Joseph WinkelmannMr. SargentEnglish 25016 December 2013Stem CellsAlthough stem cell research is a hot topic in politics and science in recent times, it dates back to the 1950s. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can become any cell, such as, but not limited to, skin cells or brain cells. These cells are some of the first cells in the human body. Not only do they divide and form new cells rapidly in the embryonic stage, but they can form any specialized cell in the human body, a process called differentiation. They can also form new stem cells, a process called self-renewal (Staff). Although there is fear of unethical human cloning, the study of stem cells is necessary because it can improve society by testing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs and finding cures for potentially fatal diseases, such as cancer. Stem cells can only be acquired from a few places. Embryonic stem cells form in the embryo just a few days after fertilization. At this point there are about a hundred cells; this is called a blastocyst. Of these one hundred cells, ten to twenty are unspecialized stem cells (“Embryonic stem cells…”). These stem cells, known as pluripotent cells, can produce every type of cell in the human body. The blastocyst is the only place in the body where pluripotent cells can be found. The long-term goal of true embryonic pluripotent cells is to be used to repair diseased tissue; However; currently in stem cell research, embryonic stem cells are used for research purposes, in particular to determine how diseases arise and progress in the human body (Staff). Another type of stem cells are adult stem cells. Found in small quantities, these cells are found in bone… in the middle of paper… and cost over $6 million,” (“Product Development…”). Eliminate even a quarter or a third of pharmacological and toxicity testing on animals would lead to multi-million dollar savings. There would also be savings in terms of energy and resources dedicated to studying experiments that give potentially irrelevant and dangerous results. Stem cell research is ethical and requires more in-depth experimentation. From increasing the safety of medicines to developing treatments that can cure diseases, stem cells are the key to success. Stem cells can also be used to determine how diseases and injuries progress and affect certain cells within Furthermore, using stem cells for research purposes will save money by eliminating some if not all animal testing, provide safer and better drugs, and allow saved resources to be allocated to other research efforts...