Stem cells are an important part of current and developing technologies in the medical field. Without stem cells, the advances made in genetic engineering, medical technologies and medical treatments would not exist. Current stem cell treatments exist mainly in trials, however they are being used in tissue research, cancer research and treatment, and research regarding neurological signaling. While there are downfalls to the use of stem cells, such as designer babies and GMOs, there are some benefits to these negatives. A large problem regarding stem cells is the ethical and religious dilemmas involved, but scientists are trying to find ways to reduce ethical dilemmas through further research with adult stem cells. Because some of the negatives of stem cells can be seen in a positive light, the benefits of stem cell research support continuing research. 

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can be used throughout the human 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. 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). Embryonic stem cells are the most commonly known type of stem cells, but 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 involve 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 a detriment to society. 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 harmful tool. Terminating stem cell research would also mean stopping the use of medical technologies and therapies that require stem cells and, as discussed before, stem cell technologies can be used for cancer research, drug testing and more. In regard to the 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 are not enough trials for the FDA to go off of, so they are unable to create a standard set of regulations and approve certain stem cells technologies. 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 used in testing 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. Researchers prefer cells to have a high totipotency because they are then able to divide and give rise to any cell type or are able to create a complete embryo. Another problem with pluripotent stem cells is that they can be programmed to act as a certain cell, but once they are in the body the scientists and doctors have no control over what the cell does. This means the cell can act as a different one or move to a different place in the body. When this occurs, a teratoma forms. A teratoma is a tumor because of a buildup of tissues that are not supposed to be in that part of the body. It can also be argued 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 expanding. There is a lack of support for this technology and although appealing many would not use this technology to specifically select phenotypic properties for their future children. The hope of this technology is to be able to detect signs of diseases and mutations early on. This technology could prevent lethal and long term diseases from appearing in the genetic pool, however those mutations exist for the purpose of evolution. 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 appear harmful, 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. Downfalls to GMOs are the fact that they are artificial and not everyone wants to consume something that is not naturally grown and, in addition to that, not all products are labeled as GMO even when they are. GMOs are also presented as harmful when it is revealed the treatment some farmers endure when dealing with large companies like Monsanto. Monsanto and other companies sell seeds to farmers and collect them after the growing season so that they can be reused. The problem with this technology is that the company knows exactly which seeds are theirs so that they can track them and sue farmers if not all the seeds are collected or if seeds they didn’t buy end up in their field. However, stem cells are quite beneficial to everyday life and removing them entirely would greatly affect the diet of must humans and the system of agriculture that has now been established. 

Negative sentiments towards stem cells should prompt change to improve stem cell research and technologies, but they should not make it so that stem cell research is terminated. Although some counterarguments contain logical conclusions, there are still positives to what people view as negative or they do not look at the full spectrum of the technology. Stem cells are being used for cancer treatments, gene therapies, bone marrow transplants, GMOs and more. In the future they can be used in biotechnologies such as 3-D printing and working with those that suffer from brain or spinal cord injuries. There are unknown and undiscovered uses of stem cells and stem cell technologies that will only be found if further research continues. Scientists continue working with embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells to develop the best and most ethical product they can. Drawbacks like illegal companies and monopolies cause unfavorable reactions from the public, but can be overcome by advancing the technology that already exists. The future of medicine and possibly other realms of life, like food, depend on stem cells and what scientists are able to discover and create by using them. 
