The Greatest Medical Breakthrough?the use of Pluripotent Stem Cells Ess

An Assessment of The Greatest Medical Breakthrough the use of Pluripotent Stem Cells A critical review of the pro and con analysis, of arguably, the most controversial issue of the 21st century—the use of pluripotent stems cells. In addition, the ensuing synthesis and prescription based upon empirical data and critical thinking. Given the enormous promise of pluripotent stem cells to the development of new treatments for the most devastating diseases, we believe our scientific researchers and medical professionals should be permitted and encouraged to simultaneously pursue pluripotent stem cell research. Further, the ban on federal funding of research on new stem cell lines should be overturn, allowing doctors and scientists to explore their full potential with the appropriate ethical oversight. An Assessment of The Greatest Medical Breakthrough—the use of Pluripotent Stem Cells   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Thesis: The greatest medical breakthrough in any lifetime—the use of pluripotent stems cells.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Background: Stem cell research continues to be a controversial issue. Stem cells are cells that have a particular function, like blood stem cells whose function is to make different types of blood cells or skin stem cells whose function is to make various types of skin cells. Stem cells evolve from pluripotent stem cells, cells that makeup the inner cell mass of the embryonic blastocell. As the pluripotent stem cells specialize, they form stem cells with the specific kinds of purposes mentioned above. Stem cells are controversial because the most useful variety of stem cells comes from embryos at the blastocyst stage, meaning the cells are taken from embryos of aborted fetuses or from surplus embryos left over from In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Despite such controversy, many researchers and medical professionals argue that pluripotent embryos have â€Å"the potential to revolutionize the practice of medicine and improve the quality and length of life† for m illions of individuals (NIH, 2002, p. 1). For these reasons, the use of pluripotent stem cells potentially represent the greatest medical breakthrough of any era in history and federal funding for such research must be approved.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pro Analysis: The unique ability of embryonic pluripotent stem cells shows tremendous medical prom... ...al, critical and necessary. Grigg, W. N. (2002). Embryonic stem cell research could have dangerous   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  consequences. Medicine. Retrieved Aug 13, 2004, from Opposing   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Viewpoints Resource Center, 1-4. Discusses the nuances, implications and basis for President Bush’s position on harvesting of organs and tissues. Explains President Bush’s cautionary approach to stem cell research and the use of federal funding. Confirms that there is no proven, scientific advantage of using embryonic stem cells instead of pluripotent adult cells. National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2002). Embryonic stem cell research is beneficial. Human Embryonic Experimentation. Retrieved Aug 13, 2004, from Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center, 1-6. Discusses the importance of pluripotent stem cells and how they are derived. Analyzes how pluripotent stem cells can be potentially applied. Evaluates the inherent limitations associated with adult stem cells. Explains how isolating pluripotent cells offer useful insight into cell processes, such as cancer and birth defects and will lead to the fundamental errors that cause debilitating illnesses.