Changing Attitudes Toward Stem Cell Research Essay

This proposal is immoral because it violates a central tenet of all civilized codes on human experimentation beginning with the Nuremberg Code: It approves doing deadly harm to a member of the human species solely for the sake of potential benefit to others. The embryos to be destroyed by researchers in this campaign are at the same stage of development as embryos in the womb who have been protected as human subjects in federally funded research since 1975.(4) President Clinton's National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC) and its 1994 predecessor, the NIH Human Embryo Research Panel, conceded that the early human embryo is a form of developing human life that deserves our respect(5). Treating human life as mere research material is no way to show respect.

The importance of ethical issues is often understated in public knowledge. Embryonic stem cell research should be of the utmost importance in the American society due to increased federal funding and the promises research in this field hold. As with many other controversies, embryonic stem cell research can be described as a dispute between religion and science due to the destruction of a viable human embryo. Depending on the status an individual grants an embryo will likely determine their stance on the issue. Next, many changes in legality and public acceptance have prompted leaders to increase funding and expand research nationally. Since taxpayers’ dollars are at work, the public should be aware of this prevalent and advancing ethical issue and be informed of its specifics. The public should also be aware of the advancements in healthcare that this research promise. Due to the changes in funding and legality, many discoveries have been made, pushing this science further. Many scientists believe embryonic stem cell research holds the key to curing many bodily injuries and deadly diseases such as spinal cord and brain injuries, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. Also, many scientists conceive that, in the future, it will be possible to “grow” human organs from an individual’s stem cells for transplantation. The latter are only a few of the plethora of anticipated and promised treatments research in this field holds. Lastly,

Medicine has evolved tremendously over the past few centuries, but there are still many bodily conditions that are yet to be treatable. However, the use of adult stem cells is proving to be an extremely effective method to cure a wide range of medical disorders. While little funding is available for stem cell research, the outcomes are beginning to look promising. In the article, “Adult Stem Cells Are Already Curing Diseases,” Jean Peduzzi Nelson, a stem cell researcher from Wayne State University, argues for more funding and research in the area of stem cells. She presents instances in which stem cells have worked to help cure certain conditions and backs her argument with data to support her reasoning. Nelson’s argument sufficiently persuades readers of the necessity of stem cell use as she begins and concludes her argument convincingly, gives the reader some insight as to how stem cells work, and uses personal examples to demonstrate how stem cells have directly helped cure certain medical conditions.

Why is the mainstream media significantly downplaying exciting scientific discoveries with adult stem cells? This essay hopes to adequately answer that question.

The paramount reason embryonic stem cell research should be funded by the government is that it could lead to cures to some of our world’s most devastating diseases. According to Mayo Clinic, “People who might benefit from stem cell therapies include those with spinal cord injuries, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, stroke,

Stem cell research has a lot to offer in the way of treatments, or even cures to some devastating diseases that humans face. However, research using human embryonic stem cells that can only be obtained by killing a human embryo can not be condoned or paid for by the United States Government. Federal funding needs to focus on the adult stem cell research that has already been proven successful and can be obtained without destroying a human life.

Embryonic stem cell (ESC) research has caused great amounts of controversy for at least fifty years. This debate tears at the roots of our nation’s morals and ethics. Lawmakers must ask themselves if the unethical research on embryos is worth never finding a cure for diseases that have killed millions of people. While Congress has made many decisions regarding this topic, it seemed to be impossible to please both sides of the controversy; however, with recent decisions and new research, common ground has become more possible to obtain.

One of the biggest problems that biomedical scientists struggle with today is finding a cure to cancer. Thousands of scientists across the world devote their time and resources to solving this puzzle and saving thousands of lives. Over the last few decades, technology and medicine has advanced significantly increasing the life expectancy of the average human life. However, further steps need to be taken to achieve what doctors and scientists have set out to accomplish. In order to do this, many believe that embryonic stem cell research could be the key to unlocking a variety of medical problems. However, in the early 2000’s, the United States saw a significant decrease in federal funding available for this research. This could set back the medical advances by years if researchers could not continue their work. A decrease in restrictions while increasing federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is vital for taking steps forward in ethically finding cures for many injuries and diseases that affect millions of people every day.

