The Many Benefits Of Stem Cell Research

The benefits of stem cell research are becoming clearer every year. Today, this type of research shows that stem cells can be used to treat a number of incurable diseases and other medical conditions. In some cases, some of these conditions may even be cured by using stem cells. Of course, more research is needed to determine exactly how beneficial stem cells will become but studies so far are promising and seem to offer much hope for people suffering from a number of different medical problems.

This type of research is very controversial due to some of the procedures of stem cell research and how they are obtained. When it comes to obtaining embryonic stem cells, the only place they can be found is in the inner cell mass of the embryo, after it reaches about five days old and within a few weeks after the fertilization took place, which meant killing the embryo. This is considered unethical for many people and many others find it uncomfortable even though they don’t consider the embryo to be alive at this point. Umbilical cord stem cells have often been preferred for research due to it not harming a living organism, but sourcing these cells has proven difficult. Still, there are many who believe that the benefits of stem cell research outweigh the cost.

Here are a few stem cell research facts to consider:

• Stem cells are considered to be the basic building blocks of the body

• They are found in most all multicellular organisms

• They can divide into multiple cells and regenerate themselves

• Embryonic stem cells can transform into any cell in the body except the egg and sperm

• Adult stem cells can turn into a different cell as long as it’s in the same basic group

• Stem cell cultures can be used to transform these cells into specialized cells

• Stem cells can be used to treat and cure a variety of different medical conditions and incurable diseases

The benefits of stem cell research are more easily seen when you consider the stem cell facts. You can see how using cells that can develop into any other cell in the body could help treat and cure many medical conditions. These cells can form unlimited quantities of themselves and the potential that stem cells offer for the future is amazing. However, without the research, no one will ever truly know what could be accomplished by using them. The history of stem cell research actually started in the 60’s, even though this type of research has only gained a lot of attention over the last several years. During this time Joseph Altman and Gopal Das discovered stem cell activity in the human brain. In 1978 haematopoietic stem cells in the human cord blood was discovered. Leukemia was proved to evolve from haematopoietic stem cells in the year 1997 and the first artificial liver cells were created by some English scientists using umbilical cord stem cells.

The benefits of stem cell research will continue to grow as more studies reveal the potential these cells have to offer. Within the last couple of years scientist may have found a way to develop the embryonic stem cells of humans without having to destroy the embryo and many more great and exciting discoveries are waiting to be revealed as more research is being done.