Adult Stem Cell Research Hold Promises of Cures for Disease

[bufffbison]

I have written this paper for my biology class Maybe it could be some use, for those who do not understand adult stem cell research. this paper, among others, will be merged together to be published at the school I attend.


Jason Ison
Mr. Edwards
BIO – 121S
10 November 2004
Adult Stem Cell Research Hold Promises of Cures for Disease
Adult stem cell research continues to promise medical breakthroughs which may lead to possible cures for disease in humans (Holland, Lebacqz, and Zoloth 144). Before explaining the possibilities of adult stem cell research, it is important to understand the properties of an adult stem cell. An adult stem cell is partially structured with a DNA encoded nucleus that “programs” the stem cell (Campbell et al. 214). The type of program encoded in the stem cell, will determine the cell’s state in differentiation into a functional cell. Meaning stem cells has the capability to transform themselves into specialized cells. However, scientists have the ability to isolate the DNA encoded in the stem cell, make genetic alternations to them and insert it back into the stem cell to produce genetic specialized cells. The specialized cells produced from the stem cells could be used to repair organ, bone, and nerve tissues in the human body (Campbell et al. 215).
The intention of this report is to provide information obtained from published materials on the possibilities of adult stem cell research actively performed. Moreover, this report includes some studies conducted by scientists who conduct medical research using adult stem cells.
The biological significance of adult stem cell research is that it could be used to build blueprints of a human body, i.e. cells and tissues. The blueprint created by adult stem cells, could lead to the understanding of normal and abnormal functions of cells in our bodies, and researchers could use the data to develop cures for disease (Holland, Lebacqz, and Zoloth 5-6). Studies of the blueprint and the functions of cells may provide scientists the tools to create roadmaps for predicting disease that may occur in the future (Stem Cells: Scientific Progress and Future Research Directions 176). The prediction of disease will provide essential information to scientists who can begin to work on prevention, treatment, and cures for disease. Extracted genetic DNA in the adult stem cell could also be used for fabricating genetic alternations. These alternations to the genetic DNA could lead to manipulation of genes. It is believed the genetic changes could be used to enhance mobility, improve the overall health, and maybe even increase mental capabilities (Stock 12).
Literature researched had not uncovered many articles describing completed projects. However, one completed project, “Dkk-1 Derived Synthetic Peptides and Lithium Chloride for the Control and Recovery of Adult Stem Cells from Bone Marrow” (Gregory et al. 3); explain adult stem cells derived from bone marrow, are capable to differentiate through “synthetic peptide canonical wingless pathway in progenitor cell lines” to produce osteoblasts, a bone forming cell (Gregory et al. 3). The osteoblasts created from the adult stem cells, can be used for repairing skeletal systems in our bodies. Implanted osteoblasts to damaged bone tissue could divide themselves into linking cells of osteoblasts, creating a tissue which could repair the damaged bone tissue. This method of repairing skeletal systems could lead to strengthening of weakening bones caused by skeletal disease in humans, decrease the healing time needed for fractured bones that are brittle, and may assist in individuals with broken hips and replacement hip surgeries (Gregory et al. 2).
Another completed project performed using adult stem cells, is the development of drugs by testing them for their effectiveness, potency, and safety. Scientists who studied adult stem cells for development of drugs concluded by altering the DNA protein that controls development of plasma membrane, inserting it into a stem cell would produce cells that could increase the effectiveness of drugs (Espejo 9). By alternating the DNA protein, scientists are able to study the functions of the plasma membrane, and make genetic alternations needed to increase the penetration of drugs through the cell. This medical breakthrough could be useful for recipients of organ transplants. The genetically altered cells would be implanted to the organ transplant to increase the effectiveness of anti-rejection drugs. The increased effectiveness of anti-rejection drugs could decrease the chances of organ rejection in patients, and may decrease the excessive amount of anti-rejection drugs a patient may have to take (Espejo 10).
Another beneficial use of stem cells for developing drugs, it could lead to increasing drug safety and potency for humans. Scientists believe the use of alternated stem cells to produce cell’s enhanced uses for drugs could lead to dispersing accurate potency of a drug, and amount needed for each individual patient. This would decrease the chances of overdosing a drug for a patient, and could give doctors the tools to accurately disperse drugs according to each individual patient needs based on their cell’s functions and medicinal needs, while increasing the safety use of the drug (Maienschein 251-279).
There are several projects currently being conducted with adult stem cell research. An example project which is currently being researched, stem cells produced by an adult pancreas, could differentiate to produce functional cells to create insulin in diabetics (Choi et al. 1). According to the research article, “Adult Pancreas Generates Multipotent Stem Cells and Pancreatic and Nonpancreatic Progeny” (Choi et al 1071); adult stem cells generated by the pancreas, could be alternated to produce insulin producing cells (Gosden 185). It is believed scientists could isolate the stem cells from the pancreas to study the DNA in them and how cells produce insulin naturally. If scientists are successful at understanding how stem cells can differentiate themselves into cells to produce insulin, and find the DNA to do that, it would be possible for scientists to replicate the DNA that differentiates stem cells into cells to produce insulin (Choi et al 1074-1075). This would be beneficial to diabetics, and patients with failing pancreas (Gosden 235). The stem cells could be implanted into the pancreas in aiding it to produce insulin and to help repair cells that make up the pancreas.
Future direction of adult stem cell research appears to be promising (Green 135). The momentum it has and the increasing amount of scientists willing to do the research will have a positive outlook on the use of adult stem cells for the future. Despite activists who proclaim stem cell research as a “mad scientist” research to manufacture humans and playing god like, adult stem cell research will gain global attention when it produces a cure for disease (Green 25). One of the most anticipating projects being conducted by scientists with adult stem cell research is the use of stem cells in the neurological systems. Scientist’s hypothesis are, if adult stem cells can be harvested from the body, genetically altered to produce nerve cells, then could it repair damages to the nervous system, spinal cord, and brain (Joseph et al. 5599)? This project will create future directions for adult stem cell research. It could lead to success in developing cures for neurological disease, prevention of disease, or it could lead to a scientific disaster and new disease may be created resulted by the failure.
In closing arguments, advancements in adult stem cell research were once thought impossible, because its limitations were resulted by the stem cell being partial differentiated to a functional cell (Campbell el at. 214). Nevertheless, continuing research conducted by scientists proved adult stem cells could be used to produce specialized cells, despite the stem cell being partial differentiated to a functional cell (Campbell el at. 208). Adult stem cell research is still relatively new, and unaccustomed to a lot of people. Continuing criticism and skepticism of adult stem cell research will linger for years. Like anything else new being introduced to the public, it will take some time for people to accept adult stem cells as an alternative to medical research (Green 89). When the time is right, and when enough people are accustomed to stem cell research, the momentum needed will begin to sway towards further research of cures for disease. Until then, it will take many years of thorough researching by scientists to reveal new cures it promises, and probably the same amount of time for it to gain momentum in the healthcare system (Green 89).
















