Research on fetal tissue is not new. In the 1960s, fetal cells were extracted from two aborted babies and they are still being propagated in cell culture. They are used today to produce vaccines for hepatitis A, rubella, chickenpox and shingles (Holt). Fetal tissue was also used to create vaccines for the poliovirus. Today, these vaccines are estimated to save 550,000 lives worldwide every year (Storrs). Stem cell research has led to much more than vaccines. They have also been used to improve quality of life and to create new treatments for diseases. Scientists have injected neural stem cells into patients with spinal cord injuries. Stem cell therapies have also been created to help patients fight against cancer, blindness, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, H.I.V. and diabetes …show more content…
Stem cell research is good because of the numerous medical advancements it proposes. Recently, a group of researchers discovered two new methods using stem cells to generate and study hypothalamic neurons. The hypothalamus is a very small section of the brain that serves as a regulator for basic physiological functions. Because it is such a small area within the brain, researchers have not been able to study live hypothalamic cells. With today’s technology and the use of stem cells, this group of researchers made it possible to study these cells, alive, for the first time (Robbins). This opens a whole new door in the medical field that can be used to create a better understanding of diseases and how to treat