I find myself standing at a crossroad, like everyone else my age seems to be doing. 

But whatever.

Locations and Potential for Harvesting Stem Cells        

            Stem cells. These two simple words tend to strike a plethora of different emotions for people. Many people consider using stem cells harvested from embryonic fetuses unethical and inhumane, while others believe that stem cells can ameliorate certain medical conditions. The controversy over stem cell harvesting has cast a cloud over the potential that stem cells have to better the human race. Many people believe that the only place to harvest stem cells is from embryonic fetuses. However, this concept does not ring true. Stem cells can be found in numerous locations in the human body, no matter what age, embryonic or elderly. These stem cells can be found in the liver, bone marrow as well as a great deal of other sources,  and can be utilized to create new cells such as bone, to new organ tissue, as well as nose cartilage and ears. No matter what position people may have, one thing consistently remains true; stem cells have the potential to help the human race in ways hardly imaginable.

    Stem cells contain the potential of creating new life, better lives for people who are in need. Be it, new liver cells or skin for skin grafts, stem cells hold the secrets to creating these cells as well as so many others. When stem cells were first harvested, controversy sprung up due in part to the fact that most of the stem cells were harvested from embryonic fetuses found in abortion clinics. However, as time passes, stem cells have been found on the human body, and can potentially be extracted from living human beings, rather than posthumous extraction. One major finding of stem cells in the human body was discovered by Hidemi Hattori from the Division of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Tokai. He discusses an alternative to bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC): human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ATSC). Hattori, in his research discusses the nature of BMSC, and how they produce a very small amount of stem cells. However, Hattori continues with his research stating, “Human adipose tissue obtained by liposuction was processed to obtain a fibroblast-like population or adipose tissue derived-stromal cells” (Hattori 2). This helps to show that mass amounts stem cells, which are also known under the name of stromal cells, can be obtained through liposuction, while the patient is merely under local anesthesia. In Hattori’s lab experiment he exposed the typical form of stem cells (bone marrow-derived mensenchymal stem cells), as well as the adipose tissue-derived stem cells, to the same variables, and through this Hattori concluded that ATSC replicated at a much higher rate than that of the BMSC. Hattori expresses this theory by writing, “The results in this study show that ATSC possess a slightly higher ability to differentiate into osteoblasts” as well as by stating, “these findings, together with those of other studies further demonstrate that these cells may provide a novel and abundant autologous cell source for developing tissue engineering” (9). With these findings, scientists could potentially have found an unwavering source for obtaining stem cells in order to continue with their research. Since liposuction clinics can be readily found throughout the United States, as well as the rest of the world, scientists have found a simple and efficient way to gather stem cells, with minimal controversy. Another location where stem cells have been found has caused a stir of surprise amongst the scientific community: the liver.

            For decades many scientists did not believe the liver to contain stem cells. Their reasoning behind this was due in part to the fact that the liver remains one of the most resilient organs in the human body, as well as in animals. One prime example of this would have to be when scientists removed up to 2/3 of a rat’s liver, and within two weeks, the liver was once again whole. The rat’s liver had replicated its’ cells and could still store vital nutrients and minerals as well as pumping out things such as bile (Travis 1829). John Travis, in his article “The Search for Liver Stem Cells Picks Up”, Travis discusses the benefits behind finding stem cells in the liver. He asserts that “liver stem cells may have the potential for gene therapy as well. One of the liver’s major functions is secreting proteins into the blood, and so genetically engineering liver cells to contain an active version of a defective gene might be a way of replacing a missing protein” (1829). This concept could help a great deal of people who are suffering from things such as hemophilia, as well as patients who are suffering from diabetes, a very common disease found in the United States, as well as in other parts of the world. If the stem cells found in the liver can be differentiated into things such as ducts which produce insulin, then patients suffering from diabetes could be permanently alleviated from having to continually depend on insulin shots as well as daily blood tests. Hemophilia, although not as common as diabetes, could also be cured through the use of stem cells found in the liver. Patients suffering from hemophilia lack a vital protein, which in turn helps to clot blood. If the stem cells found in the liver can create cells which make the necessary genetic code for the certain protein, then hemophiliacs can permanently be alleviated from their disease. Travis continues with his article by writing, “. . .a new argument has erupted among the researchers involved in the search. The question now dividing many is no longer whether stem cells exist but what is their exact role is in the liver” (1829). This just shows that there remains quite a great deal of information which has yet to be obtained about stem cells. Only time will tell of the potential behind stem cells, but with advancements and discoveries being made continually, perhaps the secrets behind the stem cells will become clearer for all of us to see.

            As with all scientific endeavors, complications and difficulties must arise. This too, also rings true for stem cell research. Albeit, obtaining stem cells is no longer an issue, with discoveries of locations of stem cells being found all over the human body, but getting stem cells to differentiate into specific cells now remains the question continually alluding scientific researchers.

.............. yeah. i'm only like 1/5 of the way done. yay for 10-15 page papers!