A lot of us hear our fair share about stem cell research, but we don't really even know what the controversy is over. So what is a stem cell exactly? Stem cell research started primarily with the findings of two Canadian Scientists in 1957. Stem cells are specific types of cells common to all multi-cellular organisms, and by definition meet two criteria. First, they must possess the trait of self-renewal, which means they must be able to divide multiple times, while remaining in the same state after each division. And second, they must be able to turn into multiple other types of cells. But why is there a debate about the Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research? The answer is simple. Many of you might not have known that Stem cells fall into two different categories. Embryonic Stem Cells and Adult Stem Cells. Embryonic Stem Cells come from blastocysts. A blastocyst is an early stage embryo (about 4 to 5 days old in humans and consisting of 50-150 cells total). Embryonic Stem Cells are able to develop into hundred of types of adult cells when given the proper stimulation for a specific cell type. Many favor research of an embryonic stem cell because of their long proven ability to become other types of cells. But, many also believe that since Embryonic Stem Cells come from Embryo's that it is little more than another form of abortion. Hence the debate over the Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research. Adult Stem Cells are stem cells that we would have. The name is a little misleading, but Adult Stem Cells are also found in children, and simply imply the maturity of the stem cell. In fact, one of the main ways that we obtain adult stem cells today is from the umbilical cord blood when a new baby is born. In the past, many have believed that adult stem cells didn't have the same ability to transform into other types of cells. But, recently that belief has been changed. Scientists now hold that Adult Stem Cells also hold all of the abilities of Embryonic Stem Cells in terms of becoming other types of cells. Adult Stem cells also have a much longer track record of being used in treatments, and are therefore preferred by many. Consequently, those who favor stem cells in the debate of the Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research, but don't support Embryonic Stem Cells prefer the use of Adult Stem Cells. Now when you're watching the news and hear about the Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research you will know a little more about what they are talking about.
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