Stem cells are an important part of current and developing technologies in the medical field. They can be used for genetic engineering and tissue research to help cure diseases, create new medical technologies, and advance current medical treatments. While there are downfalls to the use of stem cells, the benefits far exceed the cons and scientists are trying to find ways to reduce the ethical dilemmas involved.

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can be used throughout the human and body and in medical technologies. “Stem cells are distinguished from other cell types by two important characteristics” which are their ability to divide by cell division and their ability to be turned on and off so that they can function as other differentiated cells. They are characterized by their ability to divide by cell division and to turn on and off as differentiated cells. Stem cells first emerged in the early 1980s when “scientists discovered ways to derive embryonic stem cells from early mouse embryos”. From this initial discovery, scientists have been able to derive stem cells from human embryos and grow them in the laboratory. Prior to the discovery of stem cells, doctors and scientists had to create cells in the laboratory or use the cells of previous patients. An example of this is HeLa cells, which is a documented story that came to light in 2010. Cancer cells were derived from a patient and used for research and continue to be used for cell research. This is important when regarding stem cells mainly for the role stem cells play in cancer treatment (Skloot). In addition to embryonic stem cells, there are also adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are those that can be derived from an early blastocyst, which is an early stage of an embryo. Adult stem cells are stem cells that already exist within the human body. These cells exist so that when cells die and need to be regenerated they are available, however stem cells for one organ cannot function as a stem cell for a different organ (TedxTalks). For this reason, induced pluripotent stem cells exist. Induced pluripotent stem cells (IPs) are adult stem cells that are removed from the body and turned off. Scientists then alter the genetic make-up of the cell to function as a different specialized cell. Once turned back on, the cell will function how it was programmed to and can be inserted into the body. 

Stem cells can be used for a growing range of medical purposes. Currently, stem cells can be used for tissue engineering, drug testing, and cell-based therapies. This is due to stem cells having the ability to differentiate into tissue and organ cells and the fact that they can be found in the body, so they are able to be tested on without the risks of testing on humans and animals. In addition to these uses, stem cells are currently being used for bone marrow transplants, skin tissue, cancer research and treatment, and insulin for diabetes, and GMOs. Currently, the FDA has approved stem cells for cancer research and bone marrow transplants. Stem cells can be used for burns and healing and creating skin graft like treatments (EuroStemCell). In relation to diabetes, stem cells can be used to make insulin producing cells so that insulin supplements/ injections would not be needed. Other benefits of stem cells include reduced animal testing, improved models for testing, and scientists being able to better understand complex diseases (EuroStemCell). 

Stem cells are an expanding technology that can be utilized in different ways in the future. Future research projects include 3-D printing and working with neurological signals to repair brain and spine problems. Additionally, stem cells could possibly be used for designer babies in the future. In a recent TedxTalks, Dr. Crystal Ruff explained current stem cell research projects including using stem cells and monitoring neurological signals to see if patients with Cerebral Palsy (CP) can be treated. In addition to people affected by CP, Ruff discussed the possibility of stem cells aiding in the treatments of children affected by brain injuries and adults afflicted with spinal cord injuries. Scientists are looking into using stem cells for 3-D printing so that model systems can be developed and researched. The 3-D printing would be created using bio-gels that involves stem cells (TedxTalks). Designer babies are a possibility of the future, yet H. Biggs, author of “Designer babies: where should we draw the line?”, believes that there is not enough funding nor enough interest in the technology to continue expanding. 

Although stem cells are beneficial to medical research and technologies, there are people who believe that stem cells are bad. Some believe there are too many negative aspects of stem cells so we should not continue stem cell research. These negative aspects include religious dilemmas, ethical implications, and misinformation about stem cells and FDA regulations. It is also easy to relate stem cells to technologies such as GMOs that can be viewed as a bad thing. Terminating stem research would also mean stopping the use of medical technologies and therapies that require stem cells. As discussed before, stem cell technologies can be used for cancer research and drug testing and more. In regard to regulation of stem cells, people point out how there is a lack of total regulation and the fact that companies can sell illegal stem cell interventions (Scutti). However, the FDA does have some regulations in place, but there is not enough trials for the FDA to go off of and be able to create regulations on. Stemming from this is the problem that stem cell trials are not funded properly and research cannot continue without funding and participation. The FDA does need stronger regulations regarding stem cells, but most people have not been informed of laws regarding stem cells and it is a company’s fault for misinforming consumers regarding health concerns and possible risks of the use of stem cells. If the FDA creates stronger regulations and the public is more informed about stem cells, then there would be less incidences involving the illegal selling of stem cells. Regarding the ethical and religious dilemma of embryonic stem cells, adult somatic cells were discovered after embryonic stem cells and have not been tested as much. Current research is being conducted to conclude if embryonic stem cells are more effective than adult stem cells. A benefit to adult stem cells is the fact that researchers can create induced pluripotent stem cells, but most research has shown that adult stem cells are not as totipotent and do not contain as wide of a range of abilities as embryonic stem cells. Some argue that stem cells are being used for bad rather than good because of artificial selection such as designer babies and GMOs. Designer babies are a negative outcome of stem cells because of changing the gene pool and not allowing natural selection to occur. From a religious standpoint, artificial selection is playing God’s hand. This is a negative technology that has come out of stem cell research, yet the technology is not growing. Another aspect of artificial selection, GMOs, are a necessary form of artificial selection. Although some companies, such as Monsanto, have garnered a reputation that make GMOs seem bad, many of the foods produced today have been genetically modified in some way. Genetic modification comes in the form of cell transplantation from one species to another or the use of stem cells to turn genes on and off. While there are downfalls to GMOs, they are quite beneficial to everyday life and removing them entirely would greatly affect the diet of most humans. 