Works Cited
Campbell, Neil A.; Reece, Jane B.; Mitchell, Lawrence G.; and Taylor, Martha R. “Biology
Concepts & Connections 4th ed” Benjamin Cummings: California, 2003.
Choi, Yong; Ta, Malancha; Atouf, Fouad; Lumelsky, Nadya. “Adult Pancreas Generates
Multipotent Stem Cells and Pancreatic and Nonpancreatic Progeny.” National Institute
of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health: Maryland,
May 2004. < http://stemcells.alphamedpress.org.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/cgi/content/
full/22/6/1070#R31>
Espejo, Roman. “Human Embryo Experimentation” Greenhaven Press: California, 2002.
Gosden, Roger. “Designing Babies.” W. H. Freeman and Company: New York, 1999.
Green, Ronald M. “The Human Embryo Research Debates” Oxford University Press: New
York, 2001.
Gregory, Carl A.; Perry, Anthony S.; Reyes, Emigidio; Conely, Adam; Gunn, Grady W.; and
Prockop, Darwin J. “Dkk-1 Derived Synthetic Peptides and Lithium Chloride
for the Control and Recovery of Adult Stem Cells from
Bone Marrow.” Tulane University Health Sciences Center: New Orleans, October 2004.
<http://www.jbc.org.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/cgi/reprint/M406275200v1>
Holland, Suzanne; Lebacqz, Karen; and Zoloth, Laurie. “The Human Embryonic Stem Cell
Debate” Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Massachusetts, 2001.
Joseph, Nancy M.; Mukouyama, Yoh-suke; Mosher, Jack T.; Jaegle, Martine; Crone,
Steven A.; Dormand, Emma-Louise; Lee, Kuo-Fen; Meijer, Dies; Anderson, David J.;
and Morrison, Sean J. “Neural crest stem cells undergo multilineage differentiation in
developing peripheral nerves to generate endoneurial fibroblasts in addition to Schwann
cells.” The Company of Biologists: New Jersey, September 2004.
<http://dev.biologists.org.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/cgi/reprint/131/22/5599>
Maienschein, Jane. “Whose View Of Life?” Harvard University Press: Massachusetts, 2003.
Stem Cells: Scientific Progress and Future Research Directions. Department of Health and
Human Services (NIH), June 2001. <http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport>
Stock, Gregory. “Redesigning Humans” Houghton Mifflin Company: New York, 2002.

