LaPoint 1

Caleb LaPoint
Mrs.DeBock
English 4
1 March 2016
Application of Embryotic and Adult Stem Cell
Embryotic and adult stem cells are an up and coming science, offering new and improved
way of medical treatments. This science is a huge topic right now and can be used in many
different medical ways. These cells can be altered to not only replicate, but also replace damaged
or non-existent specialized cells. This underdeveloped science is having a rough time being
funded and looked at by major research companies. This science can lead to benefiting patients
with severe neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers, while also being
used to replace tissues and even limbs.
The possibilities of stem cells are shown in the science and properties of these cells. The
article Stem Cells: An Overview, shows the uses of adult stem cells and embryotic cells, as
well as the differences these two cells have. An embryotic cell is a totipotent cell that has
unlimited uses when it comes to regenerating cells and contains all the material necessary for
the development of a complex human being (Stem Cells: An Overview). This quote for the
article really shows the power of an embryotic cell. This complex blastocyst has the ability to
become any cell in the human body. The uses of the cell, if applied correctly, could solve many
medical issues of today. The other stem cells, called adult stem cells, are found in matured organs
and tissues. This pluripotent cell may not have the ability to become any cell in the human body,
but may help replenish some of the bodys cells when needed (Stem Cells: An Overview).

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This cell is being used today in bone-marrow transplants, meaning that we already are starting to
use stem cells to help patients. Further research and funding of this science could really help
progress the understanding of these cells, which may lead to the curing of neurodegenerative
diseases or even generating new limbs.
Understanding the basics of this science and how versatile and flexible these cells really
are will help show people the application this science has to offer. This medical breakthrough
could potentially be used to cure diseases that affect millions of Americans including multiple
sclerosis, diabetes and stroke, as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsons and
Alzheimers disease (Lee and Griswold). Since embryotic stem cells have the ability to become
any cell they could be harnessed and used to counteract the depletion of dopamine by generating
their own dopamine and regenerating it just as fast as or even faster than the dying dopamine
cells. Knowing this, they could be used to heal spinal injuries as well as heart diseases. Although
this field is still being newly discovered, there is a very promising area of stem cell research
occurring to develop therapies to replace diseased, damaged, or lost cells with healthy cell (Lee
and Griswold). Adult stem cells are the origin for many cancers. This rapidly dividing cell can
have a mutation in it causing for uncontrollable cell division. Researchers today are looking in to
replacing cancerous adult stem cells with new healthy stem cells to eliminate cancer and give
growth to new health cells. Although this science sounds great and progressive for the
advancement in the medical field, there are some ethical problems that surround this
advancement.
This promising science and new way of helping humans still has some setbacks. Ethical
issues have been a problem with this science since day one. The large donations of oocytes will
be necessary to create cloned embryonic stem cells genetically matched to patients (Preface to

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What Ethical and Moral Questions Surround Stem Cell Research). Many people believe that
destroying an embryo is wrong and the pain from the surgery is horrible. Scientist receive
thousands of egg donations. Over a three year period this scientist used hundreds of eggs and
was still unsuccessful. The side effects from donating an oocyte can be dangerous and hormone
injections prior to donating are unnatural to the female menstrual cycle. With all this surgery and
women going through countless procedures brings up a question. Is it unethical to pay women
who donate egg cells for stem cell research, or is it unethical to not pay them? (What Ethical
and Moral Questions Surround Stem Cell Research). People believe it is wrong to offer
compensation to women who donate their egg, because it creates a financial invective for
economically venerable women. They are vulnerable and may expose themselves to potential
risk they know nothing about. Others argue that because of the time, risk, and discomfort of
donating an egg that it would be unethical not to pay them for donating to stem cell research. All
these ethical issues may be a problem, but the reward for minor compensation and the donations
of re-growing embryos is worth the huge reward and the progression of this medical science.
The death of millions from many diseases that could be cured or stopped by this medical
procedure, is worth the donations of sperm and embryos.
The research of embryotic and adult stem cell research is very important to a huge
advancement in medical science, the idea of curing two major diseases such as Parkinsons and
Alzheimers and even growing back specialized cells is a promising advancement. Knowing and
understanding this science and how it can be applied to the medical field is very important to
getting publicity towards the science. Donations and the curiosity of research facilities is ideal to
expanding our understanding of this topic. Bringing up ethical issues is also very important to
show the risk and time this discovery has around it.

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Works Cited
"Preface to 'What Ethical and Moral Questions Surround Stem Cell Research?'." Stem Cells. Ed.
Jacqueline Langwith. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 3

Mar. 2016

Lee, M., and Ann Griswold. Point: Stem Cell Research Provides Cures For Diseases. Points of
View: Stem Cell Research (2015): 2. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 18 Feb.
2016
"Stem Cells: An Overview." Understanding Stem Cells: An Overview of the Science and Issues.
Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2004. Rpt. in Embryonic and Adult Stem
Cells. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. At Issue.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.