Stem Cell Research

Paper Summary:

The paper examines the specialty of stem cells and explains how stem cell research offers a new ray of hope for millions of people affected by degenerative, genetic and other disorders. The paper outlines the ethical controversies involved in using embryonic stem cells and shows how more research has to be undertaken regarding its use. The paper also discusses, however, the successful therapy with umbilical cord stem cells and the success of induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSC). The paper believes that stem cell therapy could very well change the face of disease management and asserts that it will not be long before we can actualize IPSC technology, which would put to rest any remaining controversies.

Outline:
Introduction
Stem Cells
Sources of Stem cells and Ethics
Umbilical Cord Stem cells (New Developments)
Conclusions

From the Paper:

"The field of regenerative medicine has achieved great strides in the recent years. Particularly, the research on stem cells and the promising possibilities for several degenerative diseases, cardiovascular, and neurological conditions has created a paradigm shift in our medical perspective. Stem cells have the unique ability to differentiate into different types of cells based on the environment. This new field of research has however been marred by controversies pertaining to the ethics and the morality of doing research with human embryos. More recently though, medical focus has shifted towards another interesting and non-controversial possibility- that of umbilical cord blood stem cell research. This holds great promise and offers a whole new approach to management of diseases. Diseases such as leukemia, spinal injuries, diabetes, immunological disorders, stroke related neurological damage could now be effectively treated offering a new ray of hope for millions of patients. We are yet a long way from perfecting the technology and there are a lot of ethical controversies surrounding stem cell research. A brief overview of the issues related to stem cell research will help us better understand this controversial yet promising development in medical science."

Sample of Sources Used:

• The White House, 'Advancing Stem cell Science Without Destroying Human Life', Jan 9, 2007, Available online at, http://www.whitehouse.gov/dpc/stemcell/2007/stemcell_010907.pdf
• Maureen L Condic, 'What we Know About Embryonic Stem Cells', January 2007, First Things, Available Online at, http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=5420
• Jordan Lite, 'Spinal cord stem-cell trial could start soon, report says' , Scientific American, Oct 20, 2008, Available Online at, http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=spinal-cord-stem-cell-trial-could-s-2008-10-20
• JR Minkel, 'Human Embryonic Stem Cells Fix Stroke-Afflicted Rats', Scientific American, Feb 20, 2008, Available online at, http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=stem-cells-fix-stroke-afflicted-rats
• Hans S. Keirstead,1 Gabriel Nistor,1 et.al , 'Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Transplants Remyelinate and Restore Locomotion after Spinal Cord Injury', The Journal of Neuroscience, May 11, 2005, 25(19):4694-4705

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