Are Studies in Genetic Engineering and Stem Cell Research Beneficial?

Given the choice, would you trade one person for multiple persons, would you give one life to save many? Now imagine that the person is already dead, would you have any objection to using them to cure diseases and save lives. It is highly debated as to whether or not stem cell researchers should be able to use stem cells from aborted babies in the research. A stem cell is defined as an undifferentiated cell of a multicellular organism that is capable of giving rise to indefinitely more cells of the same type, and from which certain other kinds of cell arise by differentiation (Stem cell). In the research stem cells from aborted fetuses or left over fetuses fertilized in in-vitro fertilization are used for medical and research purposes (Stem cell research). Stem cell research could be used to cure many diseases.

When Victor Frankenstein began the process of creating a living being from an inanimate object, he expected the creature to be the beautiful beginning of a new

The book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is arguably one of the most well known books ever written. What many people don't realize is with modern technology humans might not be far from creating artificial life. Through research involving STEM cells and “designer babies” we are near the point of creating parts of the human body. The problem is, seemingly immutable laws have restricted scientists abilities to study STEM cells. The unremitting battle between the two sides is what holds this country back from reaching its full health potential.

But what are we to make of Victor Frankenstein? We know that he is in fact a human being. However, he displays several traits that lessen the level of his humanity. The first of which being his desire to make his creature in the first place. By bestowing life

Human genetic engineering is one of the newest scientific breakthroughs allowing DNA that is considered “bad” to be replaced using CRISPR. Due to this new technology discovered, many scientists around the world have agreed on banning the practice of humans and embryos, after China first was able to partially succeed in using CRISPR on embryos. The topic of human engineering is very controversial on ethics but also the benefits of the outcome on human genetic engineering and the fast pace that it is going in. Mary Shelley explains in Frankenstein that scientific progress is advancing faster than the human knowledge of science and shows this when Victor creates the creation and how he deals with the creation afterwards. Scientists are careful about transgressing ethical boundaries in the name of progress so that humans should

In the novel, Frankenstein, Mary Shelley displays the universal theme that one should not interfere with nature, as it is immoral and unethical. For example, issues like human cloning and gendercide, have the ability to cause harmful after-effects; however, there are biology-related topics such as stem cell research that cause more good than harm. Stem cell research unlocks the possibility of treating or curing different diseases and reproducing infinitely to form new tissue, which can repair damaged organs. Stem cell research is a moral and ethical study that has the potential to help many people, and sometimes animals.

Frankenstein as similar to Prometheus took the gift of life into his own hands and re-gave life to a creature after the people of whom the body parts came had died. He played for God and gave it life again. At that time it was believed that no other then god could create and take lives. With Frankenstein creating a life again he is as a god. He created life with the thought that “a new species would bless him as its creator and source” (Shelley, 1818, pg. 40). To later be horrified by the new sight he has created. As both creators multiple connections can be drawn: both Frankenstein and Prometheus found the ‘normal’ species not interesting or perfect enough. Prometheus shaped mankind with his hands out of clay and water. Victor also found

In Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein becomes fascinated with the secret of life and sets out to discover what life truly is. Thinking he discovered the secret to life, Victor successfully creates a living creature out of old body parts. Unfortunately, the creature becomes dangerous and goes on to murder Victor’s family and friends. Though Frankenstein is fictional, with modern technologies, the creation of designer babies is an increasing reality. Designer babies are genetically engineered in vitro for specially selected traits, which can vary from lowered disease risk to gender selection (“Ethics of Designer Babies” 1). With the possibility of designer babies becoming a reality, many ethical arguments have come into play. Within these arguments the pros and cons of designer babies are discussed and many ethical issues are brought up.

