What Are Stem Cells?



Embryonic Stem Cells



Stem cells are cells that can become almost any type of cell in the body during early development. Stem cells can also cure most diseased cells in human anatomy. When a stem cell divides, the two new stem cells have the ability to become an other type of cell to replace any cells that can not work properly anymore. Scientists' main source of stem cells comes from embryos and human adults (birth to death). These are called embryonic stem cells, which are the cells of a human or animal fetus, or "somatic" or "adult" stem cells, which are non-embryonic. Problems arise when human embryos or fetuses are eliminated for stem cell study. The problem of moral rights and pro-life comes into play with embryonic stem cells when a potential life needs to be exterminated in order for research to continue and the cells to be used. On the other point of view, stem cells can be used for treating diseases and curing diseased cells with other stem cells besides embryonic. As shown in the picture below, 58%,the majority of people are pro-embryonic stem cell research while 31% are anti-embryonic stem cell research. The idea of stem cells came about almost 55 years ago and has been studied upon and argued about ever since. New studies will continue to grow in the future as well.





Americans favor embryonic stem cell research















human development

Citations

Stem Cell Basics: Introduction . In Stem Cell Information [World Wide Web site]. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009 [cited Sunday, January 09, 2011]

ProQuest Staff. "At Issue: Stem Cells." ProQuest LLC. 2010: n.pag. SIRS Researcher. Web. 09 Jan 2011.

, . "Letter to the Editor - Embryonic Stem Cell Research: The Misunderstood Marvel" The Journal of Young Investigators 14.1 (2006) retrieved 10 January 2011

  

Google Images (3 photographs)