Impact: "It is estimated that stem cell research has the potential to help over 100 million Americans who suffer diseases and injuries." (Citation 15) How Could Stem Cell Research Affect Me or Someone I Know? Stem cells are able to replace or repair damaged tissue. Therefore, they overturn disease and injury. It has the prospective to impact not just one disease, but numerous ones. Stem cells also hold much promise for in vitro (outside the body) drug testing, and could therefore significantly lessen the need for drug testing in animals and humans. (Citation 15)
* Parkinson's disease * Spinal cord injury (paralysis) * Retinal disease * Multiple sclerosis * Neuroblastoma (cancer of various nerve tissues often occurring in children)
* Childhood and adult leukemia * Sickle-cell anemia * Immunodeficiency * Lymphomas * Hodgkin's disease * Lupus * Arthritis * Bone marrow failure
* Type 1 Diabetes
* Burns * Ovarian cancer * Heart muscle loss following heart attack * Aneurysms * Breast cancer * Liver disease including hepatitis * Sports injuries * Bone injuries (Citation 16) |
President Barack Obama ended a ban on federal funding of stem cell research. Obama's decision is a sharp reversal of the policies enacted by President George W. Bush. (March 9)  |
