Stem Cell Research Description

Stem cell research is a scientific process where human cells are grown in a variety of ways in order to be used as treatment for medical problems caused by defective cells within the human body.

Types

• There are three forms of stem cell research: human embryonic stem cell, adult stem cell and induced pluripotent stem cell research.

History

• Adult stem cells harvested from bone marrow have been used for transplant since the 1960s to treat leukemia, reports the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Embryonic stem cell research was developed in November 1998 by Dr. James A. Thompson at the University of Wisconsin.

Ethics

• Human embryonic stem cell research presents ethical problems for many religious and pro-life groups, according to According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as it requires the harvesting of cells from human embryos that are only days old, resulting in the death of the embryo.

Research

• However, the Religious Tolerance consultancy group reports advances in human pluripotent stem cell research. This is a relatively new form of stem cell research that attempts to process ordinary cells---such as skin cells---to reproduce the properties of embryonic stem cells without harvesting them from human embryos.

Treatments

• Stem cell research is ongoing in a number of treatment areas including Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer and stroke.