Kami Teal
Contributing Writer
Stem cell research is one of the hottest topics in the medical world. We are bombarded by one controversy after another concerning what appears to be the new frontier of medicine. Some scientists are promising such incredible feats as the ability to cure diabetes or cancer or to “grow” new organs such as hearts or lungs. If, and I assume one day it could happen, we are able to accomplish such tasks, should we continue experimenting and exploring our capabilities? How far is too far? At what point should we stop and simply leave the job of “creator” to the one who actually deserves that title?
In the not so distant past, people could not conceive of walking on the moon or of being kept alive by machines, yet both of those feats were accomplished. Thus, there is no doubt in my mind that incredible things are possible with stem cells.
In my opinion, we should not play the games of “what if” and “how far.” It should never even reach that point. We must establish international regulations to control the field of stem cell research. While the research should be moderated, it must still continue. We can learn a great deal about the human body and improve the lives of many people through the use of stem cells.
The most concerning issue with unmonitored research is the use of embryonic-stem cells. The use of these cells, especially those from an aborted or miscarried fetus, opens a whole new world of issues we simply should not touch. If fetal cells are available for use, how will we regulate the methods by which they are obtained? Will the mothers and fathers be compensated for the use of their DNA? My biggest fear is that the use of these cells may be linked to abortion.
Personally, I am opposed to abortion, and morally, ethically and spiritually, I simply cannot support the use of an aborted fetus for any medicine, no matter how incredible.
Even though I am opposed to the use of embryonic stem cells, I am very supportive of the use of adult-stem cells. Adult-stem cells are not as versatile as the embryonic variety, but this could potentially alleviate the problem of going too far with stem cells; if they only have limited capabilities, then they can only be used for limited purposes. According to Dr. Wolfgang Lillge, there has been much success with the use of adult stem cells from the spinal cord, brain, connective tissue and umbilical cord blood in creating a variety of more specific stem cells.
In one study, cells from the brain of a man with Parkinson’s disease (which is caused by a lack of the hormone/neurotransmitter dopamine) were cultured and approximately 20 percent were converted into dopamine-secreting neurons. These were injected into his basal ganglia, which resulted in great improvement in his symptoms, according to an article in the National Review Online. Winitsky et al. has also experienced success in regenerating beating cardiac cells from adult stem cells in skeletal muscle.
It is well known that after a heart attack, only limited restoration of cardiac function is possible, yet in this study, researchers were able to obtain cells from adult mouse skeletal muscle and implant them into a severely damaged mouse heart. After two days, the cells were distinctly visible in the heart. Within six days, the skeletal muscle cells were beginning to divide independently of other cardiac cells. Three months later the cells were observed to have converted into striated cardiac muscle and remained only in the damaged areas of the heart. These findings have very important implications for humans because researchers hope the results are consistent across species. Thus, the procedure might one day be possible in humans to repair cardiac cell damage following a heart attack. As is apparent from these two studies, there is great hope in the future of adult stem cell research.
There are no quick and easy answers to the debates over stem cell research, but it is also important to realize that stem cells have the potential to cure some of the most devastating diseases of today. Because of this, we must continue studies with adult stem cells and discontinue use of embryonic stem cells. This way, we will continue to progress toward potential cures and solve many of the morally controversial issues we currently face.
03-17-2005