http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/22/first-european-embryonic-stem-cell-trial-gets-green-light/
This article is about how stem cells have gotten a green light in Europe to cure patients with macular dystrophy (a disease that causes blindness in many young people). The cells will be injected directly into the eye in which the stem cells will begin to differentiate and replace all the old dead eye cells, hopefully restoring vision to the patient. The reason that stem cells are stuck in a "medical limbo" is because of ethical and experimental reasons. Stem cells originate from embryos (non-fertilized) which have cells that have no differentiated and can potentially turn into anything. Stem cells are ethically debatable because of theological reasons and because embryos are being used and the potential applications for stem cells can be very good (curing paralysis, curing diseases, reducing amputations, etc.) and also very bad (cloning, artificial humans, etc.). They are also scientifically debatable because the long term effects of having stem cells injected into an organism are not fully known.
If these experiments go well, and stem cell research becomes less taboo, the benefits are innumerable. Countless diseases and physical handicaps will soon be able to be cured. A whole new area of study will be created. As the technology becomes more normalized and techniques of harvesting, or even creating, stem cells become refined; it will become cheaper and cheaper to utilize them. They will be able to be used throughout the world where they are desperately needed: developing nations.
Although this breakthrough in stem cell research in beneficial, it will take time until it is readily accessible to developing nations. With a lack of resources, especially money, this treatment will assist more well off patients in developed nations primarily. Overcoming a road block, such as ethical issues, results in the creation of medical treatments that aid numerous victims. Not only is it a challenge to develop treatments and vaccinations, but also to get these cures to regions in that world that desperately need it.
ReplyDeleteAs you said that the stem cells research in Europe can be pros for curing paralysis, curing diseases, reducing amputations, etc.But at the same time it can be cons for cloning, artificial humans, etc.More further research is needed . Like the long -term effect that might bad for human's body.But it is a good start for stem cells have gotten a green light in Europe to cure patients with muscular dystrophy.At least this can be used throughout the world where they are desperately needed, especially the developing countries.So poor people can have more opportunity for access their health care of what they need.
ReplyDeleteThe embryonic stem cell trial success is commendable. The ability to cure a major cause of blindness, Stargardt’s muscular dystrophy, is an immense step forward. With this research it is possible more diseases can be cured via cell trial. With this type of data, global health can increase and millions of lives made easier and or saved.
ReplyDeleteUsing stem cell research towards such a debilitating disease is going to be a giant step for science. Its success will correlate with how widely accepted stem cell research will be globally. An argument that perhaps will never get settled is is determining when a life "starts" and when a life "ends", and whether or not stem cells should come in when an individual doesn't reach start or has passed end already. By taking these small steps with the uses of stem cells, the boundaries for implementing stem cell research will begin to form.
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