Stem Cell Reasearch and Its Contraversy in Society

Stem Cell Research and Their Controversial Use in Society Stem cells are responsible for the formation of fundamental tissues and organs in all living things. The laboratory uses for these primary cells are abundant, ranging from the creation of specialized cells to the possibility of curing diseases previously thought to be terminal. The ethical issues arising from the use of these cells account for the slow arrival of their amazing abilities to the general public. According to recent laboratory studies, scientists have concluded that though our knowledge of the extraordinary capabilities of these cells is limited, we can manipulate and use stem cells in ways previously thought to be science fiction. In the upcoming years, it can be reasonably predicted that the remarkable potential of stem cells will be more thoroughly revealed, arising in procedures and treatments to cure even the most rare illnesses. In a study conducted by researchers from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge, scientists have discovered how to take stem cells made from epithelial cells and manipulate them into human liver cells. The possible outcome of this success is the ability to treat patients with an inherited disease called “alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency.” This genetic disease of the liver inhibits the release of the enzyme alpha1-antitrypsin, ultimately leading to liver cirrhosis and lung emphysema. The only cure for this disease is liver transplant, a process that is extremely dangerous to the patient, extraordinarily expensive, and patients waiting to receive a transplant could wait painfully for years, some never receiving their new liver in time. The new procedure created by the scientists in the United Kingdom uses what they call “molecular scissors” to repair the gene mutation that causes this disease, the outcome being new cells being produced that closely resemble liver cells. The reason researchers chose to use stem cells in their studies

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