Embryonic stem cells are well known for their pluripotency.
This means that the cell can form into many other different types of cell. This
has brought about much ethical debates, and rightly so. Different countries and
politicians seem to take on different sides of the debate and this influenced
the politics on research within their country. This area of research may be
right, and it may be “wrong”, but as a budding scientist I can see some good
coming from this type of research. At current there is research into other
types of stem cell, such as stem cells taken from the umbilical cord and adult
stem cells. These cause no real harm, and parents to be can opt-in for private
packages that save the umbilical cord and preserve it- almost like a spare
organ. This could become the norm in years to come, and who knows maybe the NHS
will endorse the practice.
Back to the cells, some
scientists have recently looked at using stem cells derived from adipose
tissue- yes that’s right, fat tissue! Fat is perhaps one type of tissue that is
an abundant supply in the western world. If this research proves its worth then
maybe one day liposuction and such will become common place, like donating
blood people will get their feel good factor. They get to look slimmer and have
assurance that one day if needed their doctor could order a range of tissues to
be generated from stem cells. Maybe this is all a bit futuristic and it may
seem far-fetched, but in our lifetime
there is hope that a type of stem cell can be used to successfully treat those
in need.
Debate:
Could this lead to more wreckless lifestyles?
Could this lead to divisions in society between richer and
poorer?
Could stem cells one day replace health insurance?
Further reading:
Gimble, J., Katz,
A., & Bunnel, B. (2007). Adipose-Derived Stem Cells for Regenerative
Medicine. Circulation Research, Journal of the American Heart Association ,
1249-1260.
The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is located on theWorld Wide Web at:
http://circres.ahajournals.org/content/100/9/1249
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