Temple 1

Courtney Temple

Professor Cassel

English 1201

18 March 2019

The Science and the Controversy behind Stem Cell Research

Imagine needing a lifesaving medical treatment. Now, imagine knowing the treatment,

for this crippling disease you are suffering from, exists. But, you are denied receiving this

treatment, because of medical controversies. Well, that fear was a reality for Luane Beck and her

son, Jordan. Jordan is an outgoing nine year old boy. No matter what setting Jordan is in, he is

the life of the party, one of the most affectionate children, and has such an animated personality.

However, he is only “3 ½ feet tall and weighs around 40 pounds. His spindly limbs look frail,”

and he suffers from autism and epilepsy (Allday). Every day, Jordan’s health gets worse and

worse. He can only speak a few words at a time, and his social skills are rapidly declining. His

once outgoing and prosperous personality is crashing down around him, and his mother. Luane

had tried every treatment possible for her son; yet, nothing was working. After doing some of her

own research, she proposed the use of stem cells to her pediatrician. Luane was instantly shot

down. The pediatrician told her she would not be able to find a doctor in the United States to

perform this kind of treatment because of an underlying controversy and the lack of success rates

other patients were experiencing. But, Luane would not take no for an answer, she was going to

save her son.

After saving up thousands of dollars, Luane and Jordan embarked on a journey that was

nearly 500-miles to Mexico, in an effort to save her son. There was a doctor in Mexico that had

agreed to perform a stem cell transplant therapy in an effort to end Jordan’s pain and suffering.
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The only issue was that the doctor was previously stripped of his medical license in the United

States for agreeing to perform this treatment on patients, once again, due to the controversy

behind stem cells. In most cases, stem cells come from human embryos; so many people believe

that in order to save one life, science is ending another. With that said, although many people

believe that the only way to harvest stem cells is by extracting them from embryos, it has been

proven that stem cells can also come from adult donors. In fact, stem cells from adult donors

uphold many of the same promises that embryonic stem cells do, such as being able to cure life-

threatening diseases, and having the potential to save families thousands of dollars in medical

costs each year. Therefore, harvesting stem cells from adults is just as valuable to medical

research as harvesting stem cells from embryos.

Jordan’s mom, Luane, holds him in a hospital bed while his is

suffering, in an effort to make him relax and feel better (Allday).

Before being able to comprehend the controversy behind stem cells, it is important to

understand the chemical make-up and the functionality of stem cells. Stem cells are simply

unspecialized cells, known as being undifferentiated. These cells do not yet have their own

particular function, so they have the possibility to transform into any type of cell within the

human body. Unlike other cells, which are specialized, and have the sole purpose of maintaining
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their one function, stem cells have endless possibilities for the jobs they can carry out. With that

said, not all stem cells are made equally. In fact, stem cells come in three different forms known

as, totipotent, pluripotent, and multipotent.

As fitting as it seems, totipotent cells have the complete and “total” potential to carry out

any function within one’s body. This means, a totipotent cell can literally transform into any type

of cell the body needs it to be. A totipotent cell is a “single cell created from a fertilized egg

[that] has the potential to form an entire or total organism” (AANS). These type of cells

originally form when an egg from a female comes into contact with the sperm of a male. In turn,

this forms what is known as a zygote; and eventually more and more totipotent cells will form as

the embryo undergoes rapid cell division. Cells that are known as being pluripotent, “can turn

into almost any cell” (Jamieson). While pluripotent cells are not the most specialized type of cell,

they are able to form into a variety of tissue types within the body. Forming almost immediately

after fertilization, pluripotent cells originate out of a blastocyst. The final type of stem cell is a

multipotent stem cell. Multipotent stem cells are the most specialized type of stem cell due to the

fact they are incredibly restricted on the roles they can perform within the body. Multipotent

cells are very beneficial in aiding either totipotent, or pluripotent cells, in performing their

designated functions; but, cannot withhold functions very efficiently on their own. These types

of cells are often found in the bone marrow of mammals. Therefore, one of the only functions

they can carry out on their own is being able to transform into blood cells (Wu).

Regardless of the type of stem cell, each one starts off as a cell with no given function.

Once again, this means they are undifferentiated. It is not until these cells get “switched” or

“wired” into performing a specific function that they have their purpose for within the body

(Jamieson). Due to the fact stem cells are able to perform any function in the body, the
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possibilities of stem cells are indeed limitless. Which is the reason why there are so many

different diseases that can ultimately be cured with stem cell research.

