You may have heard about the many controversies surrounding stem cells. Some consider stem cell research as wonderful while others see it as immoral and do not want it to continue. The development, use and destruction of a human embryo for research purposes is referred to as stem cell research. Embryonic and non-embryonic are the two types of stem cells. Since embryonic cells yield better results and are easier to extract, they are preferred over the non-embryonic cells, but both are used in medical research. Most of the time the controversies focus on embryonic stem cells.
According to research, most people, can either be completely opposed to stem cell research or they may be pro stem cell research in all its forms. Many projects for using stem cell therapies are being worked on by scientists. There are great benefits of stem cell research and therapy which have been outlined in this article. One of the benefits of stem cell research is development of new treatments for common diseases. Stem cell research is being used by scientists to try and come up with the treatment of complicated disorders. Some of these disorders include Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries, diabetes and schizophrenia.
Some of the tested therapies are already in use on real patients whereby they are required to visit a stem cell therapy center close to them to receive the treatment in an outpatient setting. Stem cell research is also being used in growing new organs in the laboratory. There are certain diseases which patients have which may require an organ transplant. The patients will have to wait on a waiting list for organ donations and some die while still waiting for the organ. Laboratories can use stem cell research to make new organs and tissues by growing them on organ molds and transferring them to the body of the patient requiring it.
Another benefit of stem cell research is to help reduce disorders affecting embryonic cells. The origin of many disorders in babies is in the womb while the baby is an embryo. The disorders may cause problems like pregnancy loss and congenital disabilities. The frequency of embryonic disorders will be reduced through stem cell research as scientists are trying to understand these disorders and find a cure for them.
Prevention of new cell rejection will be possible through stem cell research. When the patient’s body rejects a foreign organ that has been transplanted, the patient faces possible death or inability to continue using the organ. Doctors can use the non-embryonic stem cells to grow a new organ to replace the damaged one since the synthetic organ will have originated from the cells of the patient. Through stem cell research, the development of cells and the occurrence of abnormalities can be understood.