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Stem Cell Research: For Better or for Worse?

For as long as humans exist, optimal health continues to remain vital for a
productive life. As new medical discoveries increase through generations,humans become healthier, therefore, their life expectancy rises. Stem cell
research, a relatively new field, investigates to improve and lengthen human
life. The possibility of stem cells todevelop prospering health makes them
beneficial to the human race.
Why do stem cell debates create such a large uproar? Stem cells posses the
potential to arise into hundreds of different cells in thebody- for this reason
stem cells are also referred to as undifferentiated cells. Stem cells’ value also
comes from their ability to “replicate many times, or proliferate” (“Stem Cell
Basics” 1).Scientists suggest stem cells acquire the capability to treat
debilitating immune complications such as: Alzheimer’s diseases, spinal cord
injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis,and rheumatoid
arthritis (“Stem Cell Basics” 1). Scientists obtain these dynamic cells from two
sources: embryos and adults.
Embryonic stem cells exist in three to five day-old embryos, also knownas
blastocysts, but to obtain this type of stem cell causes inevitable death of the
embryos (“Stem Cell Basics” 1). This causes concern in people, but scientists
aspire to use embryonic stem cellsbecause they are pluripotent- capable of
transforming into all types of body cells except for the placenta (Robertson
191). By conducting experiments using these versatile cells, scientists enhanceunderstanding about human development and advance treating illness and
disease. While utilizing embryonic stem cells, Hans R. Keirstead found “human

embryonic cells allow paralyzed rats topartially regain the ability to walk after
their spinal cords had been damaged” (Hall 21). Success with embryonic stem
cells in rats instills confidence that scientists can use stem cells to uncover...