Medical Benefits Of Stem Cell Research

DeGette reintroduces stem cell act, touts health and economic benefits

Colorado U.S. Senator Mark Udall is leading the fight for equal rights for gay Americans on Capitol Hill and on the video internet. He released a YouTube for gay rights organization One Colorado during gay pride week and is a major presence in the Senate contribution to the “It Gets Better” campaign aimed at gay kids teased or bullied at school.

Colorado First District Representative Diana DeGette has re-introduced her Stem Cell Research Advancement Act . She’s announcing the move at Craig Hospital today in Colorado. An earlier version of the bi-partisan legislation passed in the House and Senate before being vetoed by President Bush. The re-introduction of the bill will test attitudes among members of the Republican-controlled Congress this year on stem cell research, which has remained a hot-button topic in strict anti-abortion circles even as stem-cell research methods progress and have already reached a point where many believe the original ethical arguments against the practice have become moot.

Colorado First District Representative Diana DeGette has re-introduced her Stem Cell Research Advancement Act . She’s announcing the move at Craig Hospital today in Colorado. An earlier version of the bi-partisan legislation passed in the House and Senate before being vetoed by President Bush. The re-introduction of the bill will test attitudes among members of the Republican-controlled Congress this year on stem cell research, which has remained a hot-button topic in strict anti-abortion circles even as stem-cell research methods progress and have already reached a point where many believe the original ethical arguments against the practice have become moot.

“With two human trials already underway for the treatment of spinal cord injuries and degenerative eye diseases, it is clear ethical embryonic stem cell research is beginning to bear fruit for the millions of Americans facing debilitating diseases and conditions,” DeGette said in a release.  “This legislation would place into statute a framework to ensure such critical research can be conducted unimpeded by political interference.”

DeGette Deputy Press Secretary Jen Clanahan told the Colorado Independent that the 2011 version of the act is very similar to the version that passed both chambers of Congress with bi-partisan support in the past.

“It will be interesting to watch how the bill is received this year,” she said.

Stem Cells: The science, the benefits, the debate, and the future ...

Stem Cells: The science, the benefits, the debate, and the future

While President Obama recently lifted the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research imposed by President Bush eight years ago, some people continue to oppose this move and call it unethical. So, while the scientific community is thrilled by the news and says the research will lead to medical breakthroughs, some communities consider the research as a “slippery slope”. But, what exactly are stem cells and why are they so important as to generate hot debates among all sorts of circles – political, social, religious, and what not? Here’s a look at some of those details.

The science behind stem cells Broadly, there are two types of stem cells in humans – embryonic stem cells and non-embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells (ESC), as the name suggests, are isolated from the inner cell mass of an early stage embryo (4-5 days post fertilization, and consisting of 50-150 cells). On the other hand, non-embryonic stem cells which are also known as adult stem cells are found in adult tissues. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent as opposed to adult stem cells that are multipotent. What this means is that embryonic stem cells can differentiate into any of the more than 220 cell types in the adult body (to be able to give rise to any mature cell type) while adult stem cells can only form a limited number of cell types (closely related family of cells).

Utility of stem cells The controversy behind stem cell research pertains only to human embryonic stem cell research and not all stem cell research. What is controversial is the fact that the source of the research material, human embryos, is destroyed in the process of harvesting the stem cells. Pro-life activists oppose the research arguing that a human embryo is a human life that is entitled to protection. There is promising research ongoing in the field of stem cells to derive treatments for a wider variety of diseases including cancer, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), multiple sclerosis, lung disease, arthritis, organ failure, and muscle damage, amongst a number of other impairments and conditions.

Stem Cells for Dummies

Encyclopedia of stem cell research

Translational Stem Cell Research, Issues Beyond the Debate on the Moral Status of the Human Embryo

Disputes and dilemmas in health law

Congressional Record Proceedings and Debated of the 110th Congress First Session