Dale Parsons

Lynn Taylor
English 1010
April 25 2016
Classical Argument
In the year 2013 584,881 people died from cancer, 75,578 died from Diabetes, and
84,767 died from Alzheimers. In total 745,226 people died from these diseases in the year 2013.
These shocking numbers should motivate us to find any possible cures for these illnesses. Stem
cell research has shown great promise in the ability not only to help fight against these illnesses,
but also to cure them permanently. Along with the possibilities to cure Alzheimers, cancer, or
diabetes. Stem cell use could help with other disabilities such as blindness, spinal cord injuries,
and even limb regeneration. So why wouldnt we continue to expand our research with stem
cells.
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can divide and have the ability to develop into
different types of cells(Zneimer). There are two types of stem cells, which are embryonic and
somatic(also known as adult). The major difference between these two types of stem cells is that
embryonic stem cells hold the ability to become any type of cell in the body and Somatic cells
are stem cells that are used to regenerate cells in specific areas of the body(Zneimer). The
discovery of stem cells occurred in 1981, but it wasnt until 1998 that scientist discovered the
ability to derive stem cells from human embryos.(Zneimer) The ability to derive stem cells from
human embryos not only opened up the possibilities to help regenerate damaged cells in the
body, but it also created the ability to replace any that have been damaged or destroyed. Soon
after this discovery came the public question on whether it would be ethical to use human

embryos because after all they could still be considered human. Some object to stem cell
research on the basis that it involves the elimination of the most basic for of human lifeleading
it to become part of the right to life debate (Masci). The continued research of stem cell use has
faced many challenges including the ban of funding to generate new stem cell lines was passed
in 2001 by President George W. Bush. Stem Cell research has also received much support from
individuals who see the great potential it such as Michael J Fox. In 2009 President Obama lifted
the ban on generating new stem cell lines which created the opportunity to receive government
funds for the research. With the increased interest in stem cell research comes the question of is
the destruction of potential life acceptable if it contains the ability to fully maximize anothers
life that is being cut short or hampered.
Type 1 and 2 Diabetes are the most common serious metabolic disease that have spread
all over the world, and the number of people with diabetes has continued to grow in recent
years.(Fujimaki) Diabetes is characterized by the bodies inability to produce any or enough
insulin in order to control the glucose levels in the blood(Fujimaki). With the increase of
glucose in the blood levels Diabetes has a very negative secondary affect on the organs around
the body such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, brain, etc.(Fujimaki) Pancreatic Stem cells have
become a potential cure for Diabetes in the ability to replace the insulin producing
cells.(Fujimaki) In 2014 mice received mature beta insulin producing cell transplants and it was
able to rapidly reverse diabetes in them(Rezania). The tests on the mice have given the
possibility for the use of pancreatic stem cell transplants in humans. One of the few problems
that this treatment faces is that patients who receive it have to take medications to keep the body
from rejecting the transplanted cells.(Rezania) Although medication is a solution to keeping the
body from attacking/rejecting the transplanted cells; it also increases the ability for other

illnesses to attack the body such as cancer.(Rezania) With a little bit more research stem cells
will soon be able to be used to help cure diabetes.
Alzheimers is a progressive form of dementia that is caused by degeneration of the
brain. It involves the loss of interpretation of sensory, apraxia, the ability to understand the
meaning or use of things, inability to arrange words in a meaningful way.(Martone) The
neurodegenerative disorder eventually leads to death and has become a lot more prominent in our
society. Stem Cell transplantation has offered the possibility of treating and even curing
Alzheimers Disease. In 2015 Haiyan and group of researchers began to experiment upon rats in
search of possible cures for Alzheimers disease. In the test Haiyan randomly divided the rats
into six groups: control, vehicle, model, DH, uninduced NSCs(Neural Stem Cells) transplants
(TP), and ASI(Astragaloside IV which a small molecular saponin that has shown to help axonal
regeneration and reconstruction of neuronal synapses) induced NSCs transplants. During the
course of the tests the rats that had received the Neural Stem Cell transplants began to show
improvements of memory over the other groups. Interestingly enough the group that received
the Neural Stem Cell transplants and were induced with ASI began to show the greatest amount
of spatial learning and memory improvement. These results demonstrate how stem cell research
can be used to help improve treatments for diseases such as Alzheimers. This is seen in the use
of ASI(Astragaloside IV) to induce transplanted Neural Stem Cells. The information learned in
these tests is the start not only for stem cell transplants to help fight against Alzheimers by
increasing learning and memory, but also presents the possibility of curing it.
The possibilities of stem cells are infinite and many scientists have begun to perform
stem cell transplants in patients who suffer from Spinal Cord injuries. There have been multiple

