Many of us know that the center of the debate of the Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research revolves around embryonic stem cells and whether or not using them is morally appropriate. But, are politics and the media hiding the real potential of it's brother Adult Stem Cell Research? Ultimately, the real question is whether or not Adult Stem Cells have as many capabilities as Embryonic Stem Cells. For many years the stem cell debate was fueled by the embryonic stem cell advocates saying that Adult Stem Cells weren’t really capable of turning into other types of cells (which is the real benefit of stem cell research) and were therefore limited in what they could become. You might be surprised at the new developments in Adult Stem Cell Research.
It should be noted that more money is given to Adult Stem Cell Research (the NIH gave $190 Million last year compared to the $24.8 million given for Embryonic Stem Cells). We hear all the time, from advocates such as Michael J. Fox, that Embryonic Stem Cells are the real future in stem cell research and that the promising research is done in the field. But, what many of the Adult Stem Cell critics are missing is that Adult Stem Cells have been used in many treatments 72 adult stem cell treatments have been performed at last count, while a whopping 0 have been performed from Embryonic Stem Cells. These same Adult stem cells are used in bone-marrow transplants and even treat certain cases of leukemia and other blood disorders. There are also treatments being made for heart attacks, liver, bone and brain diseases and disorders. Adult Stem Cells can also be derived from many places such as Umbilical Cord Blood, Hair Follicles, Skin Cells, and several others.
“Osiris, which grew out of research by scientists at Case Western University in Cleveland, is using stem cells from bone-marrow donors to target, among other maladies, heart disease, specifically heart attacks. It is in early-stage human testing of a therapy in which heart-attack patients are intravenously injected with stem cells that are said to migrate to the heart and replace damaged cells.” - The Washington Post
John Hopkins University Professor, Saul J. Sharkis, who has mad advances in Adult Stem Cell Research, was very surprised at what has been accomplished in Adult Stem Cell Research. He says, “It is mind-blowing stuff,” and “I never would have thought this would be possible … Preposterous. Not Possible. No Way.”
Obviously many in the scientific community are excited and surprised by these findings. If this really is the answer, it could be the end to the debate over the Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research as we know it. It is definitely an exciting possibility that has already yielded some great successes.
