Science is a constantly evolving field to come up with new ideas and medicines. Science is the study of structure and behavior of things in the world around us. Every year people die of serious degenerative diseases of the heart, nervous system, liver, and many other organs (Mclaren 1). New discoveries are constantly being made that lead to knowledge or new medicines that could save many sick people. A new technique to the 20th century currently being researched is stem cells. A stem cell is a pluripotent cells. This means they have not yet differentiated to have a specific job. These cells are gathered and then differentiated in vitro. This means they are differentiated in a test tube outside of a living organism. Because they are not yet differentiated, the cell can become anything that scientists desire it to become. This can range from a tissue of a specific organ to a nervous cell to help people with nerve damage. These cells have endless possibilities and have given rise to the regenerative medicine field. There are three main different types of stem cells. The first type of stem cell is the most controversial, embryonic stem cells. Many people who are pro-life would argue it is not ethical  to use the cells from an embryo. These cells are taken from the early stages of an embryo which can differentiate into any cell type in any of the three germ layers. These cells have the widest variety of possible differentiations. The next type of stem cell is adult stem cells. Adult stem cells do not have an ethical debate or immunological concerns, however, these cells are only found in limited numbers of human tissue such as bone marrow, skin, adipose tissue, umbilical cord and intestines. Obtaining a significant amount of these cells is difficult to do because not all stem cells will differentiate in vitro. Therefore, a significant amount of stem cells are needed to have a successful outcome. The final type of cell we know of is human induced pluripotent stem cells. Pluripotent is the ability for a cell to give rise to several different cell types. This type of cell is created from adult somatic cells. This type of treatment is different because the patient’s own somatic cells that are differentiated in vitro and then placed into the affected tissue. These three types of stem cells have had many success stories and important informative research gained from them. However, the main stall to stem cell research is how people view it. By examining and defining the whole of stem cell research, we see that this scientific study incorporates more than simply embryonic stem cells -- approaching this scientific study as a whole better reveals the advancements that stem cell research has had, which shows stem cell research in a better, positive light for the general public. 

The type of stem cell research that is most heard of is embryonic stem cells. These cells tend to be most popular because they have caused so much controversy. Embryonic stem cells are obtained from an early stage of embryo development. The inner mass of the cell is taken out, destroying the embryo in the process. Because they are obtained so early in development, they are capable of becoming almost every type of cell there is. They can become a member of all three germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm (Rusu 956). These cells are very promising. The possibilities are endless with the ability to create any type of cell with fairly little complications. However, most people view this specific type of stem cell therapy in a negative light. Many religions define life at the point of conception. Because of this, they are opposed to things that destroy what has the potential to become a human being. People with this mindset  are often opposed to is abortion as well. Many people opposed to abortion also view embryonic stem cell research in a similar way. People argue that it is unethical and equate it to murder to take a developing human embryo, extract the inner mass, and destroy what could potentially become a human, if it were in a womb (The Anti-Life Opposition to Stem cell Research 1). Because the embryo has a symbolic moral value to some religions, one would say it deserves respect (Mclaren 130). Because of this, stem cell research is often opposed. However, not everyone holds this viewpoint. Many people believe that an embryo does not hold a moral value until a later stage in development rather than at fertilization and that a blastocyst is simply a ball of cells. There is also a middle ground that an early embryo deserves respect but if there is good scientific reason and consent from the woman donating, that an embryo should be used for research (Lo and Parham 1). 

Another type of stem cell research is adult stem cells. This type of stem cell is a very active research field because it does not come with the controversy that embryonic stem cell research does. While you may be wondering, “Why would there be an argument over embryonic stem cells if you can take them from adults,” there are a few high hurdles to jump with this technique. Adult stem cells do not have an ethical debate or immunological concerns, however, these cells are only found in limited numbers of human tissue such as bone marrow, skin, adipose tissue, umbilical cord and intestines. Obtaining a significant amount of these cells is difficult to do. A large amount of stem cells is needed because not every cell will differentiate as desired in vitro. The cells that do successfully differentiate are taken and used, however, in order to have a significant amount of successful, differentiated stem cells, a large amount needs to be obtained in the first place. This is difficult to do with this technique because there are few stem cells located in adults. Most cells are already assigned a job and working a specific job in the body to keep it alive.

The last type of stem cell research is human induced pluripotent stem cells. These stem cells are created from adult somatic cells. Somatic cells are body cells. These cells are reprogrammed and forced to become pluripotent (Rusu 957). This technique also gained a great amount of interest because it avoids the ethical issue that embryonic stem cells raise all together, just as adult stem cells do. There is no embryo needed or destroyed in this specific process. The damaged or degenerated tissue is repaired using human induced pluripotent stem cells that are obtained from the patient’s somatic cells. After reversing to a pluripotent state, they are then differentiated in vitro to a specific task, and then transplanted into the damaged tissue. (Rusu 959). However, there are many challenges this technique. Reprogramming these cells to become pluripotent is a complex task. If that is accomplished, there is a low rate of conversion to the desired cell, risk of mutation, and tumor formation (Rusu 957).  While it is not easy to do, scientists are still able to overcome these obstacles and get results.

Despite stem cell research obstacles, there have been many accomplishments that this technology has made. The oldest type of stem cell transplantation is haemopoietic stem cell transplantation. This is where stem cells are obtained from bone marrow or cord blood and used to treat bone marrow failure such as leukemia (Watt 158). To recreate immune function in patients following chemotherapy or radiation, donor stem cells are used. These donor cells are screened to find the best match and prevent rejection (Watt 158). This therapy is one of the most widely available to date. 

