grace freeman stem cells & their benefits. what are stem cells? stem cells are unspecialized...

G RAC E F R E E M A N

STEM CELLS & THEIR BENEFITS

WHAT ARE STEM CELLS?

• Stem cells are unspecialized which means they can transform into any

other type of cell in the human body.

Stem Cell

Self-Renewal

Mature Cell

WHAT ARE STEM CELLS?YOUTUBE CLIP

WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?

• There are two types of stem cells; embryonic and non-embryonic.

EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS

• Embryonic stem cells come from the human embryo.

EMBRYONIC STAGES

NON-EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS

•Non-embryonic stem cells, or adult stem cells, can come from adults,

children, placenta, and even human cadavers.

STEM CELL POTENCIES

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF STEM CELLS?

• Currently used to treat cancers such as leukemia

• Aids in bone marrow transplants• Treats diseases and injuries such as

Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, retinal diseases, and spinal

cord injuries.

POTENTIAL USES OF STEM CELLS

STEM CELL THERAPY

• For stem cell therapy, researchers grow stem cells and manipulate

them into specialized cells such as heart muscle cells, blood cells, or

nerve cells. They are then implanted into a person to begin to repair

defective cells, tissue, and muscle.

STEM CELL THERAPYYOUTUBE CLIP

HOW ARE STEM CELLS OBTAINED?

•Harvesting non-embryonic stem cells does not result in any certain harm

to the donor.

HOW ARE STEM CELLS OBTAINED? CONT.

•Harvesting embryonic stem cells, however, does involve the destruction of the embryo.

EMBRYONIC STEM CELL CULTIVATION

WHAT EXACTLY MAKES STEM CELL HARVESTING ETHICAL OR UNETHICAL?

• Advocates for human embryonic stem cell research argue that it is wrong to protect the lives of a few unborn babies if doing so will delay treatment for a considerably larger number of people who suffer from

fatal or debilitating diseases.

WHAT EXACTLY MAKES STEM CELL HARVESTING ETHICAL OR UNETHICAL?

CONT.

•However, some believe we must not sacrifice one class of human beings (the embryonic) to benefit another.

WORKS CITED

• “An Overview of Stem Cell Research.” The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity. August 2009. Web. 17 August 2015.

• Lombardo, Crystal. “Stem Cell Research Pros and Cons.” Vision Launch. 24 March 2015. Web. 21 March 2015.

• Murnaghan, Ian. “Stem Cells: The Facts.” Explore Stem Cells. 27 January 2015.Web. 14 August 2015.

• “Stem Cells.” ALS Association. 26 August 2014. Web. 19 August 2015.

• “Stem cells: What they are and what they do.” Mayo Clinic. 23 March 2013. Web. 20 August 2015.