Stem Cell Research and its Unpredictable Future

By: Toshani Barama

Stem cell research has been top priority in investigation for scientists for a long time. Its unique characteristics and its wide scale applicancy allows it to be one of the world’s fastest growing economies – yes economy. As stem cells proved to be useful in a variety of fields such as medicine and the food industry, it is almost certain that it is going to be a huge part in the market. Especially in California, the current leader in stem cell research. While stem cells prove to be a steady investor for billionaires, curing disease and improving health care is the least of our concerns. Actually, the promise of economic growth is one of the reasons stem cell research is well funded by the government. Adding to its medical beauty, it’s sure to create a major impact in our economy and radically improve current treatments.

Stem cell research was first proposed by two scientists, Martin Evans and Gail Martin, who conducted separate studies to derive pluripotent stem cells from mice in 1981. Pluripotent stem cells are cells that have the capacity to self-renew by dividing and and developing into the three primary germ cell layers of the early embryo and eventually all the cells in the adult body. These cells are known to be the first embryonic stem cells to be isolated. In stem cell transplant, stem cells are used to replace cells that may have been damaged by chemotherapy. Stem cells are the body’s raw materials, and under the right conditions, they can divide to become daughter cells. These daughter cells can either become new stem cells (self-renewal), or specialize (differenciation). Cells that differentiate have a more specific function, such as brain cells, blood cells, heart muscles cells or bone cells. No other cell in the body has the natural ability to generate into new cell types.

Stem cell research is also known as regenerative medicine. Because they can repair damaged tissue and replace injured cells, the next chapter is using stem cells in organ transplants instead of donor organs, as those are limited in supply. For example, if someone has a heart disease, instead of getting a transplant, stem cells would be injected into the heart and they would work to try to restore function. Research has shown that adult bone marrow cells can be guided to become heart-like cells and repair heart tissue. Even though this type of research is still developing, a form of stem cell therapy has already been used in hospitals. Doctors have performed stem cell transplants for cancer and blood-related diseases like lukemia and lymphoma. The stem cells would repair tissues and cells hurt by chemotherapy. Researchers are still testing stem cells in larger transplants like degenerative diseases, as there may be many potential problems with stem cell transplants.

For embryonic stem cells to be used by someone, the doctor must be sure that the stem cells will differentiate into the type of cell that is required. Embryonic stem cells can grow irregularly or specialize in different cell types spontaneously. They may also trigger an immune response and the recipient may attack the cells as foreign bodies. The stem cells may just fail to function. Additionally, there is known to be risks for the female donor while attaining the embryonic cells. Even so, we simply don’t have the technology yet to further research and culture stem cells in large quantities. A majority of clinical trials proved that stem cell transplant has many side effects and was only FDA approved in knees last year. Additionally, human research with experimental therapies are known to have many health risks. Adding to health risks, there is an ethical concern regarding stem cell research in the community as well.

Stem cells have been a matter of political and ethical controversy for a long time. The destroying of human embryos posed a series of debates – when does human life start? Destroying embryos and abortion are closely linked to the disagreement of when human life starts, before or at the birth of the embryo. Those against embryonic stem cell use believe that it is immoral and unethical to destroy one life to save another. Destroying an embryo is considered to be the same thing as killing someone, regardless if the egg is developed yet. All the methods to extract stem cells all require the destruction of an egg. Ocyte harvesting holds safety concerns to the donors. There is also concern on the fact that there is commercialization of the process and research conduct. It should be kept in mind that stem cell research is an area where there is a high amount of scientific excitement. There are a lot of counterarguments in this area of progressive research against the ethical concerns. The counterarguments include the scientfific and many health benefits of stem cell research.

Despite having many side effects and ethical concerns, stem cells are still in our foreseeable future. Stem cells are less likely to be rejected. They have also been involved in somatic cell transfer and cloning. A wide range of diseases can be treated with stem cells including, Alzheimers, Parkinson’s, type 1 Diabetes, and other neurological and physical injuries. Theoretically, stem cells seem to be the answer to every possible disorder ever! Adding to that, stem cells can even be used in therapeutic cloning. Therapeutic cloning is also known as somatic cell transfer, a technique used to create stem cells independent of fertalized eggs. In this technique, the nucleus is removed from a unfertalized egg and removed from the cell of a donor. The donor nucleus is injected into the egg in which the other nucleus was removed. The egg divides and forms a blasocyt. This essentially creates stem cells genetically identical to the donor cell – a clone. Therapeutic cloning may allow doctors to see how diseases progress. This type of cloning however, hasn’t been successful in humans, despite success in other species such as sheep. Research is still ongoing on cloning.

Even though many are hesitant about stem cells, the government knows that stem cells are going to be a major part of our economy. From stocks to clinical trials, these microscopic jewels will be valuable and highly sought after. Because stem cells have the potential to treat chronic illnesses, health care costs will lower and treatment will be more accessible. Alzheimers and diabetes are known to wipe funds dry, but with stem cells they are sure to go down. They can spur economic growth, which seem to be something the economy needs right now. With a projective market of $500 billion by the end of 2020, states are right to fund these economic programs. However, this is the short-term payoff while looking at 10 years more of trials. Stem cells might not even reach the market and if it does, doctors are not sure with how much it can be applicable or affordable. Scientists are not even sure patients are comfortable with stem cell therapy. Even so, the economic climate is too risky right now to release something like this but with a deadly pandemic locking the country, stem cells may be our only hope.

Even though stem cells are ethically controversial right now, stem cell research has the potential to treat diseases that are currently burdened with high healthcare costs. Introducing stem cells into the market can make healthcare affordable for many who don’t receive good care. Stem cells are the future or organ transplants and body system repairs. They will introduce new medications and new safer treatments despite possible negative consequences. Stem cells will even help the food industry with cloning. Even though stem cells won’t cure large chronic illnesses, they will improve the quality and length of life for millions of people. For now, the future of stem cells is unseeable, but definitely not unreachable.

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