Stem cell research - Essay Example

The article has looked at the benefits of stem cell technology to the human being as well as its dangers (The Century Foundation Press 4). On the benefit side, the stem cells heave been confirmed to have impacts on the everyday human survival. The article talks about the strides that are being made by scientists in the study of embryological development. This involves giving the scientists an understanding of why genetic diseases recur as well as other human abnormalities. The authors also mention the benefits of stem cells to the body including the repair of worn out tissues as well as the growth, development and maintenance of the body (The Century Foundation Press 5).

On the other hand, the authors have mentioned the dangers of the stem cells. Here, they have mentioned risks such as low ‘shelf life’ if the cell are contaminated or experience mutation. There is also the danger of adopting adult stem cells, as opposed to embryonic stem cells. The authors state that the risk involves the formation of benign tumors also known as teratomas (The Century Foundation Press 6). While attempting to seek balance, the article is advocating the positives than the negatives.

This means that while the article is balanced, it would do well to add more information on the risks of stem cell technology. . The study has the benefit of allowing scientists to understand how the cells specialize themselves into the more than 200 body cell types (14). The other finding about this part of the article is that the stem cells are also used for medical purposes (The Century Foundation Press 9). This includes allowing doctors to study some diseases and come up with lasting solutions to these problems.

Medically, the use of stem cell technology can be a standing solution to the negative effects of drug intake. Generally, when people get debilitating diseases like cancer, they have to take a regime of drugs that help keep the disease in check. However, there is now the chance to alleviate effects of drugs in the body. This is through the use of stem cell technology. The result would be a treatment that is relatively safer and even more natural. Treatment of diseases like cancer will now become much safer and less unpleasant.

At the same time, there is the added advantage of the potential to tailor the medicine to the patient’s specific genetic make-up. This thus prevents side effects that are likely to occur with drugs that are generally made. The third finding of this part is that the stem cells are of value therapeutically. This means that people can be able to fix problems such as scars or other deformities that they have thanks to stem cell technology. According to Hayes et al, Hematopoietic cells, which are adult stem cells have for almost four decades been used in the treatment of several diseases (15).

These include leukemia, Lymphoma, as well as, other blood disorders. This is, therefore, testament to the safe nature of the stem cells in terms of their use. Apparently Hayes et