StemCell Therapy

What have been the latest developments in the stem cell controversy?

Political pressure to expand the level of government-funded stem cell research has increased amid ongoing reports of the potential medical efficacy of such treatments. Congress passed legislation authorizing such expansion but President Bush vetoed the legislation based his religious convictions. There is some indication from scientific advances of the improved potential of non-embryonic stem cells.

The medical possibilities which might result from stem cell research continues to excite the scientific community. There are some indications that progress is being made in developing alternatives to the use of embryos in pursuing this technology. If this happens, most political/ethical concerns regarding the matter will be resolved. The competitive aspects of this research were evidence by recent revelations that a South Korean scientist had faked research that had purported replicated individual DNA.

The stem cell controversy is an issue in the 2008 Presidential campaign in part because of the recent death of former President Ronald Reagan from Alzheimer's disease. Some of his family members have been vocal advocates of the potential of stem cell research to provide treatments for such conditions and his son spoke at the Democratic convention on the subject. Recent polls indicate that the research proposals have widespread public support even among Republican voters. Voters in California recently approved a ballot measure to establish a public funded stem cell research program in that state. As in past election years, the 2008 Democratic platform supports funding this research. The 2008 Republican platform continues to reflect the party's religious based opposition to embryonic stem cell research. There are indications that some European and Asian countries have the green light to actively pursue this research.

On March 9, 2009, President Obama issued an executive order removing the restriction on federal funding for newer stem cell lines. Researchers are still limited by budget language prohibiting federal funding for research involving destroyed or discarded embryos. But researchers can use federal funds on new lines which had been created with private funds or state funding.

What are "stem cells"?

For purposes of the current controversy, these cells are known as "pluripotent stem cells". These are specialized cells which are formed at the very beginning stages of human embryo development and are part of what is known as a blastocyst (see illustration). These cells are unique because at this stage in development they are not specialized and have the capacity to develop into 130 different human tissue types.

Why are these stem cells important to medical scientists?

Although research is only in the early stages, there is a growing consensus among researchers that many very effective medical treatments can be realized through cloning stem cells. This is because these cells can be made to replicate specific human tissues. These cells offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissue to treat a myriad of diseases, conditions, and disabilities including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. There is almost no realm of medicine that might not be touched by this innovation.

How are stem cells obtained?

See the original post:
Stem Cell Research - Newsbatch

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