Stem cells, by definition, are cells that have the ability to develop into many different

types of cells. There are different types of stem cells, different places of origin, and certain

extents to what kinds of cells can be created. There also has been an ethical debate due to the fact

that certain stem cells come from developing embryos.

Stem cells have the ability to divide through mitosis and renew themselves for long

periods of time. Certain stem cells are cells that have not developed into cells that function as a

part of your body, these are called undifferentiated stem cells. The process of differentiation

is the development of a stem cell into a functioning cell of the body through cell to cell contact

or signaling. There are two types of stem cells, embryonic and somatic. Both have an extent as to

what kind of cells they can be differentiated. The differentiated cells are fixed into what cells

they have been contacted or signaled to be. For example, differentiated stem cells in the liver will

become liver cells when they are needed, these are called multipotent. Somatic stem cells are

rare undifferentiated cells found in organs of adults the differentiation of the cells are limited to

the cell types where they are found in the body. Undifferentiated cells are stem cells that have

not differentiated, yet. These undifferentiated stem cells come from preimplemetated embryos,

which is the cluster of cells that the zygote becomes merely a few days after merging from sperm

and egg. Those embryonic, undifferentiated stem cells from preimplementated embryos are

totipotent, which means they can form any cell and eventually form a human. Somatic stem cells

are rare undifferentiated cells found in organs of adults the differentiation of the cells are limited

to the cell types where they are found in the body. Stem cells are very powerful things, and may

open up doors that can lead to saving lives from deadly diseases.
 The ethical debate on stem cells has been teetering on the legality of using them. As

metioned before, the totipotent stem cells, when taken from the developing embryo, causes the

embryo to die. Former President Bush and Former President Obama both made legal chnages to

laws as for the use of totipetent stem cells from embryos. There were sixty-four stem cell lines,

but only twenty-four are accesible to scientists for research during the Bush Administration

(Mears, 2013, para. 17), while in the Obama Administration, there were seventy-five according

to the National Institution of Health. (Mears, 2013, para. 18). Though, this was some

advancements, this is nothing compared to research overseas like in China, because there, there

is no ethical debate. The belief in China is that a child is only alive after it is born. (Jimenez,

2009, para. 4).

My stance on this ethical debate is very simple. Embryos that are used in stem cell

research are originate, most of the time, if not, always, are from in vitro fertilization, or umbilical

cords that have been cut already. The preimplemented embryo has only had a few days to live

If a five day old cluster of cells can help with an illness or disease, then the stem cells should be

put to use. A petri dish cluster should not be ethically questioned.

 References

Mears, B. (2013). Supreme Court allows federal stem cell research to continue. Cable News

Network. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/07/justice/stem-cell-appeal/

Jimenez, C. (2009) China will be the world leader in stem cell research. Retrieved from

http://beikebiotech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/China-will-be-the-world-leader-in-s

tem-cell-research.pdf

Rogitz, A. (2017) Stem cells, notes. [PowerPoint Slides].