Our+Disadvantages




 * "But not everyone loves us! Boo hoo hoo..." **

In summary, Sammy and his friends can be grouped into one of either: depending on where they are extracted.
 * Adult Cells
 * Umbilical Cord Cells
 * Embryonic Cells

Adult Cells arise from bone marrow and the peripheral system. Extracting Adult Stem Cells from bone marrow is a very painful process, and as a result, the bone is destroyed. On the other hand, extracting stem cells from the peripheral system is not a painful process, however it is a slow process. Umbilical cords cells are derived from the umbilical cord of a pregnant woman.

When discussing the uses of stem cell for Medical Research, just like many issues, __moral__ and __ethical__ issues arise.

Stem cells are extracted directly from an embryo in the blastocyst stage of its growth. As a result of this extraction, the blastocyst is destroyed as the cells required for foetal growth and development are gone. Pro-life activists argue that life begins at conception, and therefore, the notion of killing a potential human-being in the name of science is immoral. The questions arise, a) 'Who has the right to decide the value of one human life over another?' and b) 'Should one human life //be// valued over another?', as this is essentially what destroying a blastocyst suggests; destroying a potential human life for the benefit of living human beings is acceptable. Some human rights activists query how human lives can be created for the sole purpose of experimentation. They assert that society cannot encourage research and experimentation that objectifies a living human embryo and defy it of equal rights.

On the other hand, it can be argued that these 'so-called' human beings are facing impending death, or that embryonic stem cells commonly utilised in current research are already discarded embryos from unsuccessful in //vitro// fertilisation procedures with no prognosis of evolving into a human being.

__**Medical Issues associated with Stem Cell Therapies**__

While most of the research is in favour of Stem Cell research and its associated therapies, like all medical procedures and investigations, it raises a few health and safety considerations.

1. It has been found that embryonic stem cells stored for a long period may develop chromosomal anomalies which can create cancer cells. If this is the case, we would hardly wish to advance and develop a therapy involving stem cells that may produce the condition that we are attempting to cure or treat. 2. Research suggests a correlation between stem cell related procedures and formation of an unusual type of tumour called a Teratoma. A Teratoma is a normal bodily structure i.e. eyes or teeth, that grow in the wrong place. As we have already discovered, stem cell have the potential to evolve into a myriad of bodily cell types, and while may allow Stem Cell Therapy to be utilised in the treatment of many immunological diseases, it also puts the individual at an elevated risk of developing this potentially threatening tumour. 3. Introducing stem cells into a tissue or organ is similar to organ transplant; while stem cells may exhibit the same characteristics of the cell it replaces/replenishes, it may still be identified as foreign matter to the body's immune system. This can lead to immune rejection, whereby the body's immune system attacks the 'foreign cells' and may even damage the tissue in which these cells are implanted. This particular Medical Issue may already have a resolution; anti-rejection drugs which are administered to the organ transplant patients as post-operative treatment for 2 months following a procedure. Further testing is still required to determine the effectiveness of this drug on Stem Cells.