Stem Cells

Stem cells. We've all heard the arguments about them. But just what is so important about these things? Aren't they just cells like any other?

No, stem cells are not like every other bodily cell. A stem cell is "an unspecialized cell that gives rise to differentiated cells stem cells in bone marrow>" (M-W). There are two general types of stem cells, embryonic and adult stem cells. They differ in their versatility. Embryonic stem cells are the more versatile of the two types; they develop from blastocytes. Embryonic stem cells can develop into any cell in the human body. Adult stem cells, found in adult tissues, are more specialized.

"Stem cells can be grown and transformed into specialized cells with characteristics consistent with cells of various tissues such as muscles or nerves through a cell culture." Because of this, they can be very useful to the medical field. Embryonic stem cells can be generated through therapeutic cloning (a topic which will be discussed later). Adult stem cells can be gathered from umbilical cords and bone marrow.

Stem cells, both adult and embryonic, have properties. The first property of stem cells is their ability to undergo several divisions while retaining their undefined state. The second is their potency. There are four levels of potency: totipotent, pluripotent, multipotent, and unipotent. Totipotent and pluripotent cells are the move variable of the four. Totipotent stem cells are formed when a sperm fertilizes an egg and the first few divisions. Pluripotent cells are slightly less variable, and can differentiate into cells derived from the germ layers (cells formed during embryogenesis, or formation). Multipotent cells can only produce cells within a certain family. For example, hematopoietic cells can differentiate into red and white blood cells and blood platelets. Finally, unipotent cells can only produce one type of cell but have a self-renewing property.

Stem cells have the potential to be extremely useful in the medical field. In fact, a number of adult stem cell treatments. A good example of these are bone marrow transplants, used to treat people afflicted by leukemia. But scientists and doctors hope to use stem cells to treat a wider variety of diseases, including Parkinson's Disease and muscle injuries. But there are a lot of issues surrounding the use of stem cells, issues which can be ironed out through debate and research.

There is quite a bit of controversy concerning stem cells and stem cell research. One of the main issues surrounding these cells is that starting a stem cell line requires the destruction of an embryo. That, or therapeutic cloning. However, there might be another way of creating embryonic stem cells. Opponents of stem cell research claim it to be another step toward reproductive cloning. Proponents cite the potential medical uses as reason enough to continue and expand stem cell research.

Do you, dear readers, have any thoughts on the matter? Based on the information provided, putting all moral issues aside, would you support stem cell research?

~Interminable Immediacy