Stem+Cells

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The Usefulness of Stem Cell Research
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**​What Are Stem Cells?**
Well, even after that stimulating explanation by our cute little proffessor, Stemmy, I know you're probably still wondering what in the heck stem cells even are. Now I shall enlighten you. Stem cells are cells that make exact copies of themselves indefinitely. They also have the power to produce or make special cells for different tissues in the body - such as the heart, brain, and liver and other organ tissues.

There are three types of stem cells:
 * 1) Adult cells: These cells tend to be only usable for certain fields of study rather than every type. Adult cells can only be used for blood, intestines, skin, or muscles. Also, the term 'adult' is loosely defined considering the fact that children and adults have these types of cells.
 * 2) Embryonic cells: this type of stem cells are taken from aborted fetuses, via abortion, or through successfully fertilized left-over invitro eggs (the maniupulation of an egg and sperm to create a baby through artificial insemination instead of sexual intercourse). These types can produce cells for most all tissues in the body.
 * 3) Cord cells: This is a very rich source of stem cells. These types can be taken from the Umbilical Cord during a pregnancy and stored in cryogenic cell banks as a type of 'insurance' policy for future use on behalf of the newborn infant. However, the only bad part of these cells are that if they plan to be used for distant relations to the infant from which the cells were taken then the less likely they will actually work and be accepted by the antibodies.



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**Classification**
There are even further categories that scientists put stem cells in, even after the ones above!! After a stem cell has been extracted scientists must then classify them in order to be able to correctly store them for later use. The way that scientists classify stem cells is by their "potency." The "potency" of a stem cell is it's potential to become other cells. There are five different classifications of stem cells that are even more inclusive than the ones before!! The mulitpotent cells, oglipotent cells, and unipotent cells are all found in adult cells and cant be obtained any other way!!!!
 * 1) There are totipotent cells. These are cells that are found in embryos that aren't even embryos yet because their cells haven't even started to differentiate yet!!
 * 2) Pluripotent cells are the next kind and are just not starting to differentiate but not really. They are just like children, even when they think they are something you can change it. It's like "Hey Mommy Imma heart cell today!" but yesterday it was "Mommy LOOK, Imma lung cell SEE SEE!!!"
 * 3) Multipotent cells are cells that have separated into a general group of cells that can evolve into many kinds of cells of that type. Its kind of like "flour" cells, this is what we shall dub them, and well they can evolve into many things you see. Flour can become cake, brownies, cookies, biscuits etc.... but it cannot become lemonade or ham, or anything not made of flour.
 * 4) Then there are the oglipotent cells that have seperated a little further into the general group and can only become a certain part of that group. Using the same analogy above these flour cells don't have the sweet material to be cakes and cookies and brownies but it can be bread and muffins.
 * 5) Then there are the Unipotent cells that cannot be anything but what they are but they can reproduce infinitely, this is why they are stem cells. Like no matter what someone does, no matter if they change environment, they are still a certain skin color. They can multiply but not really change. Wait bad example cause they could mate with another person and well then they wouldn't be the same so lets use cats. You can keep moving it from home to home or continent to continent but it will ALWAYS be a CAT.

[|Stem Cells: Seeds of Hope?] video explains the many possible ways Stem Cells can be used. Such as a potential cure for Tay Sachs, Diabetes, or Parkinsons Disease.

Stem cells are tricky little devils. Although they could be the key to saving millions of lives from disease's such as Tay Sachs, Diabetes, and Parkinson's Disease, stem cells can be either useless or harmful to the human being it's being used on. When it comes to stem cells, just as it is with any type of organ transplant or even blood transfusion, the reciever has to be compatible with the donation for it to be able to work and even then must stay continuely on medicine, which in itself is highly dangerous, to be able to retain that organ. There are many cases when the stem cells given to a patient were rejected by that patient's body and thus not useable and ulimatly null and void. IN other more serious cases, tumors have been caused within a patients body. It comes when they use embryotic cells that don't want to form into the respective organ. For example you could need your heart patched and they use embryotic cells to help but instead turns into something else, thus creating a tumor.

The other part of the controversal topic is the ethical portion. To obtain certain forms of stem cells, aka embryonic stem cells, you must obtain them from embryoes and to do this you must destroy the embryo to recieve it's cells. This is the problem. Another problem with embryotic stem cells is that they are hard to adapt to anything other than with thier specific genatic makeup, without it tumors occur.

The other side of the controversy is that stem cells can be used to cure otherwise fatal diseases. They can replace damaged or missing cells of almost any kind and then is able to grow healthy organs. It can even cure paralysis, alshiemers, and other deginerative diseases. It could come in handy and could cure THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Now that you know the facts I'll let you choose your side. Are you for stem cell research and the search for cures so that one day your life, if need ​be, your life could be saved or are you on the ethical side that says that it's wrong to kill a-not-yet-fetus so you reject stem cell research? What ever your side, post it. Make a comment. Support your side and make your voice heard whether it's for or against STEM CELL RESEARCH!!!!!!!

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The History of Stem Cells Research
Near the time frame of the 1800s cells were discovered to have been the 'building blocks' for all life and that some of these 'blocks' could actually produce other cells. Then, in the 1900s, it was discovered that some cells had the ability to generate blood cells. However, it wasn't until 1968 that the first successful bone marrow transplant was conducted and the field of Stem Cell Research had been defined. 10 years later, another milestone was hit when researchers confirmed that there were actual Stem Cells in human cord blood. Above all comes the findings brought about in 1997 - there was found that Leukaemia was located on the haematopietic stem cell, proving that cancer could come from stem cells. Then, the first cloning of a lamb was conducted by the use of stem cells. In 1999 and 2000 scientists discovered a breakthrough that sent stem cell research into its place in history - they discovered, through the manipulation of adult mouse tissue, that the tissue could produce and recreate different cell types. This break through meant that some cells such as bone marrow cells could actually produce another cell such as liver or nerve.


 * __Today in Stem Cell Research__**

Today, stem cells are still being looked at for the betterment of all walks of life. Scientists are trying their hardest to perfect the ways that adult stem cells can be used in curing diseases such as leukaemia and heart disease. However, there still exists the controversy over using the embryonic stem cells as a way to further cure ailments. Scientists and researchers still have a ways to go before they can fully understand and harness the power of stem cells but the future is looking brighter. Who knows, maybe one day they'll finally find the Holy Grail of Stem Cell Research and those pesky diseases will go cureless no more.

Works Cited:
"History of Stem Cell Research - Explore Stem Cells (UK)." //Understanding Stem Cell Research and Treatments at Explore Stem Cells (UK)//. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. .

"Pros And Cons Of Stem Cell Research." //Popular Issues - AllAboutPopularIssues.org//. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. .

" Stem cell research Information on Healthline." //Healthline - Health Search Engine and Medical Information//. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. .

"TeacherTube Videos - Creating a beating rat heart in the lab using ." //TeacherTube - Teach the World | Teacher Videos | Lesson Plan Videos | Student Video Lessons | Online Teacher Made Videos | TeacherTube.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. .

" The Stem Cell Song ." //blip.tv (since 2005)//. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. .

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