Stem Cell Transplants

Rapid development in biotechnology led to a number of policy and ethical issues on stem cells research. Although stem cell research provides hope of new treatments and an understanding for new mechanisms of human development and differentiation, they have had many ethical and political controversies among the general population and scientists. Human stem cells give rise to different cells such a can help do develop a number of cells such as blood cells, heart cells, nerve cells, and muscle cells, and tissues to treat diseases such as spinal cord injury and skin conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, leukaemia, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Stem cells also have the ability to multiply indefinitely and result in new stem cells with more specialized daughter cells the same potential. Such a property leads to the creation of tissue banks for both specialized and undifferentiated tissues and cells. The disease can be treated through transplantation of new tissues or cells affected by a disease. Studies have developed cell lines that are able to replicate using EG and ES cells derived from fetuses and embryos respectively. However, such approaches still needs more research before they can considered a serious option. Therefore, this paper addresses the most critical ethical and moral implications on the application of stem cell research.

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The key properties of stem cells were first discovered by James Till and Ernest McCulloch. In 1960, they discovered that the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC). By definition, they defined stem cell as cells that are able to differentiate into mature cell and undergo cell division. Stem cells help in understanding the manner in which cells grow and develop in to an animal or a complete person. This process is the most challenging and fascinating problems in biology as many diseases like cancer are rooted in the process of growth and development. There is still more to be discovered and researched on embryonic stem cells which differentiate into specialized cells. The process involves the DNA chemical changes where particular genes are either turned off or on. This is essential in understanding the development of cancer.

Stem cells usually differentiate following one direction, from undifferentiated to functional stem cells. Therefore, these cells can be differentiated and turned into other important cells. Most scientists presently are eager to know the manner in which stem cell differentiation can be controlled. These cells can be grown and maintained into particular organs and tissues in the lab. Thus, the study of stem cells brings the hope to gain understanding of the way diseases like birth defects and cancer can be prevented and treated.

For example, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an incapacitating neuropsychiatric disorder that affects nerve cells the brain and characterized by a decline in behavioral and cognitive functions (Sproul, 2015). Although Alzheimer's disease is difficult to be treated its unmet need can be met through the advancement of stem cell studies stem cell technology, which can be engineered to reinstate neuronal loss in AD patients.

Stem cells can be used to regrow or regenerate diseased brain parts as a way of treating AD. This is done using the stem cell technology that can be generated from an adult skin of an AD patient and then directed to different types of brain cells to help treat the disease. Stem cells such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) can be used as a healer of the brain parenchyma (Hunsberger et al. 2016). This means that MSC can heal instead of replacing neurons in the brain. Stem cells can also be used as drug delivery agents to help treat Alzheimer's disease. It is also used in patients who reduce their reliance to a given drug or medication or in patients who do not respond to drug treatment. Stem cells can deliver the drug in the brain by moving it from one cell to another more efficiently (Sproul, 2015). Research further shows that StemGenex stem cells can help to provide therapy for Alzheimer's disease patients to help them achieve a better and healthier quality of life (Hunsberger et al. 2016). Therefore, stem therapy can help treat AD through its ability to produce neuroprotective factors that increase synapse formation and leads to neuron stimulation, which decline the devastating condition of Alzheimer's.

Human gene editing is a technique that brings humanity closer to consumer eugenics. It aims to modify DNA sequence in living cells by substituting genes or adding mutations in cells. The technique holds the key to treating or preventing genetic diseases. However, the same technology has opened a paradox box of ethical issues because it unlocks the course of designing children in future through designing children and enhancing their genomes such as intelligence, height and eye color. For example, human gene-editing affects the future of our children since it can change the genetic makeup of the future generation permanently. It does this through the removal of diseases and selection of positive traits that can be used to introduce normalcy in our society and the future generations through treatment of medical disorders.

Yin et al. (2014) conducted a study "Genome editing with Cas9 in adult mice corrects a disease mutation and phenotype", to show CRISPR-Cas9-mediated correction of a Fah mutation using an adult mouse. Although the study indicates that CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing is possible in correcting genetic diseases, there were some ethical issues. The research also shows that the animal experiment can produce a greater advantage to humans; it also fails to understand that such benefits to humans could have been done using other ways rather than animal testing. This is morally unaccepted and it does not provide a moral justification because it involved animal suffering and the benefit of the study was not proven. The researchers should have first received approval from an animal care committee to reduce the severe moral problems or use other experimental techniques such as using computer models or cell cultures rather than the whole animals to alleviate the animal suffering.

