Researchers create embryonic stem cells without embryo

A reaction paper

Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early
life and growth. They serve as an internal repair system, continuously dividing without limit to replenish
other cells if the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each cell has the possibility to
either remain as a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more helpful function in the body.

Recently, scientists worked with two kinds of stem cells from animal and humans; one of them is the
embryonic stem cell. Embryonic stem cells, from the word itself, develop from eggs that have been
fertilized through in vitro fertilization. They are not derived from eggs fertilized in a woman’s body.

According to some statistics, 371 million people have diabetes globally, more than 10 million people
worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease, and heart disease is the no. 1 cause of death in the world.
These are some diseases that can be treated with the help of embryonic stem cells. Amidst of all the things
that embryonic stem cells can benefit, embryonic stem cells are one of the leading ethical arguments
between the field of biotechnology and society. The main disadvantage of embryonic stem cells is the way
that they are acquired. Since embryonic stem cells are derived from embryo, human embryos are
destroyed during the harvesting of these cell. Genetically, an embryo is human being. Even if stem cell
treatments ultimately proved successful, embryonic stem cells basically involves the deliberate killing of
a human being to use his body parts to treat another human being.

In 2006, researchers developed an alternative way of harvesting embryonic stem cells, they called it the
induced pluripotent stem cells. But unfortunately, induced pluripotent stem cells have focused more on
the use of adult stem cells, but the use of these cells is limited because unlike embryonic stem cells that
can grow into any type of cells, adult stem cells can only grow into a specific cell types.

But on the other hand, according from an article of Harvard, researchers created embryonic stem cells
without an embryo. The article stated that; “It may not be necessary to create an embryo to acquire
embryonic stem cells. Our research finding demonstrate that creation of an autologous pluripotent stem
cell- a stem cell from an individual that has the potential to be used for a therapeutic purpose without an
embryo- is possible…” The process of the research was done using plant cells and matured blood cells
from mice.

This research can be a much greater contribution to the field of biotechnology. If the process can be
successfully done in human cells, it can open to a wide range of researches to treat a variety of diseases
that are risky to all human life. And, those ethical arguments will come to an end.