Stem Cell Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Stem Cell - Term Paper Example As the basic unit of life, the cell became the determinant for the cause of several serious medical conditions, such as heart failures, birth defects and all types of cancer. An understanding of the process of cell development allowed medical scientists to assess a particular health condition and to boost the recovery of the person who has it. For the purposes of research and treatment, stem cell donation and banking emerged to become the hottest trend in the medical world, though a number of objections were raised especially by those from the church and other moralists. Stem Cell 101 As opposed to the other human and animal types of cell, stem cells are those that â€Å"carry the potential to develop into some or many different cell types in the body† (National Institutes of Health, 2010). A simpler and more direct approach is to state that stem cells are cells that renew on its own. They self-generate. As the human body’s repair and rejuvenating mechanism, stem cells have the ability to â€Å"divide endlessly and replenish other cells of the living person, and their product could either maintain a form of a stem cell or become another functional cell in the form of a muscle, brain or red blood cell† (National Institutes of Health, 2010). ... , there are other scientific inquiries conducted by the field experts to determine which other parts of the human body could be possible sources of such a ‘natural treasure.’ The positive outcome of these explorations shall be one of the most-awaited advancements in modern science and will be considered another quantum leap for humanity. Donation and Transplant It is with this potency and promise of the stem cell that health experts dedicated much of their time researching about this subject. Already, there have been a number of medical investigations that confirmed the multi-faceted functions of the stem cell and that indicated the need for a wider exploration on the matter, including its transplantation. Due to the fact that donated tissues and organs used to replace those that are infected or damaged are easily exhausted, an increased demand for stem cell donation was observed. Medical practitioners, consequently, encourage people to donate a part of themselves in the form of the stem cell to help those who badly need treatment for diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer, spinal cord injury, burns, arthritis and cardiac malfunction, among others. To respond to the need, nevertheless, some hospitals and clinical specialists would immediately offer mothers who have just given birth if they are amenable to donate the placentas and umbilical cords of the newborn. However, the decision remains in the mother and a written consent should be executed first. In addition, private businesses emanated to cater to the desire of families who want to preserve the umbilical cord of their newborn for any future use through sophisticated storage facilities. This goes with a substantial payment, though, required from the customers. But for healthcare institutions that