Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Using Embryonic Stem Cells for Research:
Cruel or Crucial?
Melissa Hammers
Baker College of Clinton Township
Alicia Chmielewski

Using Embryonic Stem Cells for Research:   Cruel or Crucial?
We have all heard our lawmakers talk in their usual debates on whether or not they agree with or oppose the idea of stem cell research. For the voters out there, you might have even voted for or against it during the elections. Our federal government currently approves funding for stem cell research, but only to limited types of stem cells. President Bush had restrictions and limitations on the federal funding for research involving using embryonic stem cells. That is until President Obama, in 2009, lifted those strict restrictions to allow responsible researchers to continue to use these cells for research. Most people would agree to the use of stem cells in research, but when you throw in the term “embryonic”, they might have a different opinion. Embryonic stem cell research is extremely crucial in the fight to treat and cure some of the body’s most deadly diseases and illnesses.
Your body is made up of millions and millions of cells all throughout your body. They are specialized cells created to do a specific function according to the location within your body. These specialized cells are created from embryonic stem cells which are commonly known as the master cells of the body. There are several types of stem cells, but I will just focus on the ones most commonly used in research. Adult stem cells are cells which are specific to usually 1 or 2 types of tissues such as blood and cells of the immune system, and are found in adults, children, newborns and fetuses. They are not as abundant as embryonic stem cells are and don’t have the ability that the embryonic stem cell does to copy themselves. (University of Michigan, p2)                 IPS (induced pluripotent) cells are a type of stem cell that is found in adults and are reprogrammed to mimic the embryonic cells.... [continues]

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