While few can debate the potential “miracle cure” aspect that seems to be wrapped within stem cell research, the method for obtaining such cells has been a topic for debate. The process of extracting pluripotent cells destroys their host embryo, and as yet, no pluripotent cells have been found in older adult tissues. Opponents of research on embryonic cells claim that embryos – from the moment that fertilization occurs – are sentient human beings and should therefore be afforded the same protections against abuse as anyone else (“The Cases For”). But what if a method were readily available were viable stem cells could be extracted from an embryo in a manner that would not deny life – however such life were defined – to the unborn fetus? What if such a potential solution could ease the minds of not only those who oppose stem cell research but also help to quell the dispute of another “Do Not Kill” issue – abortion?

Embryonic stem cell research is already proving useful in the study of regenerative medicine, human development, cellular responses to disease, drug testing, and many other fields. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There is still much more to be discovered and created using the research platform this stem cell research provides. Although opponents argue it to be unnecessary, it is clearly important because embryonic stem cells are the most pluripotent stem cells, and all stem cells are required for the full potential of research. Embryonic stem cell research can also be justified, because the embryos come from sources where they would otherwise be destroyed, but they are instead contributing to the advancement of medicine and science. Finally, and notably, this field is supported, and is clearly leading to a new future of science and research. This research is important to everybody because it is creating and will continue to create cures, medicines, and therapies. Any person could be struck by a disease or ailment unexpectedly, and the more research scientists are able to do with a variety of options means that person may not have to experience discomfort or pain for long. This research is helping reduce or eliminate fatal disorders as well, meaning that it could possibly save a loved one’s life, if they struggle with a terminal illness. In these ways, embryonic stem cell research continues to be an issue that affects, and should be understood by, everybody. Embryonic stem cell research, though controversial, is a field so valuable and with so much potential that it is important to contribute

Stem cells have a plethora of side effects that over powers the benefits. The ability to differentiate is known as plasticity, and it is thought to only be at its greatest in embryonic stem cells. In order for the embryonic cells to be of use they must be fertilized, after which, the stem cell is removed, destroying the embryo. Stem cells can be used in adults; however it is believed through the consensus of the medical community that the plasticity of embryonic stem cells is not even closely matched by those of adult stem cells. The general idea is that “adult stem cells have a limited capacity to differentiate (Solter 8).” Adult stem cells are already stuck in their ways, which makes it useless, in a way. They can only reproduce the same cell type that they originate from. Thus, despite the prospecting medical leaps that this technology can provide, the process of how to obtain the embryonic stem cells overwhelms the benefits by far.

Contrarily, supporters of embryonic stem cell research argue that such research should be pursued because the resultant treatments could have significant medical potential. In addition, leftover embryos could be given with permission and

Although embryonic stem cells contain abilities to enrich human health, a less controversial source of stem cells remains- adult stem cells. Collecting adult stem cells takes place in numerous locations of the body such as: bone marrow, muscle, the brain, umbilical cords, and adipose tissue (Guinan 308). Goldstein documents of experimental findings how human brain stem cells “can achieve ninety to ninety-five perfect purity in combination with several previous steps” (207). However, scientists remained uncertain about the functionality of adult stem cells because they “typically generate the cell types of the tissues in which they reside” (“Stem Cell Basics” 1), but in 2006 a Kyoto University team discovered the ability to engineer adult stem cells into pluripotent stem cells (“New Method” 4). Recent technology allows scientists to “directly covert somatic cells to pluripotent cells regardless of availability of embryonic cells” (Han 278). This technology may foster the growth of stem cell research because it removes the challenge of accessing to pluripotent cells. Induced pluripotent stem cells potential to “promote patient specific and disease specific drug development” (Manohar 1) makes them even more constructive than embryonic stem cells when considering rejection by the host. Induced pluripotent stem cells attain the same flexibility as embryonic

In recent years, there has been a lot more talk about stem cell research than ever before. The idea of stem cells arose in the 1960 's, with the first successful bone marrow transplant in 1968. Now, stem cell research is a widely known topic in biotechnology and shows a substantial amount of scientific promise. The future of stem cell research and the impact it could have follows with many questions on people 's minds, as well the simple curiosity of what stem cells are and how they can affect people both positively and negatively. There are quite a few areas of discussion about stem cells, and this essay addresses seven of the many questions concerning stem cell research.

There are many good things that could occur from embryonic stem cell research, including numerous areas of scientific potential. Over 100 million americans suffer from stem cell related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, cancer, etc., and a breakthrough in stem cell research could find causes and solutions of the problem