Stem+Cells+-+BB

toc =Introduction= Stem cells. The lead actors for the human body, the stem cell can master any role, and performs it to the best of its ability. A stem cell, enrolled by a liver for an opening, can show what it can do, and become a liver cell! But, the stem cell is not only for acting. The stem cell must repair the body. For that is the stem cells true purpose. And yes, they have the tools for the job. In fact, researchers are interested in harnessing stem cells to heal fatal diseases, even Parkinson’s, which Muhammad Ali was afflicted by.

=The Body's Repair System= An injury! Your parents quickly bandage the wound, perhaps even using gauze to completely wrap around. Your body rushes to repair the damage, sending Stem Cells. What are Stem Cells? Stem Cells are basically the repair system of the human body, because when another cell needs to be replaced, they turn into that cell, and replace it. This helps when you injure yourself. When this happens, the stem cells are able to help repair your organs, tissues, even muscles. (BrainPop) Furthermore, this is the special function of stem cells, healing. Additionally, if researchers can harness this, we can revolutionize medicine. Now you ask yourself, how can stem cells do this? Great question! media type="custom" key="28992065" This diagram shows the sequence in which stem cells heal the body. =The Repairman's Tools= The reason for why stem cells can change into another cell and perform their function is because they have no special structures. They can be “programmed” by the brain and go to where they are needed most, such as the liver to repair an aging liver. Furthermore, structures would hinder the stem cells performance, because it would not be able to change into various kinds of cells. However, when the stem cell transforms into another cell, it gains that specific cell’s structures. Stem cells that can turn into any kind of cell are called totipotent cells. These are what researchers are seeking to obtain, and they can get them from embryonic stem cells. These are obtained by destroying a blastocyst, a human embryo 4-5 days old. Researchers can gain 50-150 stem cells from blastocysts, but they must destroy the embryo. Something that will help in the field of stem cell research are IPSCs. This stands for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell. IPSCs are adult stem cells, which are usually only able to turn into the organ they come from, like stem cells in the liver turn into liver cells. But, IPSCs can go beyond this, with help from genetic engineering. Researchers have made adult stem cells pluripotent, and they can turn into any cell. media type="custom" key="28992069"This is a diagram of a stem cells abilities. =We Fix Your Body= When stem cells are specialized into the necessary cell, they are sent to help fix the damage, or just wait around. To cure diseases, scientists first have to tell stem cells to turn into the cell which they want. For this to happen, scientists must represent the tissue around stem cells, and mimic signals normally sent by tissue to create the necessary cell. When stem cells are transplanted into the body, they can theoretically cure any disease. Of course, this is very hard to replicate. If scientists can do all of this, they can cure patients. However, they are blocked by regulations, due to people arguing against the ethics of gaining stem cells, because you must destroy eggs, which people see as equivalent to destroying life. George W. Bush was quoted saying “While we must devote enormous energy to conquering disease, it is equally important that we pay attention to the moral concerns raised by the new frontier of human embryo stem cell research. Even the most noble ends do not justify any means.” This quote shows that even if you can cure many diseases from stem cells, the means to the end must be moral. Regulations coming from this may hamper stem cell research. media type="custom" key="28992059"Above: Problems that stem cells may help solve. =Conclusion= Stem cells are able to cure diseases, and promises to have a huge impact on medicine in years to come. This is definitely going to help people live better, healthier lives. If we solve the mysteries of stem cells, we can, eventually, solve cancer. So, what do you think should be done? Should we fight ethics and save millions of lives? Or should we stop the stem cell research and restrict research? If research is restricted, this may be medicine's huge What If? media type="custom" key="28992001" [|National Institutes of Health] =Bibliography= Works Cited Freedman, Jeri. America Debates Stem Cell Research. New York, Rosen Central, 2008. America Debates. “The Power of Stem Cells.” California’s Stem Cell Agency, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Feb. 2016, www.cirm.ca.gov/patients/power-stem-cells. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017. “Stem Cell Basics.” National Institutes of Health, 2016, stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/1.htm. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017. “Stem Cells.” BrainPOP, 2017, www.brainpop.com/science/cellularlifeandgenetics/stemcells/. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017. “What are stem cells? - Craig A. Kohn.” YouTube, uploaded by Craig A. Kohn, 10 Sept. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=evH0I7Coc54. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017. “World’s First Synthetic Stem Cells Were Just Successfully Implanted.” Wall Street Pit, 2 Jan. 2017, wallstreetpit.com/112614-worlds-first-synthetic-stem-cells-implanted/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2017.