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Archana Sundar
Mrs. Courtney Grimaldi
Honors English Language Arts
February 13 2016
Divide and Conquer: The Fight for the Advancement of Stem Cell Research

In order to encourage childrens fascination with the world, adults often romanticize the
idea of growing up by telling them they could become anything in the future. While this can
certainly be used as motivation, as a stem cell, becoming whatever it desires in the future is a
definite possibility. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells which possess the ability to undergo
meiosis to mass produce, found in multicellular organisms. Theyre typically found in two
places: in the inner cell mass of embryonic blastocysts, or in several locations in the adult body
(Fetal Development: The First Trimester). These unique cells are quite rare. However,
unprecedented technology and research have advanced the extraction methods and uses to divide
and conquer. Stem cell research proves to be advantageous towards organ-specific treatment and
the fight against terminal cancer, while simultaneously pleasing critics of ethical extraction.
Since stem cells are essentially blank canvases with the potential to be modified, they
could be quite useful in the case of damaged organs. The intricate optical system has been
extremely difficult to repair after damage, but the future of cell regeneration is upon humankind.
Blindness caused by glaucoma optic neuropathy, or encephalomyelitis disseminata (the
degeneration of neurons insulating myelin sheaths) has often gone uncured (Knapton). However,
by differentiating stem cells in the lab, doctors Donald Zack and Valentin Sluch have
encountered a scientific breakthrough that revives hope in the patients suffering from blindness
due to disease. While curing blindness would take massive advancements in technology and

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research, hope has been kindling in the labs of John Hopkins School of Medicine. Zack, a
professor of ophthalmology, connects the research to the people it seeks to target. "If you talk to
patients and they rate what they're most scared of, obviously it's cancer and dying, but vision
always comes out as one of the things that people are afraid of losing and really value. It would
really change their lives." While the advancements made may be primitive, being able to tell the
time of day by fluctuations of light or being able to identify blurry objects could life changing for
the blind (Wells). Not only does stem cell research propose resolution in eyesight, but also in
womens health. Due to cancer being a universal disease, when women are going through
chemotherapy, they often run the risk of infertility. Radiation is detrimental to eggs and ovarian
tissue, and may also provoke premature menopause. The emotional effects can be drastic for a
woman to learn she may never be able to bear children, as theyre often perceived as one of the
joys of life. As a solution, Dr. Sara Mohamed, of Mansoura Medical School in Egypt has
proposed injecting stem cells directly into the ovaries, restoring them and bringing joy to the
20,000 women of childbearing age who are diagnosed with cancer each year. Similarly, patients
of ovarian failure or early menopause could benefit from this procedure as well (Knapton). While
stem cells can be used to reverse side effects of cancer therapy, it could also aid in the actual
treatment of the cancer itself.

Leukemia is a cancer like no other, as its a cancer of white blood cells, or leukocytes.
The blood circulating throughout the body carries high quantities of abnormal leukocytes
originating in the bone marrow, where stem cells are present. Typically, leukocytes are produced
and released in regulated amounts in order to fight illnesses, averaging at 3.5-10.5 billion cells/L
(Complete Blood Count(CBC)). Through leukemia, the count may be lowered or increased,
which leads to unpleasant side effects such as bleeding and bruising problems, constant fatigue,

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and a decreased immunity. The affected leukocytes can no longer perform their duty, and
interfere in the physiology of other organs as well. Although chemotherapy is a valid attempt at
treatment to target all affected cells, in extreme cases, bone marrow transplants may be the
answer. Bone marrow extraction is typically much more difficult to undergo than blood
extraction, due to the pain and effects on the donor. However, a matching donors bone marrow
has healthy, non cancerous stem cells which leukocytes will now originate from. However, this
doesnt always work 100% of the time, due to complications such as the rejection of the foreign
substance by the bodies natural defense system. (Stem Cells in Use). Further research funding
would assist in understanding the natural phenomenon of stem cells, which would add value to
their treatment methods. Other cancers, such as lung cancers, are thought to originate from stem
cells themselves. Theyre thought to continuously replace themselves as other tumor cell types.
Some scientists postulate that the cancerous cells themselves originate from stem cells, while
others advocate that stem cells serve as a support system within the tumor that aid in the tumors
maintenance (Boston Childrens Hospital). Current chemotherapy attempts to stop the spread
of cancerous cells; however, the root of the issue itself isnt acknowledged. With increased
research, the fight against cancer would drastically advance. For example, undifferentiated cells
could be studied and the exact point of cancerous symptoms could be found. However, critics
often deprecate the funding of stem cell research due to conflicting ethical reasoning.

Stem cells may be gathered from multiple sources. In adults, stem cells have been located
in many organs and tissues, including the brain, bone marrow, skin, teeth, heart, gut, liver,
circulating blood, blood vessels, skeletal muscle, the ovarian epithelium (lining), and testis
(What are adult stem cells?). They can also be harvested from the umbilical cord or an aborted

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fetus, as the cells havent been specialized. Embryonic stem cells can be put to use to create any
organ cells, and therefore tissue. The possibilities are endless; entire sections of tissue for
transplant could be created, or even entire organs could be artificially grown. The controversy
stems from the collection of the embryo. Even though abortions to collect stem cells are not
forced, pro-life advocates and religion often step in the way. Aborted embryos would typically be
safely disposed of, and collecting the cells for research is giving hundreds of people new life and
hope. Most sects of Christianity oppose abortion in general, deeming it murder. As more Planned
Parenthood abortion clinics are disappearing due to popular disapproval, back-alley abortions
may increase. This now puts the health of the woman at risk, and the embryo is inevitably
wasted. Due to the controversy, stem cell research is not well funded. Politicians must make a
choice when funding these researchers and aim to please both parties of the argument. When
religion intervenes, the advancement of science, in this case stem cell research is hindered and
its left to wonder what could have been.

Stem cells have an amazing potential for the advancement of medicine. Patients of
chronic diseases such as ovarian failure or early menopause, glaucoma optic neuropathy or
encephalomyelitis disseminata could be given a second chances. Cancer treatment could be
advanced with the increased support of research, adding to the already cutting-edge
improvements that exist today. Although some may say embryonic stem cell research is
unethical, means of collection are a way of recycling and are not hurtful whatsoever.

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Works Cited

"Boston Children's Hospital." Boston Childrens Hospital. Web. 14 Feb. 2016.

<http://stemcell.childrenshospital.org/treating-patients/probing-the-deadly-ways-ofcancer-stem-cells/>.

Clinic, Mayo (2012). "Fetal development: The first trimester". Mayo Foundation for Medical
Education. Retrieved 2016-02-14 <http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthylifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/prenatal-care/art-20045302>

"Complete Blood Count (CBC)." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and
Research. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.

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Dobson, Patrick. "Stem Cell Dilemma." National Catholic Reporter. 18 Jun. 2004: 13+. SIRS
Issues Researcher. Web. 14 Feb. 2016.

Genetic Science Learning Center. "Stem Cells In Use." Learn.Genetics 14 February 2016
<http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/stemcells/sctoday/>

Knapton, Sarah. "Stem Cell Breakthrough Reverses Infertility After Cancer." Telegraph.co.uk..
22 Oct. 2015: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 14 Feb. 2016.

Wells, Carrie. "Growing of Eye Cells Presages New Treatments for Blindness." Baltimore Sun.
20 Dec. 2015: A.8. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 11 Feb. 2016.

What are adult stem cells?. In Stem Cell Information [World Wide Web site]. Bethesda, MD:
National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2015
[cited Tuesday, February 16, 2016] Available at
<http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/pages/basics4.aspx>