[chicagiana]

1. embyronic stem cells promise even more ...

Embryonic stem cells promise even more. And society seems fit to just throw them away.

[bufffbison]

2. true....BUT!

Both researches are equally important, however, i can personally conclude adult stem cell research will be the wave of the future. Scientists are an hour away reversing the development of adult stem cells, into properties similar to embryonic stem cells. So, it is my belief, we should concentrate more on adult stem cell research, rather than embryonic stem cells. Simply because, Christians, repukes will only counter the efforts of embryonic stem cell research, and majority of the population are unaware what embryonic stem cell research really is. all they believe is, "we must kill babies, in order to get the embryonic stem cells," and they will use that line to shoot down our efforts to develop cures.

What most people do not know, is that embryonic stem cells can be found in the umbilical cord, breast milk, mother's bodily wastes, as well as in the mothers blood stream. Also, another fact that people do not know, we currently have over 150,000 frozen embryonic stem cells. All of which can be differenerated into a cell of any kind we desire. To my guestimate, there may be 10,000 different kinds of cells in our bodies. (I do not know the exact number, but if someone knows, please post it) Scientists can inject interlocking DNA into an embryonic stem cell, have it partially differenerated to a cell i.e. osteoblast, splice the cell to encourage cell division, and from there on, the cells will continue to develop and divide that type of cell. We can do this type of replication for all 10,000 different cells in our bodies, and have “banks” of the cells to create tissue. Whenever a patient need a particular cell/tissue, we can obtain that particular cell, inject that patient’s DNA into it, and it will be ready to implant it into the patient. I know this is probably a poor way explaining the process, but this is the kind of stuff we already can do, but it is people like the repukes who restrain us from doing it.


I also would like to add, adult stem cell research can also provide roadmap of the human species, as noted in my report. This is important, because we will know how humans evolved, and when evolution will take place in the future. Most experts will tell you, humans are in a transit for evolution to occur soon. Our skeletal structures are not suited for us being upright, our bodies are not evolved enough, for us to eat meat. (yes, humans are herbivores., not carnivores or omnivores. We are carnivores and omnivores only by social evolution, NOT biological evolution.) This is why we have so much health problems, ie heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol etc. Our bodes haven’t evolved to take in those kinds of food, and new disease will continue to develop as we eat more meat and our social appetite changes the course of human evolution. We may be near to an evolution, which may put risks on us to become extinct.