Index Terms of ReferenceKey FindingsMethodologyAdvantages and Disadvantages of Adult Stem Cell ResearchAdvantages and Disadvantages of Embryonic Stem Cell ResearchEthical debate on these topicsConclusionsRecommendationsTerms of ReferenceThis report was compiled by Lawrence Cruickshank and considers the advantages and disadvantages of both adult and embryonic stem cell research. This report will also cover the ethical debates surrounding this topic. The report was written to satisfy the SWAP class's written activity assessment on Access to Health and Life Sciences. The report was to be submitted by 170921 and was to include recommendations. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Key Findings Advantages of Embryonic Stem Cells: Embryonic stem cells have the ability to generate any cell They are immortal, from just one cell scientists can create an infinite amount of embryonic stem cells, with different appearances. Embryonic stem cells can be received by anyone Disadvantages of embryonic stem cells: Destruction of potential human life Tumorigenic - capable of forming tumors Difficult to establish uniform and specialized lines Advantages of adult stem cells: Patients who choose to use their own stem cells in treatment, they will not be exposed to tissue rejection. These stem cells are relatively simple to obtain and can be located in the skin, fat and bone marrow Non-tumorigenic: they do not create tumors Disadvantages of adult stem cells: Limited in volume and considered problematic for They protect large quantities of cells They have a short shelf life compared to embryonic stem cells. It has not yet been discovered how to make these cells malleable, making them specific for only one function. Methodology The author of this report used online sources to find the most information on this topic. Since the pandemic is still ongoing, the author did not have other sources available, such as in-person surveys or interviews with local churches and mosques. References to Harvard were used to avoid plagiarism. A lot of the information found online was quite repetitive and limited as this is an early science. Stem cells are the building blocks of life, each individual cell takes on a specific role. In the perfect environment, these cells can divide to create new cells called daughter cells. The new cell can become a duplicate of the original cell or develop a definitive role such as: brain or skin tissue. This was found to be the only cell with this ability.Advantages and Disadvantages of Adult Stem Cell ResearchAdvantages:Therapeutic analysis is possible by sequestering the individual's stem cells. These cells can then be transformed into various therapies that pose minimal risk of rejection because the cells are taken from the individual needing the treatment. Even when cord blood cells are used to develop treatments, rejection rates remain low. This limits the need for immunosuppressive treatments that would allow a patient to continue to improve their quality of life. Adult stem cells recovered from bone marrow have been found to be very malleable, giving them broad capabilities. Cell procurement causes limited harm to the individual, it is a simple procedure, with no deaths recorded to date.It is possible to reprogram adult stem cells, but more conclusive investigations are needed to verify its full capacity. No embryos are destroyed, which eliminates the ethical questions surrounding the use of stem cells. Disadvantages There are limitations to the ability of cells to be able to reprogram and perform functions that differ from those from which they were originally harvested. For example, it has not yet been discovered how to transform an adult skin stem cell into a brain cell. This, therefore, limits the potential and functionality of the cell. Adult stem cells are in limited quantities, often very small, can be difficult to purify, and can be difficult to collect in large quantities. For example, harvesting brain stem cells requires procedural steps and poses considerable risks to the patient. These cells do not survive long after being cultured, meaning they have a short shelf life under controlled conditions. Currently, scientists do not have the advanced capacity or access to resources to create or maintain large quantities of stem cells in culture. Scientists have discovered that adult stem cells have the potential to develop into cancer cells. Once collected, the cell can only be used for a particular treatment. If the patient had another disorder or disease, those cells could not be reused. Advantages and Disadvantages of Embryonic Stem Cell Research Advantages Can maintain and grow in culture for over 1 year, which is a much longer shelf life than adult stem cells . Embryonic cells have established protocols that can be maintained in culture. Embryonic cells are classified as undifferentiated cells, which means they can be used in essentially any area of ​​the human body. They provide great potential for treating diseases and conditions for which there is currently no cure such as: diabetes, mental disorders, neurodegenerative diseases and even cancer. Various parts of the human body - even internal organs can be produced by embryonic stem cell cultures from within the laboratory. These could be used for transplant operations, dramatically reducing patient waiting times. Embryonic cells can be used repeatedly for multiple afflictions or conditions. For example, if the patient had a brain injury and then had another disease, the same cells could be used to treat both conditions. Disadvantages One of the most heated debates in this field concerns the loss of human life. Research conducted to advance embryonic stem cell research ultimately requires that the embryo be made obsolete. This is considered unethical by some groups, including religious and pro-life factions, who believe that human life and individual potential begin at the moment of fertilization. The end of this potential can be considered “immoral”. Embryonic stem cell research costs large sums of taxpayers' money. For example, in 2014 George Bush ended all government funding for stem cell research. Patients using embryonic stem cell procedures will be subject to long-term anti-rejection medications after initial treatment to prevent tissue rejection. This is because they come from cells not belonging to the treated individual, so the body is able to identify and reject them. The cells have also been found to have the potential to develop into tumor cells. Ethical debate on these topics The author of this report discovered through a.