The Potential Of Stem Cell Research - 2519 Words

Berg 1 Brianna Berg ENG 110 Dr. Stobb 4/14/15 The Potential to Cure People When a typical adult hears the words â€Å"Stem Cell Research† most would rather not talk about it because they would not want to cause tension with the person who brought up the topic. The controversy of religion could be brought up within the topic. Many people have not been educated appropriately on the subject matter because most do not know that stem cells can come not only from an embryo, but also an adult. Understanding the main purpose of stem cell research and its benefits will allow a person to outweigh ethical apprehension for the ailing patient in need of the treatment from stem cells once the public is educated correctly. Before understanding the problem of†¦show more content†¦Twenty years after Dr. Till and Dr. McCulloch’s research, Dr. Gail Martin at the University of California utilized Berg 2 pregnant laboratory mice to isolate three-day old embryonic stem cells (Allman 27). At the same time Dr. Gail Martin achieved separating stem cells from mice, Dr. Martin Evans from Cambridge University figured out a way to grow embryonic stem cells from mice (Allman 28). In November of 1998 Dr. James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin received unwanted leftover embryos from an in vitro clinic and isolated the human embryonic stem cells and watched them divide and proliferate (Allman 30). At a similar point in time, Dr. John Gearhart at Johns Hopkins University successfully secluded and cultivated human embryonic stem cells from aborted fetuses (Allman 31). As of May 2013 Oregon Health and Science University researchers used a cloning technique known as â€Å"Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT)† to successfully reprogram human skin cells into embryonic stem cells. DNA from the egg was removed and replaced with genetic matter from a somatic cell (any living non repro ductive cell); scientists programmed it to turn into contracting cardiomyocytes, the cells that make a person’s heart muscle (Timeline of major events). What exactly are stem cells? Stem cells are uncommitted to specific body functions making them unique because they have the capability of renewing and developing into specialized cells once they receive a