A person in need of an organ transplant has a moral right to obtain that transplant. Telling a person that he is not a candidate for transplant is denying him the right to life. Deciding who gets the organ based on their contribution to society, income, beauty, religion, gender or age is not morally permissible. Everyone needs to have an equal consideration to benefit from the organ donation. One should only be denied organ donation if their life expectancy will not be improved and such decisions need stronger evidence. For example, if a father has to donate an organ to one of his twins, then one twin should be given the priority if the need becomes urgent as another organ is sourced from a different person.

The potential benefits of stem cells during treatment of Alzheimer include its functional properties such as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functional properties, which can repair and regenerate damaged tissues, which are linked to Alzheimer disease. Stem cells help to repair and replace diseased or damaged tissue. For example, the new advancements in stem cells continue to give hope to Alzheimer's patients and their families. Alzheimer's patients can be treated using stem cell treatments especially for those who do not respond to drug treatment. Thus, through stem cell therapy Alzheimer's patients can achieve better quality life and health.

Stem cells help in understanding the manner in which cells grow and develop in to an animal or a complete person. This process is the most challenging and fascinating problems in biology as many diseases like cancer are rooted in the process of growth and development. There is still more to be discovered and researched on embryonic stem cells which differentiate into specialized cells. The process involves the DNA chemical changes where particular genes are either turned off or on. This is essential in understanding the development of cancer.

Stem cells usually differentiate following one direction, from undifferentiated to functional stem cells. Therefore, these cells can be differentiated and turned into other important cells. Most scientists presently are eager to know the manner in which stem cell differentiation can be controlled. These cells can be grown and maintained into particular organs and tissues in the lab. Thus, the study of stem cells brings the hope to gain understanding of the way diseases like birth defects and cancer can be prevented and treated.

Genetic diseases like muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis are caused by genetic changes. Therefore, gene therapy is essential in correcting genes by introducing genes into patients is a way of treating such diseases. The use of stem cells help in removing stem cells in a patient body and replacing them with correct version of cells that would repair damaged tissues.

Cells that are introduced into a patient body can either be recognized or rejected by a patient's immune system. The difficulty can be solved by taking a fertilized egg, removing its DNA and replacing it with nucleus from the patient cells and growing it to the blastocyst stage. Reproductive cloning aim to produce feasible cloned offspring. The embryo is fixed into a recipient to grow instead of being utilized as a stem cells. Cloning has been succeeded in animals like mice, cats, sheep, nevertheless not in humans.

Stem cell research could lead to a new area of "regenerative medicine:" replacing tissues or body parts damaged by injury of disease with new ones derived from stem cells.

"Replacement" medicine is now routine. Transplants of organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys or lungs are well-known, but there are not enough donor organs available to treat all patients in need. Organ transplants also pose serious problems of immune rejection. Tissues from animals have been used to treat humans, pig skin products used for skin grafts in burns victims. Many more people carry artificial and mechanical devices such as artificial joints, pacemakers, stents and cochlear implants.

Using stem cells, it might be possible not just to replace a damaged or worn out organ or tissue, but to grow a new one, inside or outside the body. This could lead to new treatments for chronic diseases and conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, burns, spinal cord injuries and arthritis. Blood stem cells are already in use to treat patients whose blood-forming and immune systems have been destroyed, for example by treatment for leukemia. The stem cells are infused into the patient and regroup the blood-forming and immune system from stem cells.

Privacy is defined as individual's rights to keep their information from being disclosed or the claim to be let alone without interference or surveillance from the government, organizations or individuals (Harman, Laurinda, Cathy, and Kesa 712). Therefore, privacy is a moral right because it ensures no excessive scrutiny ensures everyone if free to be themselves. For example, patient's information such as patient's identification, laboratory results, and treatment notes that are shared in a clinical setting must be confidential and protected (Harman, Laurinda, Cathy, and Kesa 712). The public health policy justifies the violation of the right to privacy only as allowed by law or through patient's permission. Thus, controlling access to patient's information is important for protecting his/her privacy, security and confidentiality.

Access to health care is a moral right of every individual. Healthcare should not be a privilege, and every person needs to be able to access the health care regardless of their income (Ruiz...