Stem Cell Research: Good Or Bad?

"Can the end ever justify the means? That is the proverbial question that surrounds the research and ground-breaking studies about Stem Cells.




But before we go on any further with our discussion, perhaps we need to get a better understanding about what stems cells are. Wikipedia defines Stem Cells are cells that are found in most multi-cellular organisms. They are cells that can be distinguished by two important characteristics: 1) self renewal or the ability to go through numerous cycles whil maintaining its undifferentiated state, and 2) potency or the capacity to differentiate into specialized cell types. To simplify further, stem cells are those cells that has the potential to regenerate tissues over a lifetime.




Over the years, scientists and researchers have proven that Adult Stem Cells are actually very essential in the treatment of diseases like Leukemia, Spinal Cord Injuries, Heart Disease, among others. With this, there is no question about the importance of continuously doing stem cell research because we are seeing that they are beneficial in treating diseases. To give a concrete example, a research study was conducted about adult stem cells at the University of Houston by Dr. Robert Schwartz. Dr. Schwarts found out that skin cells can be implanted and regrown into developed beating heart beat cells to repair the damages caused by heart attacks.



Scientific and medical procedures involving adult stem cells do not lead to questions because the cells used in the curement of disease are taken from adults. There are, however, other lots of studies that involve the use of embryonic stem cells. Undoubtedly, these types of studies stirred up debates and discussions because the embryonic stem cells used in the studies are harvested from live human embryos. As a result, the human embryos are destroyed in the process. And because of this, it is but natural that pro-life organizations and churches disagree with continuing the studies about it. Besides, there are no proven treatments yet discovered out of embryonic stem cells studies.



Living in this fast-paced technologies and lots of ground-breaking scientific discoveries, I could not help but wonder about what is more that man will achieve in the coming years. As man continues to look for ways to improve and prolong his life, I am leaving you with the main question raised at a movie presentation about Stem Cells research:

To what extent can we use another human life to help our own?

May it be that we will always discern to think and to do what is right according to God's judgement.

Kyutiks

Kung ka-edaran kita at halos eh nasa elementary grade ka ng 1980s hanggang early 1990s, malamang sa malamang eh alam mo yung sikat na sikat na Caronia Nail Polish Commercial jingle na kalaunan eh ginawang spoof ng Tropang Trumpo (Channel 5) nila Michael V at Ogie Alcasid noon hindi pa sila lumilipat sa Channel 7 para sa Bubble Gang.

Malamang din eh hindi nail polish ang tawag mo doon sa maliliit na boteng ginagamit ng nanay mo sa pagkukulay ng kuko, kundi, Kyutiks, o Cutics (ang sabi ni Misis, siguro daw ay nakuha ang word na ito sa salitang cuticle).

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Mas madalas mang gamitin ng mga babae ang kyutiks, may mga mangilan-ngilan din namang mga lalake na gumagamit nito, yun nga lang, ang ginagamit lang nila ay yung natural color, o yung kyutiks na walang kulay, at nagpapakintab lang ng kuko.

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Pero sa aming bahay noong araw, alam kong hindi lang sa kuko ginagamit ng aking ina ang kyutiks, dahil nakikita ko rin na ipinapahid niya ito paminsan-minsan sa kanyang mga stockings.

Bilang isang guro sa Licab Central School (pampublikong paaralan sa Nueva Ecija), laging naka-uniporme si nanay at laging may suot na stockings tuwing papasok- at sa pagkakaalam ko, nilalagyan niya ng kyutiks o nail polish ang parte ng stockings kung saan nagkaroon ng run, o sira.

Noon, akala ko eh nilalagyan ng kyutiks para maayos ang sira. Kailan ko lang nalaman na nilalagyan pala ng kyutiks para hindi na tumuloy ang sira ng stockings.

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Paminsan-minsan ay nakakakita pa rin ako ng mga maliliit na bote ng kyutiks sa bahay, pero alam kong hindi na ito ginagamit ng aking ina upang ipahid sa stockings. Retirado na kasi siya, at bihirang-bihira na rin siyang magsuot ngayon ng stockings. Ngunit kailanman, ang mga mumunting bote ng kyutiks na ito ay magsisilbing ala-ala na minsan, isang panahon sa aming buhay ay gumawa ang aking ina ng paraan upang magtipid at gamitin ng wasto ang salapi alang-alang sa kapakanan ng kanyang mga anak.

Computers Then And Now

Last Saturday, I stumbled upon some old school things I used way back in the 1990s when I was studying High School. Assorted books, notebooks and papers are contained in my school bag, and scanning through them, I chanced upon seeing my old notebook for my Computer Subject in Third Year High.

Back then, Desktop Computers have just been introduced in our school, so you can just imagine that a lot of people, including me, have no any idea with regards to operating and/or using them. Of course, only a few families could afford to purchase their own units. So during those times, whenever we have group projects and we need computers, we have to go and visit our classmates who own a computer. The Microsoft Office Words and Excel were not yet popular, and what we use were the Lotus 123 and the Wordstar.

Fifteen years or so later, computer models have evolved fantastically; and we now have Laptop Computers that we could bring and use anywhere and anytime we want. Now we have the latest version of MS Office, plus we can access (almost) anything, thanks to the internet.

As I scan my old notebook, it is always good to look back and re-learn the basics of one of the most important inventions made by mankind- the computer. So for this blog, I will discuss the basic components that make up a computer system.

1. Computer Monitors- Computer monitors pertain to the screen, or the tv-like component of the computer system. This is where you are able to view what the computer is processing at the moment.

2. Keyboards- Keyboards are somewhat similar to the qwerty pads used in our old reliable typewriters. This is what we use when we want to type and/or encode transactions in the computer. The significant difference between the computer keyboards versus the typewriters are the F1 to F12 keys command keys at the top of the keyboard.

3. Computer Mice- or most popularly called as the "mouse", a great help in placing commands and in moving the cursor from one point to the other.

4. Printers- The printer is where the final output document is being processed, or, as the name suggests, this is where the final document is being printed.

5. Central Processing Unit- More commonly known as the CPU, the central processing unit is the heart and brain of the computer. This is where all the transactions are stored and processed as a person gives its command by using the keyboard/mouse, and before the output is shown on the monitor or printed on the computer.

Those are actually the five most basic components of a Computer System. But today, additional parts may include Computer Speakers, Webcams, Microphones, among others.

For the external storage devices, the floppy (5 1/4 and 3 1/2) disks are already obsolete. We now use compact disks and USBs.

Also as I have mentioned before, only a few can purchase computer systems because they are a bit expensive to common regular income earners. But today, it has almost become a necessity for every family to own one unit. And today, it is not that difficult to purchase a unit.

Computer units are actually available for purchase even online. However, it is always advisable that we visit reliable internet sites whenever we purchase items using the internet.

As we look forward for the coming years, we do hope that new technologies and ground-breaking inventions will be discovered to help us doing our jobs more efficiently.