When it comes to curing diseases such as Parkinson’s or Huntington’s, scientists are

aware that they need to reprogram stem cells into functioning like neurons within the brain

(AANS). However, it is a matter of how scientists are able to change the function of these cells

that creates a problem. Not only is it difficult for scientists to isolate exactly what variables they

need to reconfigure in order for the cell to perform the desired function; but scientists must be

careful in what they use to change the function of the stem cell because the patient’s immune

system may reject the stem cells being planted into their body. As with any major transplant or

surgery, using organs, ligaments, or in this case stem cells, from one person and injecting them

into another person’s body, is not always ideal. In fact, in some cases, these transplants are

unsuccessful and can make the patient even sicker than before. So, while there have been many

success stories on mice with regard to stem cell usage, there are only a few notable stem cell

treatments that have so far been effective on human patients.

However, stem cells are currently being used to help people who are suffering from

Leukemia. Leukemia is a type of tissue cancer that affects an individual’s ability to fight back

against infections. But, since stem cells can be harvested from bone marrow (the location in

which blood cells are made) it is rather simple for scientists/ doctors to find bone marrow donors

that are compatible with patients who need transplants (Yang). Although stem cell treatments for

cancer patients is currently used as a last resort if chemotherapy treatments are not effective, they

still hold a lot of promise with curing cancer. By transporting the healthy bone marrow of a

donor into a Leukemia patient’s bloodstream, more healthy stem cells are able to be produced
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within the body. And eventually, these healthier stem cells have the ability to overpower the

unhealthy cells and ultimately can cure the patient’s cancer (Calegari).

When it comes to autoimmune diseases, the promises are rather similar to that of curing

cancer. In autoimmune disorders, organs within the body are easily damaged because the body’s

tissues do not respond well to the rest of the individual’s body. However, with stem cell usage,

and scientists finally being able to determine how to properly “wire” stem cells into performing

desired functions, people suffering from autoimmune disorders would no longer have to undergo

lifelong treatments. Instead, stem cells can be implanted into the individual’s body and be used

to heal damaged organs/ tissues within the body.

Finally, In the article “Scientists Are Developing New Ways to Treat Diseases With

Cells, Not Drugs”, Alice Park discusses the practical use of stem cells and how using stem cells

can also cure rare blood diseases. The TIME magazine article talks about a baby who was

diagnosed with alpha thalassemia. Alpha Thalassemia is a rare blood disease that disrupts the

transportation of oxygen through one’s red blood cells. Meaning, the disease makes it hard for

individuals to breathe and can cause heart problems, or issues with one’s urinary system. And,

after trying to come up with a cure for the disease, the only suggestion a genetic counselor could

provide to the family was undergoing a stem cell transplant given to the baby in utero. While this

procedure had limited success rates, science is continuing to develop and stem cells were the

only chance the baby had at overcoming this disease. The entire article then talks about the

procedure that took place, how stem cells were used in the procedure, and the outcome regarding

the stem cell transplant. Ultimately, without this treatment, the baby would not have lived past a

day or two, or the child could have been stillborn, because the baby would have been unable to

produce oxygen; therefore, would not have been able to breathe. Once again, this article is just
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another example of the endless possibilities stem cells have, and the life changing procedures

they have the possibility of carrying out (Hardie).

So, why is it that stem cells provide so much promise in ending life crippling diseases;

yet, to this date, no diseases have officially been cured by the use stem cells? And why did

doctors in the United States refuse to give Jordan a treatment with the potential to save his life?

Ultimately, stem cells are unable to reach their full live-saving potential because of the

controversy that surrounds harvesting them. There are two extremes when it comes to people

wanting (or not wanting) to invest in stem cell research. On one side of things, some people only

focus on the positive aspects of stem cell research. They see stem cells as the “end all, be all”

and ignore the presence of other medical treatment options. These people simply believe that

stem cells should be used to solve every medical issue, no matter how large or how small, and no

matter the consequences. On the other hand, the majority of people are completely turned off by

stem cell research because they believe that in order to obtain stem cells, a baby must be killed.

This is due to the popular misconception that all stem cells come from human embryos.

