Griffin Moore Ninth Grade Literature Mrs.

White 7 March 2012

Why does the government give one billion dollars to the research of stem cells (Friedman 23)? In the past 22 years the controversy of stem cell research has been going on in countries like China, Japan, Germany, Israel, and many other countries (Friedman 18). As of this year there has been a delay in the United States for stem cell research. Much of the population in America thinks that it is morally wrong and is the destruction of life. Others think that this is the future and what science will come to be and will thrive on to build new and healthy organs. The United States is getting behind other countries with stem cell research, which can save lives. Stem cells are the beginning of the growth of a fetus (Basic Stem Cell Biology). Many cells have their own special job like working in the heart or the lungs, but with stem cells they can become any type of cell and work anywhere in the body. This tells the stem cells what to change to turn into an organ is the locus or location ("The Story of iPS Cells). This means if the stem cell is on the outside it might make the limbs or skin but if it is near the middle, it could be the heat or lungs. Stem cells are divided up into two groups. They are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, sometimes after long periods of inactivity. Another is under certain physiologic or experimental conditions; they can be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions. There are two types of stem cells Embryonic and adult stem cells(Basic Stem Cell Biology). Many people think that embryonic stem cell research is morally wrong and is taking

a life. Once the sperm fertilizes the egg it forms a single cell called a zygote. But after around eight days it forms more and more cells and becomes an embryo. This is where it takes on the title of having a life. Many religious groups say those scientists who kill the embryo to take out stem cells are playing the role of god and that science and religion shouldnt mix. In the stem cells research scientist has been finding new ways to cure cancer and other diseases such as asthma and diabetes. Many people think that this is the new scientific revolution. These two types of stem cells are. There are Adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. The adult stem cells are usually found in bone marrow and blood cells. They are not able to be changed into different types of cells and used to make other organs. Often after about sixty days if the body has not rejected the cells they are formed into as if they werent even transplanted. Embryonic stem cells are found after the zygote and before the embryo are formed. The scientist has to go into the embryo and eject the cells. These types of stem cells are able to be formed into different types of organs such as the heart, lungs, stomach, liver, and many other features on the body. Scientist thinks that they could cure cancer and other serious diseasesStem (Cells: Early Research). In the controversy of stem cell research, the United States Government needs to fund it for the health of people and to find new ways to keep us safe. As much as people against stem cell research have a good opinion about it, but its still the best way to go to study stem cells and learn more from what they are about and what we can do with them. We can learn more and figure out how to advance the way we heal and enhance our science department in the United States.

Works Cited Basic Stem Cell Biology. University of Wisconsin Stem Cells and Regenreration Medicine Center. 14 February 2012. 6 March 2012. <http://stemcells.wisc.edu/research/biology.html>. Friedman, Lauri S. and Hal Marcovitz. Is Stem Cell Research Necessary?. San Diego: Reference Point Press, 2010. Haerens, Margaret. Embryonic and Adult Stem Cells. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press, 2009. History of Stem Cell Research A Timeline. Childrens Hospital Boston. 2012. About Stem Cells. 28 February 2012 < http://stemcell.childrenshospital.org/about-stemcells/history/>. Stem Cells: Early Research. Online. NOVA science NOW, 2005. "The Story of iPS Cells." Genetic Science Learning Center. 2012.6 March 2012. <http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/ips/>.