Running Head: STEM CELL RESEARCH
Literature Review on Stem Cell Research
Tania Patino
English 1311
University of Texas at El Paso
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Running Head: STEM CELL RESEARCH
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Abstract
Stem cell research has been considered one of the biggest hope for medical advancement.
It is believed that this research can cure the most devastating diseases known in America. Stem
cell research is also one of the most controversial issues being discussed in the nation. Whether it
will be the next medical innovation or not many people count on this research. Scientists are also
in debate whether which stem cells will be more effective curing diseases. This literature review
will provide readers with information on the controversies over stem cell research.
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Stem cell research is a scientific research that studies cells to see in what way they can be used
to regenerate tissues on the human body. Stem cells are regenerative cells that can become any
type of tissue in the body. Scientists are seeking ways on how they can use these cells to cure
diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease along with diabetes and spinal cord injuries.
There is two kinds of stem cells: embryotic stem cells and adult stem cells. Adult stem cells can
be found in bone marrow, umbilical cords, and also in cadavers. Embryotic stem cells are found
on the early stages of an embryo. Scientists obtain these stem cells from aborted or miscarried
embryos or they can create the embryos themselves.
There are many religious people who believe life starts at conception. These people are
strongly against scientists using human embryos for stem cell research. In the other hand, there is
many people who support and believe that stem cells can be the cure for many diseases. This is a
controversy that has never come to an end.
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Will the restrictions made by the government decrease moral disagreements among the
people against stem cell research?
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Which stem cell will be more effective, an adult or an embryonic stem cell?
This literature review will inform which stem cell will be more successful in the findings of
cures and the restrictions made by the government on stem cell research.
Will the restrictions made by the government decrease moral disagreements among the
people against stem cell research?
Many religions are against embryotic stem cell research, they say it is “unnecessary”.
Religious leaders think the use of embryotic stem cells brings up the same moral issues as abortion.
While some religions are strongly against embryotic stem cell research, some religions approve
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this research as long as they do not use embryotic cells (Stem Cell Research at the Crossroads of
Religion and Politics, 2008). Since stem cells can be obtained in various ways, the American Life
League argues that using embryotic stem cells is unethical but by obtaining stem cells from other
sources this research can be done ethically (Stem Cell Research, n.d.). The American Life League
(ALL) is an organization who is against the destruction of life. They say that “a human embryo is
an innocent human being in his first stage of life.” ALL believes that it is “morally wrong” to
destroy an embryo intentionally (Stem Cell Research, n.d.). This organization is not against stem
research, they are against the “unethical” way of obtaining these cells. As some people believe that
the use of embryos in stem cell research is immoral, “6 out of 10 (62%) Americans believe that
medical research involving stem cells obtained from human embryos is morally acceptable and
favor conducting medical research that uses stem cells from human embryos (Pecorino, 2012).”
President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, signed an executive order to
fund stem cell research. President is concern about the moral values people have on this research
that is why in his speech over stem cell research he stated “with proper guidelines and strict
oversight, the perils can be avoided (U.S. News Staff, 2009).” President Barack Obama signed this
executive order under certain conditions in order to protect some of the moral values people have.
Since every state in the United States can have their own laws each one of the fifty states
have their own laws over stem cell research. There are states who support embryonic stem cell
research such as, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York. There are others who are
not against stem cell research, but are against the embryonic use in such. For example, South
Dakota, which forbids the use of embryos for research (NCSL, 2008). The states that allow the use
of embryos for research have strict guidelines that scientists must follow, some have restricted the
use of aborted fetuses or embryos, or scientists have to ask patients for permission to use their
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embryo. Different states have different restrictions on embryonic research, some prohibit research
on live embryos, and some prohibit the use of in vitro embryos, embryos created outside of the
body (NCSL, 2008). Some states are strongly opposed with cloning embryos, but in 2009 before
signing his executive order supporting stem cell research, President Obama said “we will ensure
our government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction. It is dangerous,
profoundly wrong, and has no place in our society, or any society (U.S. News Staff, 2009).” With
this the United States should not worry about scientists using cloning to conduct their research.
Which stem cell will be more effective, an adult stem cell or an embryonic stem cell?