For those that believe stem cells should be used to solve every issue, they are missing

key information on the chemical make-up of stem cells. As previously mentioned, while stem

cells are undifferentiated, and have the possibility to solve several medical issues, the donor's

stem cells may not always respond well to the patient's body. Therefore, stem cells are, once

again, not an option for everyone. Also, the use of stem cells can make people very sick,

depending on the prior medical condition they are suffering from. And, for those that believe the

only way to harvest stem cells is by using a human embryo, they are missing key information.

While human embryo harvesting is definitely an option regarding stem cell research, adult stem

cells can be used as well. This means, that no one has to be killed in order to maintain stem cells
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for medical usage on patients. In fact, if some individuals would open their minds to hearing the

alternatives of embryo stem cell usage, then the research behind stem cells could advance,

leading to more life changing treatments, and less life threatening diseases. So, once again, it has

been proven that since stem cells can come from adult donors, there are alternatives to embryo

harvesting. Continually, adult stem cells are still able to cure horrendous diseases, making them

valuable to the medical community.

This cartoon, mentioned in Stem Cell Controversy, aims to steer people

away from stem cell research by making them feel guilty for “killing”
an unborn child.

The reason so many people are against stem cell research is due to the fact that once stem

cells are extracted from an embryo, that embryo no longer has the chance to become a human

life. However, in most cases, if scientists did not take the stem cells from the embryo, then the

embryo would be discarded anyway as medical waste due to a preconceived issue, or abortion.

Therefore, by extracting stem cells, the scientist is giving the embryo a purpose-- the possibility

of saving other lives. Continually, the idea that “killing one sole is okay to save another” creates

a moral controversy on when killing others can be seen as being justifiable. However, the

controversy regarding embryonic stem cells is one that no longer needs to be worried about,
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because scientists have discovered that adult stem cells can be just as beneficial to medical

research (Ravven).

Not only can adult stem cells cure life threatening diseases in the same ways that

embryonic stem cells can, but they are often times safer and less expensive to the individual who

is receiving them. So, the patient struggling with a lifelong disease is able to live, without having

to worry about the destruction of another human life. Adult stem cells come from donor, who are

over eighteen, and then the donated cells get “tricked” into becoming another type of cell within

the body; that are now responsible for carrying out a new specific function. Due to the fact that

adult stem cells already have a designated function within the body, it is actually easier for

scientists to rewire them into performing a new function. This is due to the fact that only a

couple “switches” within the stem cell need to be flipped in order for the cell to acquire its new

function. Whereas, embryonic cells do not have a function at all, so scientists must do more work

to get them to perform any type of function. This means that embryonic stem cells result in more

trial and error than adult stem cells, because there is a greater risk for assigning the embryonic

stem cell the wrong function. This also means that adult stem cells are cheaper for the patients

who need them. Since adult stem cells are donated by people for medical research, they do not

cost scientists additional money to obtain them; whereas, scientists have to pay for the embryos

they wish to extract stem cells from. Therefore, patients are only paying for the work scientists

have to do to reprogram the cells, rather than having to pay for the embryo and for the

reprogramming costs.

Although it is easier to get access to embryonic stem cells, and embryonic stem cells

offer a “blank slate” for scientists to work with, adult stem cells are ultimately better for stem

cell research. Not only does using adult stem cells eliminate controversial viewpoints, but adult
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stem cells are cheaper for the patients who need them, and they have the potential to cure all the

same diseases embryonic stem cells have the potential to cure. Using adult stem cells also

reduces the risk for the patient’s body to reject the cells. Because adult stem cells are more

mature than embryonic cells, donor cells have the ability to be coaxed in the recipient’s cells

before entering the patient’s body. And ultimately, “the use of adult stem cells and tissues

derived from the patient’s own adult stem cells would mean that the cells are less likely to be

rejected by the immune system” (NIH). And, in the end, this represents another huge advantage

to adult stem cells because “immune rejection [which is common with embryonic cells] can be

circumvented only by continuous administration of immunosuppressive drugs, and the drugs

themselves may cause deleterious side effects” (NIH). Not to mention the fact that these drugs

would also cost the patient more money, and more time in the hospital. Which is ultimately what

stem cells are trying to avoid from happening.

However, in the end, stem cell research and the further development of stem cells curing

diseases is overall dependent on funding and support from the community, and the government.

