Provided with the right mixture of signals, embryonic stem cells can develop into mature cells that can function as neurons, muscles, bone, blood along with other needed types of cells. Stem cells that have this flexibility are portrayed as pluripotent, in order to indicate their high potential to differentiate into a wide variety of cell types. A second attribute of embryonic stem cells is that they have the ability to remain in an undifferentiated state and to divide forever. This ability to self-renew means that essentially an unlimited numbers of identical, well-defined, genetically and genomically characterized stem cells can be produced in culture dishes for medical use (Human Embryonic Stem Cells, n.d.).
President Obama has signed an executive order that overturned the policy that was put into place by Bush that limited federal tax dollars being used for embryonic stem cell research. This move has been hailed by advocates for those suffering from a host of afflictions, ranging from diabetes to Parkinson's disease, who believe that an expansion of stem-cell research could boost medical progress toward eradicating the debilitating diseases. However many conservatives have objected to the damage of human...
The research potential for the medical field that these cells provide is remarkable. The ethical argument on the other side is just as valid. The bottom line is that no matter which path is taken someone is going to be upset. It needs to be determined whether the use of these cells provides more a benefit than they do harm. It appears that the Presidential Administration feels that this is the case and has given their approval for this research to continue.
References
Henry, Ed. (2009). Obama to reverse embryonic stem cell ban. Retrieved April 20, 2010, from CNN Politics Web site:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/06/obama.stem.cell/index.html
Human Embryonic Stem Cells. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2010, from Sumanas, Inc.
Web site: http://www.sumanasinc.com/scienceinfocus/sif_stemcells.html
Stem Cell Basics. (2009). Retrieved April 20, 2010, from National Institute of Health Web site:
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics3.asp
