A History of Controversy
Stem cells, on their own, are not controversial. In 1961, scientists discovered that they are the foundation of our immune system and have the ability to divide and renew themselves into specific types of specialized cells. They can also boost the immune system by reproducing red blood cells to repopulate damaged blood cells. In 1981, scientists discovered ways to derive embryonic stem cells from early mouse embryos. The controversy and negative connotations didn’t start until the early nineties when scientists discovered a method to derive stem cells from human embryos and grow the cells in a lab. These are known as human embryonic stem cells. Since it was a fairly new form of modern medicine, objections mainly came from individuals who disagreed with scientists destroying the embryo in order to collect these cells. At the time, this was the only method for stem cell research, so it brought up deeper, more complex issues surrounding when life actually begins. As scientists began to learn other stem cell collecting methods that didn’t require human embryos, ethical concerns became less of an issue. Yet, there are still many people who are against stem cell therapy because of the initial backlash from the nineties.Common Myths About Stem Cell Research
As we mentioned, despite advances in science, there are still many myths and misconceptions about stem cell research and its possible treatments. Here are some of the most common ones, debunked: Myth 1: Stem Cells Only Come From Embryos This is the number one most common myth regarding stem cell therapy. And honestly, it’s the main reason why some people are still against regenerative medicine. So let’s set the record straight: stem cells do not exclusively come from embryos. Most stem cells used in a clinical setting are derived from bone marrow, adipose (fat), and harvested placental or umbilical cord tissue. Myth 2: Stem Cells Can Cure Anything And Everything While stem cell therapy continues to advance every day, it is not the ultimate cure-all. However, experimental therapies that may not have seemed possible 15 years ago are being explored today in FDA-regulated clinical trials. Although they cannot cure everything and anything, they have been used in successful FDA-approved treatments for more than 80 serious diseases to replace damaged blood and immune systems with healthy cells including:-
Blood disorders
- Aplastic Anemia
- Beta Thalassemia
- Diamond-Blackfan Anemia
- Fanconi Anemia
- Refractory Anemia with Ringed Sideroblasts (RARS)
- Sickle Cell Disease
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Cancers
- Chronic Leukemia
- Acute Leukemia
- High-Risk Solid Tumors
- Hodgkin & Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Myelodysplastic Syndromes
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Immune disorders
- Chronic Granulomatous Disease
- Histiocytic Disorders
- Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency
- Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Diseases
- Thymic Dysplasia
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Metabolic disorders
- Krabbe Disease
- Hurler Syndrome
- Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
- Sanfilippo Syndrome
- Tay Sachs