Because, “research can only take place if the necessary means/ funds are provided at the right

time” (Cafasso). This means, depending on who is in presidential office ultimately plays a large

role in determining the future of medicine. When President George W. Bush was in office, he did

not agree with the use of embryonic stem cells for research, so he completely forbid the usage of

stem cells and did not support further research on the topic. But, when Barack Obama was

president, he allowed stem cell research to continue, and ultimately this led to the findings that

adult stem cells can do pretty much anything embryonic stem cells can do (Cafasso). Therefore,

the continuation of research and the ability to uncover new things in regard to stem cells is

simply based on the allowance of further development and the support from other people.
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Even though many people do not support the usage of stem cells in curing lifelong

diseases simply because they are against the use of embryonic stem cells, it is important to

inform these individuals on the alternative of adult stem cells in order to promote further

advancements in the medical field. Adult stem cells are still able to cure diseases, like embryonic

stem cells, and since they are often donated by individuals, they tend to be much cheaper for the

recipient to obtain. Aside from the financial benefits, it has also been proven that donor cells can

be safer for the recipients and ultimately the maturity of adult stem cells can be rather helpful to

scientists in being able to determine which “switches” within the cell need to be flipped to give

the cell its new purpose.

Due to the controversial use of stem cells, Jordan was denied treatment in his own

country. Thankfully, for his determined mother, he was still able to receive the life-changing

treatment, just in another country. And, while Jordan is not completely cured from his autism, or

epilepsy, his health has improved tremendously. Since the stem cell transplant, Jordan has

grown, and even gained some weight. He is talking more, becoming more social, and has only

had one seizure since the treatment. At one point, Luane never thought she would her son’s smile

again, now she says she feels as though Jordan has been reborn. For so long, Jordan was denied

medical treatment because of the stem cell controversy, and the lack of knowledge some of his

doctors had. Because so many people blindly deny the use of stem cells because they are missing

out on the promises that adult stem cells could offer. If they would have listened to Luane and

her suggestions, then they could have tried the stem cell transplant with the use of adult stem

cells, rather than being caught up with use of embryonic stem cells. This would have improved

Jordan’s health sooner, and eliminated the controversy of embryo harvesting altogether. Not to

mention, medical professionals in the United States could have been credited for saving this little
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boy’s life, rather than a man in Mexico, who no longer had his medical license. Ultimately, if

stem cell research has a whole was supported more, the world could become a better place.

Therefore, if it was not for the determination of Luane and the open-mindedness of a doctor in

Mexico in regard to the use of stem cells, Jordan could have potentially lost his genuine

personality, or even his life.

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Works Cited

AANS. “Stem Cell Research.” American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 2019,

www.aans.org/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Stem-Cell-

Research.

Allday, E. (2018, July 12). In search of a miracle: Mother hopes stem cells can heal her son.

Retrieved from https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2018/stem-cells/jordan/

Cafasso, Jacquelyn. “Stem Cell Research: Uses, Types & Examples.” Healthline, Healthline

Media, 6 Apr. 2016, www.healthline.com/health/stem-cell-research.

Calegari, Federico, and Claudia Waskow. Stem Cells: From Basic Research to Therapy. 1st

ed., vol. 1 4, CRC Press, 2014.

Ethical Problems. “The Stem Cell Research Controversy.” Stem Cell Controversy, 2019,

kennedysdisease.blogspot.com/2010/11/stem-cell-research-controversy.html.

Hardie, Amy, director. Stem Cell Revolutions. Scottish Documentary Institute, 2011.

Jamieson, Catriona. “Stem Cell Key Terms.” California's Stem Cell Agency, 26 Feb. 2018,

www.cirm.ca.gov/patients/stem-cell-key-terms.

NIH. “Stem Cell Basics V.” National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services, 2019, stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/5.htm.

Park, Alice. “Scientists Are Developing New Ways to Treat Diseases With Cells, Not

Drugs.” TIME, 24 Sept. 2018, time.com/5394912/stem-cell-treatment/.

Ravven, Wallace. “The Stem Cell Revolution is Coming— Slowly.” New York Times, 16

January 2017, p. D7.

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Wu, Ke. “Human Embryonic Stem Cells.” The Embryo Project, Arizona State University.

School of Life Sciences. Center for Biology and Society. Embryo Project

Encyclopedia., 13 Sept. 2010, embryo.asu.edu/pages/human-embryonic-stem-cells.

Yang. Bone Marrow Derived From Stem Cells. 1st ed., vol. 27, EBSCOhost.