A specific treatment that was successful using stem cells was the clinical transplantation of a tissue-engineered airway into a 30 year old woman. The recipient had dysphonia, difficulty talking and breathing, due to tuberculosis of the trachea and left bronchus. The left bronchus had collapsed and many efforts to treat it were unsuccessful. Doctors then turned to stem cell therapy. A donor trachea was taken and the antigens were removed to prevent an immune response. The recipient’s stem-cell-derived chondrocytes then colonized the donor trachea. Chondrocytes are cartilage cells. After the cells had colonized on the donor trachea, it was then grafted to replace the left main bronchus. The graft was successful and the patient had a perfectly working airway after four months. There were no anti-donor antibodies present so there was no immune rejection to the transplantation (Clinical Transplantation of a Tissue-engineered Airway 2023). This is an incredible example of what this specific technology can accomplish. These cells being used are an example of human induced stem cells which are created from an existing somatic cell. In this case, the somatic cells that were chosen to be grafted were cartilage cells to create a sturdy trachea to be transplanted.

Similar to the previous application of stem cell therapy, stem cells are used to ease arthritis. Stem cells are used to form new cartilage and repair torn ligaments. This uses a patient’s own adult stem cells to reduce risk of rejection and to create more tissue. The stem cells are attached to the existing cartilage or ligament and grows on its own over the existing piece (Stem Cell Research News 1). The addition of new cartilage eases the joint pain of arthritis or repairs the ligament for more ranges of motion. 

Adult stem cells are also being used as therapy for patients with neurodegenerative diseases. These diseases include Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.  These adult stem cells differentiate into neural cells to sustain regeneration of neurons (Rusu 957). Many of these diseases are thought of as incurable, but stem cell research shows some potential. In a case reported on March 22, 2017, Jack Sage who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s regained memory. He has been in extensive stem cell injection treatment for four years since his diagnosis and more than 8 years after his memories began to cloud, he found it easier to regain and retain memories (Sharon 1). Many are beginning to ask if this may be more than just a treatment, but potentially a cure to Alzheimer’s. 

In embryonic stem cell research, a nonhuman experiment was very successful. A monkey presented with myocardial ischaemia. Myocardial ischaemia is when blood flow is reduced due to damage of the heart muscle. After embryonic stem cell treatment, the heart muscle began to grow and get stronger and led to improved blood flow (Rusu 956). In mice, embryonic stem cells are used to regenerate a diabetic pancreas to produce insulin (Rusu 956). In humans, this type of therapy is used in patients with muscular dystrophy and degeneration. Is it also used to treat retinal pigment epithelium, which impairs vision. This therapy has improved pigmentation and visual activity was observed in many cases(Rusu 956). Embryonic stem cell research has many applications, these are just a few of them. 

As you can see, stem cell research has been very successful in finding new methods of regenerative medicine. These treatments have shown to improve the quality of life for each individual. However, hearing “stem cell research” raises a lot of eyebrows. When one types into the google search bar “stem cell research”, the next word suggestion that follows is “opposition”. Many people view the whole of stem cell research as a negative or controversial topic. When in fact, only a third of the technology is what people are skeptical about. Many other countries do not have this opposition and have opened their arms to embryonic stem cell research for all the potential it holds. Specifically, Israel, Japan, Singapore, India, and other Asian countries have accepted embryonic stem cell research as moral because of the amount of people it has the ability to help currently and in the future (Mclaren 130). Under Islamic law, embryonic stem cell research was declared acceptable in 2002 (Great Strides in Stem Cell Research 1). The controversy over life did not present itself in Iran because under Islamic law, life is defined at when a heartbeat is able to be distinguished (Great Strides in Stem Cell 1). Since this was embraced, Iran had made many advances in embryonic stem cell technology. In 2003, embryonic cell lines began making their way to the operating room. Now Iran has over 40 clinical trials (Great Strides in Stem Cell Research 1). In 2006, a sheep was successfully cloned. Scientists have researched the ability to clone animals as a possible solution to endangered animals. This research has also been used to treat specific locational diseases and genetic disorders (Great Strides in Stem Cell Research 1). Because Iran was able to jump into embryonic research and operation with no hesitation or controversy, they have been able to make significant advances. Unlike Iran, The United States hit a wall when the controversy arose. This caused scientists to spend time searching for alternative methods and sources of stem cells rather than experimenting on what they had already discovered (Wilde). This put a halt to America’s research on stem cells. 

Regardless of where you stand on whether embryonic stem cells are ethical or not, stem cell research as a whole is a promising and positive field. There have been many illnesses and diseases that have found a source of treatment from this technology. Medicine has grown with this research and continues to grow to heal more people as new discoveries are made. Every type of stem cell research has a common goal: to help as many people as possible. Adult stem cells have been used for many things from easing arthritis to treating leukemia. Human induced pluripotent stem cells have been used to rebuild and airway and much much more. Embryonic stem cells have made a weak heart beat stronger than ever in a monkey, allow people to see again, an even clone animals. These are just examples of a few of the applications of this technology. The scientific field is one that has limits, but continues to push these limits to find things we never would have imagined possible. Stem cell research allows for so many medical problems to be treated or cured. This field should not be viewed negatively. A controversy should not be the first thing that comes to mind. Stem cell research does not automatically mean embryonic stem cell research and babies being killed. Many of these embryos used are donated from women who underwent in vitro fertilization. But there are other types of stem cells making great advances as well. All three approaches to this research are being pursued to find out just what they have the ability to do. When the general public looks at stem cell research, they need to look at the whole picture and everything it has accomplished and can accomplish years to come. They can not simple look at one part, or they are not understanding the technology in its entirety and all it has to offer. 
