Furthermore, cord blood stem cells are easier for the donor to accept, and do not exert a strong immune reaction as is found with adult bone marrow stem cells.
Stem cells were first used medically over a century ago, when physicians treated patients with anemia and leukemia with the consumption of bone marrow (Nation Marrow Donor Program). Although these initial treatments were unsuccessful, bone marrow transplants began in the 1950's which could successfully cure certain forms of leukemia. The transplantation of bone marrow is essentially stem cell transplantation, because bone marrow would lack the potential to cure degenerative diseases if not for its high concentration of stem cells. .
During this time period, it was discovered that the body had the ability to recognize which cells were foreign, allowing the immune system to prevent infection from invading bacteria. The immune system identifies cells by monitoring HLA's, a structure that exists on the perimeter of all cells, and differs between each person (NMDP). Although this system of cellular identification is usually beneficial because it protects the body, it served as a major hindrance for bone marrow transplantation, because donor cells must be the perfect match or else they will be rejected by the host's immune system. In 1968, the first successful stem cell transplant occurred between two twins "thus assuring that the operation would be successful (NMDP). It was not until the early eighties that a national registry of individuals' HLA types was created, providing a nationwide system for bone marrow transplantation.
The first stem cell transplant using cord blood (blood taken from the umbilical cord) on a human occurred in 1988. A young boy in Salisbury, North Carolina suffered from Fanconi anemia, a rare degenerative disease that results in death within the first 10 years of life. This boy is alive today. (McDonald) In the past 15 years, stem cell transplants have been made on thousands of individuals in the United States, successfully treating patients suffering from a wide variety of rare genetic disorders.
Stem Cells 1. ... Adult and cord blood stem cells can be donated. ... Any kind of embryos that are just killed is murder and is an immoral act. 2. Stem cells are important for living organisms for many reasons. ... One reason behind this view would be that there is killing involved in the process of embryonic stem cells that several would consider it to be just as bad as murder. ...
Stem cell research is a controversial issue in America. Stem cells are a primitive cell that can multiply and conform to be any cells. ... To extract the stem cells, you will in turn, kill the embryo. ... Many people in America believe the destroying of an embryo murder. ... Both of these are options for obtaining stem cells. ...
Stem cell research has become an issue of much debate. ... The main argument in the debate on stem cells is when an embryo becomes a human being and whether or not destroying the embryo could be seen as murder. Stem cells can also be obtained from an adult's blood or bone marrow, but these stem cells are not as versatile and can grow only into a few select tissues, as opposed to embryonic stem cells that can grow into almost any tissue (Stem Cells: Corporate Profile). ... However, there are two conditions for my support of stem cell research. ... He announced on August 10, 2001 tha...
Stem Cells: Are They More Than Just Cells? Should stem cells be considered as a life? ... Stem cells are considered the building blocks of biology. ... The different types of stem cells are embryonic stem (ES), embryonic germ (EG), fetal stem cells, and adult stem cells. ... Stem cells also come from vitro fertilization, which happens in a petri dish, to create embryos from which stem cells are extracted. ...
(ALSA) Stem cells, as defined by SerVass, are "the most immature primordial cells in the body". Theoretically, stem cells have the ability to grow into any kind of cell or organ in the body. Stem cell research involves isolating the stem cell and studying whether or not it can be nurtured to grow into a cell that will replace a diseased or damaged cell or organ. ... The desires of researchers to utilize embryonic stem cells in their research has opened an ethical debate about whether harvesting stem cells from frozen embryos is tantamount to murder or abortion since the eggs were first f...
Stem cells are capable of dividing and becoming specialized cells. ... The controversial aspect of stem cell research lies in the method of obtaining the stem cells. ... So, when the stem cells are removed and the embryo dies, they consider this murder of a human life. ... Stem cells are not specifically included in this ban because it is unknown as to whether or not stem cells can form a complete embryo. ... Isn't the argument against stem cell research ...
"Should Stem Cells be Used From Spare Human Embryos?" Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to develop into any other cell in the body. ... Currently, there are two types of stem cells. ... The real controversy over embryonic stem cell research has centered around the fact that extracting stem cells from the embryo, causes the stem cell to die. ... Human life - no matter in what shape or form- is unique and precious and that the mass murders of these embryos in the name of science are essentially what can only be called infanticide. ...
This technology is stem-cell research. ... STEM CELL RESEARCH OVERVIEW - WHAT ARE STEM CELLS?: Stem Cells are considered "master cells" or "early cells capable of transforming into any kind of cell or tissue in the body" (Washington Post, May 2001). ... According to the report issues by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Institute for Civil Society in 1999, there are three different types of stem cells: Embryonic, which are totipotent and have the ability to form a whole organism; embryonic germ stem cells, which are pluripotent and have the ability to fuse...
