A huge controversy touches upon stem cell research because of the way embryos are created, used and destructed for study purposes alone. On the other hand, stem cell research gives hopes to the medical world about the possibility to cure diseases like Alzheimer, Parkinson’s, heart attacks, diabetes, strokes and many others. Yet, lots of people who protest against stem cell research are unaware of the fact that not all lab procedures are harmful to embryos. Even if they have a lower biological potential, adult stem cells for instance represent a great study material and a constant replacement for human embryonic stem cells samples.
There are many limitations related to the specialization potential of adult stem cells, particularly since embryonic cells have an unlimited variants of differentiation. Moreover, stem cell research points out that embryonic material is more suitable and useful for nervous system therapies. There are bad bits to embryonic stem cells as well because very often they are rejected by the immune system. This is actually the trap that many parents are not aware of when storing umbilical cord stem cells in banks as an insurance policy for the future health of their child.
Lots of mysteries remain unsolved for the moment, and stem cell research needs to progress a bit further before coming up with new and viable treatments. The only type of stem cell transplant that is no longer an issue or secret for the medical world is bone marrow transplantation, that has been practiced for almost fifty years now with great success. Otherwise, the rest of the cures available on the basis of stem cells are usually experimental and pretty expensive. For the moment, stem cell research needs to come up with other collection sources other than embryos.
A great success was reputed by stem cell research in 2007 when three stem cell lines were created at the Advanced Cell Technology Institute without causing any harm to parenting embryos. Such significant achievements of stem cell research have been unique so far in the world, but more novelties seem to change the evolution of experimental medicine. In the same year, 2007, it was discovered that the amniotic fluid in which the fetus grows in the womb contains stem cells that can specialize and develop into organs, bones, nerves, muscles or blood vessels. This new tissue resource could enhance the possibility to develop methods for the treatment of injured or malfunctioning organs.
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