, kidney cells, etc. all start out as stem cells and then become differentiated into these individual types. This research has typically used embryos taken from fertility clinics before they are discarded. These embryos are allowed to continue to develop further until the stage when they form a hollow sphere called a blastocyst. The inner cell walls of this sphere have a small amount of stem cells attached to them. These cells are gently removed and harvested then placed in cultures with nurturing feeder cells. A protein rich broth is added and the cells begin to multiply. (Brown, 2007) These cells can then, hypothetically, be used to replace virtually any cell in the human body: Several human diseases result from the loss of specific types of cells. So far, medicines approach to treatment has been to replace the chemicals