There are two kinds of stem cells, adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Both cells
can be transformed into another tissue in the body, the only difference is that embryonic stem cells
are obtained from human embryos and adult stem cells can be found in bone marrow, fat cells,
umbilical cord blood, and adult blood. Some scientist believe that embryonic stem cell will work
better when regenerating tissue or when curing a disease. But some believe that this research can
be done only by using adult stem cells.
In one of Dr. Pecorino’s articles she compares embryonic and adult stem cells by giving
the advantages and disadvantages of each. Dr. Pecorino says both cells are “flexible” which means
that both cells can be turned into any other cell in the body. She says stem cells are “immortal,”
they can divide many times. Also, embryonic stem cells can be easily obtained. The embryonic
cells disadvantages given by Dr. Pecorino are that they are difficult to control, they have to be
defined on what disease they are going to treat. They might not adjust to the patient’s immune
system, and there is a lot of controversy between “those who believe life starts at conception.”
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According to Dr. Pecorino, adult stem cells are “already somewhat specialized,” meaning
that when transplanting the cells made be easier in some cases. Since the cells will be from the
own patient there will no immune rejection. The disadvantages of using adult stem cells are that
they are limited, “they are difficult to obtain in large quantities.” Adult stem cells do not live for a
long time as embryonic cells do and they can also “become defective during experimentation.” In
her article, Dr. Pecorino, gives a better explanation over adult stem cells showing that she believes
that “utilization of adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells poses less ethical dilemma
(Pecorino, 2012).”
A more recent article contradicts Dr. Pecorino’s point of view over adult stem cells. Dr.
Pecorino said adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells to be “flexible,” but Ian Murnaghan says
“embryonic stem cells have a far greater differentiation potential than adult stem cells simply
because embryonic stem cells can develop into almost every type of cell in the human body…adult
stem cells may only develop into a limited number of cell types (Murnaghan, 2013).” Embryonic
stem cells and adult stem cells can be used for cell-based therapies, but since embryonic stem cells
“can develop into more than 220 cell types in an adult” they can treat a large amount of diseases.
Scientists are looking for a way to make embryonic stem cells defined for treating a certain disease.
After scientists figure out how to guide cells to “replace diseased and dysfunctional cells,” the
embryonic stem cell controversy could come to an end, “their use will likely not become consistent
and approved until procedures for isolating and growing them are proven and defined (Murnaghan,
2012).” “Embryonic stem cells are capable of almost unlimited division,” Ian Murnaghan believes
that more is better.
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Conclusion
Stem cell research is one of the most complicated controversies in the United States. It is a
big debate whether it is an ethical research or unethical. People think it is morally wrong since
scientists use human embryos for research. Scientists have found that by using adult stem cells
they can obtained the same results as by using embryonic stem cells. Both stem cells have their
own advantages and disadvantages but both can be the next medical innovation.
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Reference Page
American Life League. Stem Cell Research. American Life League. Retrieved from
http://www.all.org/nav/index/heading/OQ/cat/MTkw/
Ian Murnaghan (October 1, 2012). Embryonic Stem Cells. Explore Stem Cells. Retrieved from
http://www.explorestemcells.co.uk/EmbryonicStemCells.html
Ian Murnaghan (October 11, 2013). Adult vs. Embryonic Stem Cells. Explore Stem Cells.
Retrieved from http://www.explorestemcells.co.uk/AdultVSEmbryonicStemCells.html
National Conference of State Legislatures (January 2008). Stem Cell Research. National
Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/research/
health/embryonic-and-fetal-research-laws.aspx
Pecorino, Lauren (December, 2012). Stem Cells for Cell-Based Therapies. Actionbioscience.
Retrieved from http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotechnology/stem_cells_for_cellbased_therapies_article_update.html
PewResearch Religion & Public Life Project (July 17, 2008). Stem Cell Research at the
Crossroads of Religion and Politics. PewResearch Religion & Public Life Project.
Retrieved from http://www.pewforum.org/2008/07/17/stem-cell-research-at-thecrossroads-of-religion-and-politics/
U.S. News Staff (March 9, 2009). President Obama’s Speech on Stem Cell Executive Order.
U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from http://usnews.com/news/obama/articles/2009
/03/09/president-obamas-speech-on-stem-cell-executive-order