Opponents to stem cell research challenge that “demand for embryos may encourage laboratories to grow them for the sole purpose of research, in effect producing embryos with the knowledge that they will be killed in the process” (Preface to “Is Stem Cell Research Ethical?”). Because of the medical benefits of adult and induced pluripotent stem cells, the use of embryonic stem cells have decreased. To continue searching for more possible cures of stem cells, excess embryos to the “needs of in virto fertilization, rather than be destroyed, [] should be used for basic biomedical research” (Embryonic Stem Cell Research Fulfills Christian’s Duty to Save Lives). Although embryonic cells are one stem cell that researchers are exploring, these types of cells are not the only types. Researchers are exploring more alternatives to embryonic cells including the induced pluripotent stem cell and stem cells from other types of blood that have shown promising results and may soon end the testing on embryonic cells. In fact, in the case of Joe Davis, Jr. and his brother, the younger brother survived infancy. The treatment allowed both brothers to live healthy lives. “More than 90% of the work involving stem cells is not controversial,” the morals and ethics of using the embryo tends to be the deal breaker (A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Stem Cells [analysis]). The majority of stem cell research is like most other treatments: there is some risk to the patient but the results of the procedure are projected to be worth it. As stem cell research becomes more popular, opponents challenge that “there has been a proliferation of websites offering dubious treatments, luring people with incurable diseases who are emotionally vulnerable” (What Lies Behind the Hype and Hope of Stem Cell Research and Therapy [analysis]). No matter what the treatment is, there will always be scam websites

Recombinant DNA is taking a section of DNA and placing it with another strand of DNA. The combination of two different organisms allows for a new strand of DNA. There are three ways in which recombinant DNA could be made. These are transformation, phage introduction, and Non-Bacterial Transformation. (David L. Nelson, 2012)

One of the main negative aspects surrounding this science is the fact that bioengineers are riding the line between advancing medicine and “playing God.” This creates a raging storm of moral and ethical dilemmas. For instance, the synthetic biology involved in creating artificial organs leads some to conclude that scientists are going too far with their endeavors: “Whenever such culturally sanctioned boundaries are breached, researchers are inevitably accused of playing God or treading in Frankenstein’s footsteps” (Van den Belt par.1). Many believe these tasks are not meant to be performed by human hands. Moreover, though man-made organs spark controversy, the most disadvantaged aspect of biomedical engineering comes from the use of embryonic stem cells. The debate emerges due to the fact that “to obtain embryonic stem cells, the early embryo has to be destroyed. This means destroying a potential human life” (“Embryonic stem cell research” par.2). To clarify, this signifies that bioengineers must choose between two moral principles when faced with stem cell research: the duty to use their findings to alleviate the suffering of others or the duty to value even the earliest stages of human life. To reveal a connection, the question of whether bioengineers are playing the role of God can be related to Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. In the novel, Shelley sought to expose the alarming reality of the

As humans move into the modern age, new thoughts and ideas are being produced into action. One particular controversial idea is the editing of genes and stem cell research on human embryos. Many scientists have decided that it is completely unethical to even approach the subject of it, but there are a few scientists who have decided that they want to work on this. The government has decided that it is unethical and therefore has cut all funding to labs, but there are some wealthy people who have decided to pay scientists, out of pocket, for them to start experiment’s on this idea. The time is coming for the decision to be made on whether we should look into gene editing and stem cell research in humans as a medical miracle or a potential disaster.

But while ethicists and the media constantly re-hash these issues, a small group of scientists and publicists are working towards an even more frightening prospect: the intentional genetic engineering of human beings. Just as Ian Wilmut presented us with the first clone of an adult mammal, Dolly, as a fait accompli, so these scientists aim to set in place the tools of a new techno-eugenics, before the public has ever had a chance to decide whether this is the direction we want to go in. The publicists, meanwhile are trying to convince us that these developments are inevitable. Scientists present different arguments on the safety of human genetic engineering. Many studies based on genetic engineering on animals show that genetic engineering on human will come with extremely high

Would you say no to treating many kinds of diseases, repairing damaged cells, and growing human organs? Well, look no further, stem cell research is your way to go. Stem cell research has been a tough subject for many people to touch on, due to it involving a human embryo; but not many people know that you can also use cells from adults to grow like stem cells as well, but it is not as effective as embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cell research involves taking an embryo from a woman after 4-5 days of pregnancy, so that it has developed enough, and should have around 150 cells (“Pros and Cons”). Stem cell research will contribute greatly to benefit medicine and the health of patients by stem cells

In Frankenstein, Doctor Victor Frankenstein seeks to create the most perfect human through the use of science. In Frankenstein’s time, no form of biomedical engineering had ever taken place. Victor was the first to manipulate life to be what he wanted. Though, when he failed, the concern of the ethics of