Many of us know that the centre of the debate of the Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research revolves around embryonic stem cells and whether or not using them is morally appropriate. But, are politics and the media hiding the real potential of its brother Adult Stem Cell Research? Ultimately, the real question is whether or not Adult Stem Cells have as many capabilities as Embryonic Stem Cells. For many years the stem cell debate was fuelled by the embryonic stem cell advocates saying that Adult Stem Cells weren’t really capable of turning into other types of cells (which is the real benefit of stem cell research) and were therefore limited in what they could become. You might be surprised at the new developments in Adult Stem Cell Research.
It should be noted
that more money is given to Adult Stem Cell Research (the NIH gave $190 Million
compared to the $24.8 million given for Embryonic Stem Cells). We hear all the
time, from advocates such as Michael J. Fox, that Embryonic Stem Cells are the
real future in stem cell research and that the promising research is done in
the field. But, what many of the Adult Stem Cell critics are missing is that
Adult Stem Cells have been used in many treatments 72 adult stem cell
treatments have been performed, while 0 have been performed from Embryonic Stem
Cells. These same Adult stem cells are used in bone-marrow transplants and even
treat certain cases of leukaemia and other blood disorders. There are also
treatments being made for heart attacks, liver, bone and brain diseases and
disorders. Adult Stem Cells can also be derived from many places such as
Umbilical Cord Blood, Hair Follicles, Skin Cells, and several others.
“Osiris, which grew
out of research by scientists at Case Western University in Cleveland, is using
stem cells from bone-marrow donors to target, among other maladies, heart
disease, specifically heart attacks. It is in early-stage human testing of a
therapy in which heart-attack patients are intravenously injected with stem
cells that are said to migrate to the heart and replace damaged cells.” - The
Washington Post
John Hopkins
University Professor, Saul J. Sharkis, who has mad advances in Adult Stem Cell
Research, was very surprised at what has been accomplished in Adult Stem Cell
Research. He says, “It is mind-blowing stuff,” and “I never would have thought
this would be possible … Preposterous. Not Possible. No Way.”
Obviously, many in
the scientific community are excited and surprised by these findings. If this
really is the answer, it could be the end to the debate over the Pros and Cons
of Stem Cell Research as we know it. It is definitely an exciting possibility
that has already yielded some great successes.
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