instances in which people who have suffered a spinal cord injury have received HESCT (Human
Embryonic Stem Cell Transplants) to help repair the spinal cord. In 2008 a patient who had
received a major neck injury in 1994 under went HESCT in the effort to give him not only
sensation in his limbs, but hopefully the ability to gain control over them too.(Schroff) After
receiving the transplant the patient weaned off his ventilator and was able to remain away
from ventilator for up to 12 hours. He was able to move his neck freely, shrug shoul- ders and
showed movement of his arms and hands. His sitting balance also improved significantly. He
could stand with chest and Hip Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis (HKAFO) and with support. His deep
sensation was increased up to the abdomen.(Schroff) Another patient in the year 2010
underwent the same HESCT procedure and was met with similar positive results. The patient
was a 36-year-old female who had been involved in an accident that caused her to lose
movement in her 4 limbs and also bladder control. After receiving HESCT
the patient showed improvement in UL muscle strength, contraction of B/L hips and
knees, muscle wasting and improvement in posture with good sitting balance. The patient
had developed good stand- ing balance with calipers, good grasping with Rt hand, good
thumb movement in both hands and good pinch and release. She was able to write, make
a near normal fist, developed sen- sation till B/L knees and at sole of foot, appreciable
extension in both knees; could stand for long duration and even take steps with KAFO
caliper and binder. The patient also showed improvement in bladder sensation (can hold
the speed of void- ing) and bowel sensation (pushes while passing motions). She was able
to crawl independently and also able to stand from a sitting position while holding onto
bars.

Detractors of stem cell research claim that scientist researching stem cells are make false
claims, which has the potential to damage the Health Industries reputation. They imply that
many of the findings from the studies done on stem cells is over exaggerated and
falsified.(Masci) In doing so they make the mistake in brushing over the fact that there are
instances that stem cells have helped cure illnesses in people and not just animal subjects. One
great example of this can be found in the curing of HIV through Hematopoietic stem cell
transplantation (HSCT). In 2009 it was reported that an individual had been cured from HIV and
7 years later the patient still remained free of detectable HIV(Smiley). Although they have not
yet been able to fully duplicate this result, it shows that curation of HIV is more than possible.
With continued research the possibility of duplicating this patients results along with the
potential of curing other illnesses is more than enough reason to be hopeful through stem cell
research.
Another point of attack for those against the continuation of stem cell research is the
ethics on stem cells. Many have begun to argue and claim that human life begins at conception
or when the egg is fertilized by stem cell.(masci) In believing that life starts at this time period
calls into question the use of stem cells and even makes the bold assumption that using these
stem cells is equivalent to murder(masci). These are bold claims and have been used in an
attempt to draw public empathy for the lifeless cells. Though stem cells may at one point had the
potential to become human beings they now are being stored in laboratories and are doomed to
either be used or go to waste. Supporters of stem cell research have compared stem cells to

apple seeds in the fact that although they both contain the potential to become something more
the fact is they are not the same thing as a human being or an apple.(Ponnuro)
Stem Cell Research may not have all the answers to curing the vast amount of illnesses
that affect our daily lives. But Stem Cells provide the hope for a brighter tomorrow in its ability
to cure illnesses and its ability to create a better quality of life for those that are inflicted by a
serious illness or disability. There may be set backs in the research requiring additional studies,
but the fact remains. The endless amount of possibilities offered by stem cell use far out weigh
the desired discontinuance of stem cell research from pseudo ethical barriers.

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