
My research question is "How will stem cells in regenerative medicine change the world of medicine?" I am interested in the topic of stem cells and regenerative medicine because I am very interested in biology and especially cells. As a biology major I study cells a lot which is what regenerative medicine deals with. This research question does not affect me or my values at the moment, but it could affect everybody in the future if they were to need a new organ. My personal experience regarding this is that I am an organ donor, and if regenerative medicine is successful then there is a chance that organ donors will no longer be needed.  I am qualified to write about this because I have taken a lot of biology classes, so I would consider myself knowledgeable on the topic. I have also read many articles on the topic. 

This article is titled "Concerns about Stem Cells". Its central claim is that the society and scientists should not just accept this new technology. We need to contemplate the impact that this would have on society. It states that even though the benefits are enormous, the risks must be considered (Murnagham). This article states that stem cell therapy could pass on viruses or diseases from other animals. When a person receives an organ transplant normally they receive medication to wipe out their immune system. With stem cell therapy the patient would not receive this medication, which means if there are viruses in the stem cells then the person's immune system is vulnerable to those viruses. Also, animal sources could be used to provide nutrients for the cells. These animals could have diseases which would then be passed on to the cells.  It also advises that the cells could grow uncontrollably which would cause tumors, or the cells could turn into the wrong type of tissue (Murnagham).  This source is credible because it is a site strictly dedicated to information about stem cells. The author writes a lot on the topic of biology. The article was recently updated as well. The author does not have a degree in biology. This could flaw his credibility on this topic. 

My second source is titled "What's next for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine?" the central claim of this article is that regenerative medicine and stem cells are on the rise in medicine. The article explains that most of the trials back in 2013 involved treating congestive heart failure and regrowing the muscles of wounded soldiers (Gorman). It explains that the stem cells being used for regenerative medicine are pluripotent cells. These cells can become any specialized type of cell, but they cannot become new organisms on their own. Only embryonic stem cells can produce new organisms (Gorman). The author seems excited and optimistic for the future of stem cells. The article also includes the transcript of an interview.  This article is credible because it comes from a credible website. The author is credible to write about this topic because she studied global health at Harvard, and she also studied the nursing crisis in Malawi. 

My third source is titled "Creating Organs from Our Own Stem Cells". This article's major evidence is the history of regenerative medicine. Its claim is that the significant breakthroughs in regenerative medicine solve a lot of problems in medicine.  This article tells the story of a hobby store owner who chopped off the tip of his finger. The founder of regenerative medicine used EMC (a regenerative medication) on him, and his finger grew back. It also adds that doctors in Philadelphia have used lab grown bladders made from the patient's own cells (Lee). This article is credible because it comes from a respected heath care website. Fred Lee, the author, is very knowledgeable when it comes to health care, but he has no higher education in the health care field. 

My research question is arguable because regenerative medicine could change the medical world for the worse or the better. You could argue that either of these could happen. Some agreements in the sources I have found are that all of the sources seem optimistic about regenerative medicine. A disagreement is that the source titled "Concerns about Stem Cells" addresses what could go wrong with the medical advancement of stem cells. The different perspectives made me develop a more cautious approach to the advancement and use of stem cells. To revise my research question I would either broaden it so it could include all the possible outcomes to regenerative medicine, or I would make it more specific to one type of regenerative medicine. 

