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| Picture 2: Differentiated cells |
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| Picture 1: Stem cell |
There are two types of stem cells. Embryonic stem cell (ES) and adult stem cell. Adult stem cell have the ability to differentiate into only some cells while ES can differentiate into any cell. Because some people think it is unethical extracting ES, scientist are also trying to reprogram adult stem cell in order for them to develop ES characteristics. They are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC).
Stem cells can also be put in two categories depending on their ability for self-renewal (maintaining undifferentiated) or potency (ability to differentiate).
Animals stem cells can help the animal regenerate lost body parts but in humans it can only heal injuries. Human adult stem cells have less potential to differentiate than animal stem cells. Because of that scientist are trying to activate stem cells in human body and make them increase their potential to differentiate so they are able to make cells they were not able to make before.
Stem cells are being used in medicine for treating lots of diseases. One of them is sickle cell disease (SCD). It is an inheritable disease in which the hemoglobin in red blood cells is not functioning properly. Defective hemoglobin causes red blood cells to become stiff, sticky and sticky-shaped which causes vessel clothing and the transfer of oxygen to that part of the body as shown in picture 3, which later on causes severe pain, organ failure and even stroke. The only known treatment of this disease is through use of adult stem cells that are being transplanted through bone marrow. Donors bone marrow is being extracted to obtain stem cells which are then induced through blood into the infected patient. Stem cell slowly travel to bone marrow where they settle and start producing healthy red blood cells. The treatment success rate is 87 per cent by research conducted by National Institute of Health (NIH).
Another way to treat SCD is by usage of iPSC which is not allowed in most of the countries of the world because they still haven't been fully tested.
Animals stem cells can help the animal regenerate lost body parts but in humans it can only heal injuries. Human adult stem cells have less potential to differentiate than animal stem cells. Because of that scientist are trying to activate stem cells in human body and make them increase their potential to differentiate so they are able to make cells they were not able to make before.
Stem cells are being used in medicine for treating lots of diseases. One of them is sickle cell disease (SCD). It is an inheritable disease in which the hemoglobin in red blood cells is not functioning properly. Defective hemoglobin causes red blood cells to become stiff, sticky and sticky-shaped which causes vessel clothing and the transfer of oxygen to that part of the body as shown in picture 3, which later on causes severe pain, organ failure and even stroke. The only known treatment of this disease is through use of adult stem cells that are being transplanted through bone marrow. Donors bone marrow is being extracted to obtain stem cells which are then induced through blood into the infected patient. Stem cell slowly travel to bone marrow where they settle and start producing healthy red blood cells. The treatment success rate is 87 per cent by research conducted by National Institute of Health (NIH).
Another way to treat SCD is by usage of iPSC which is not allowed in most of the countries of the world because they still haven't been fully tested.
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| Picture 3: Sickle Cell Disease |
Every human has been created from stem cells. After sperm and egg meet they develop a kind of stem cell that has the potential to grow into a human being. First few divisions every stem cell has the same potential but as the process continues, but as the process continues cells loose that potential and start to differentiate. In the first week cells form a blastocyst (Picture 4). Blasocyst contains an outer lair (placenta) and an inner lair (cell mass). Extracted cell mass is used in treatments because those are undifferentiated stem cell which can form any type of cell.
Ethical consideration of cell therapy regard destroying a potential human life. Even thou that it only has the POTENTIAL to become a human people argue that it is unethical because the embryo in that state has same right as any human being. Most countries are not allowing ES research because it is unethical. but some countries allow it because they believe that embryo in that state does not have the same rights as a human being. They are founding the research but demand consents from donors. I think that stem cell research should be founded in more countries because it can help in couring diseases. If people give consent scientist should be able to do research with their stem cells. Another ethical issue is that stem cell is dangerous for human life. At Stanford Medicine scientist have found that some cancer cells act as stem cell. Some say that cancer cells are uncontrolled stem cells. This makes stem cell transplant dangerous because it is indefinite if the stem cells in another person body will be controlled meaning they can become cancerous cells. Yes, it could be dangerous but sometimes it is peoples only way of treating certain diseases so i do not think it should rise an ethical consideration.
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| Picture 4: Blastocyst |
Ethical consideration of cell therapy regard destroying a potential human life. Even thou that it only has the POTENTIAL to become a human people argue that it is unethical because the embryo in that state has same right as any human being. Most countries are not allowing ES research because it is unethical. but some countries allow it because they believe that embryo in that state does not have the same rights as a human being. They are founding the research but demand consents from donors. I think that stem cell research should be founded in more countries because it can help in couring diseases. If people give consent scientist should be able to do research with their stem cells. Another ethical issue is that stem cell is dangerous for human life. At Stanford Medicine scientist have found that some cancer cells act as stem cell. Some say that cancer cells are uncontrolled stem cells. This makes stem cell transplant dangerous because it is indefinite if the stem cells in another person body will be controlled meaning they can become cancerous cells. Yes, it could be dangerous but sometimes it is peoples only way of treating certain diseases so i do not think it should rise an ethical consideration.
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ReplyDeleteEBI: expanded on your picture captions
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ReplyDeleteEBI: Say more in your picture captions and include a quote
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