Question

The Scenario: Your friend Bob asks you to sign a Change.org petition to encourage your Congressman to propose a bill that would outlaw all stem cell research and treatments. The reason given for this petition is that embryonic stem cells come from aborted fetuses. Assignment: Write a response to your friend explaining what stem cells are and where they come from, making sure to clarify the factual misconception(s) in the petition. Your response needs to accurately explain stem cell biology and be well supported. Don't forget to review the rubric! Please note: a large portion of your grade on this paper will be based on how well you identify the misconception(s) your friend has, and how well you correctly

Answer 1

Hi Answer:

Answer: Dear Bob as you told that you are going to file a petition against the stem cell research and treatments. First of all, I want to make clear your some misconceptions, which you have regarding the stem cells, and let you know some facts about the stems cells by answering these questions: what exactly is the stem cell? And what characteristic features they have? and how many types of stem cells in our body? and how they can help the society to fight against deadly diseases?

So lets start with first question i.e. (i) What are the stem cells actually? And what characteristic features they have? Stem cells are the pluripotent cells present in different organisms. The stem cells have the capability to differentiate into any type of body cells even into the nerve and cardiac cells. Means we can say that these cells are unspecialized and can be diverted or transformed into a specific type of cells for providing them the particular conditions inside the body.

(ii) how many type of stem cells in our body? On the bases of the sources the stem cells are divided into main types. These types are 1. Embryonic stem cells 2. Somatic stem cells 3. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

1. Embryonic stem cells (ESC): These are the stem cells isolated from the 3-5 day old blastocyst, in this phase the blastocyst is just a mass of undifferentiated cells which is produced after the ovum fertilization. Human ESC was first grown in 1998. ESC has very high potential to produce specialized cells of the body and they have a high possibility for diseases research and discovery of new therapies.

2.Somatic stem cells: These stem cells are also known as Adult stem cells. These cells are undifferentiated cells and found all over the body after development. The main use of these cells is the replacing the old and died cells in a tissue and regenerate damaged tissues. The most common example of the adult/somatic cell extraction is the extraction from the umbilical cord of a newly born baby. These cells specifically generate into that particular type of organ or tissue from which originally they are isolated. They have the potential to regenerate into a whole organ from few cells. The most common adult/ somatic stem cells are Hematopoietic stem cells, mammary stem cells, Intestinal stem cells, Mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, olfactory stem cells and many more on the bases of the tissue from which these cells are isolated.

3.Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs): These are the specific type of cells which are engineered in a lab by engineering or modification of somatic stem cells. After engineering these somatic stem cells start behaving like embryonic stem cells. This is one of the most recent discoveries in the field of stem cell research. As they have features of ESCs they can be differentiated into any organs or tissue of the body. Scientist used them to determine the effect of various medicines on the different organs by generating specific organs from the iPSCs. In this type of stem cell development, the adult bone marrow cells or blood cells are induced back into unprogrammed cells.

(iii) how stem cell can help the society to fight against deadly diseases?

As now you know about the features and types of the stem cells now let's discuss their benefits to the society. These cells are pluripotent in nature so they can be regenerated into any desired type of cells or whole organ, for example, the somatic stem cells can be regenerate into a whole organ from few cells. The most common adult/ somatic stem cells are Hematopoietic stem cells, mammary stem cells, Intestinal stem cells, Mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, olfactory stem cells. So when we have some defect in these cells or organ we can replace the defected cells with healthy one which can increase the lifespan of the patient. Second is iPSCs we can bring the embryonic stem cell features in the somatic stem cells by some modifications in them.

My whole purpose to write this long letter regarding the stem cells is to let you understand the facts and importance of stem cell research for the society. I understand and admit that embryonic stem cells are isolated from living embryo and their isolation causes the death of embryo and according to law the killing an embryo is not ethically right but we have to see the other side of the fact and importance of this research. If you file the petition and it is accepted then the research on another stem cells ( somatic as well as Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) ) will also pause which is the huge loss of the society. So I hope the misconceptions which you have regarding stem cell research and therapy is now resolved and you will think positive towards the stem cell research.