Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Francois Rabelais, the famous Renaissance humanist, once said, “Science without conscience is the death of the soul” (Rabelais, Francois). Since the late 1960’s, this has been the stance for opponents of embryonic stem cell research. This is saying, if we are willing to take a fertilized embryo and kill it before it has even had time to develop, where is our conscience, our heart? We consider this form of stem cell research to be immoral and unethical. Scientists are looking for alternatives to this method of harvesting stem cells, similar to adult stem cell research, to provide a better, more humane approach to this breakthrough in science and medicinal therapy.
Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos; however, most embryonic stem cells are generated and fertilized through in-vitro fertilization in a laboratory setting, not within a woman’s reproductive system. Embryonic cell generation is by no means efficient, although once the stem cells are created, it is able to yield millions of embryonic stem cells from that one cell (“Stem Cell Basics”).
Adult stem cells, commonly referred to as somatic stem cells, have a primary goal of repairing the tissues in the part of the body in which they are found. These cells are found in so many different tissues and organs, and are named by where they can be found, or by which tissues they help regenerate. The area in which the stem cell resides in within these structures is known as a
Most people are against Embryonic Stem Cell research mainly because they consider it unethical to use aborted fetuses for research. The two main issues concerning the research are the ethics (Cons) and the benefits (Pros). In any scientific case, ethics must always be considered. But the use of fetuses is something that is of the utmost importance. The costs are generally measured based off of people’s feelings, morals, and knowledge about the subject up for debate. The use of aborted fetuses for stem cell research may have many positive outcomes that can come of it, but many negative outcomes as well; If using aborted fetuses for research can, in the near future, save lives, then it is a research that should be supported, even though some
Although many people argue that the usage of embryonic stem cells is immoral, they are thought to have much greater developmental potential than adult stem cells (nih.gov 2009). While stem cells are not taken from an embryo and are
"Embryonic stem cells are special because they are the only cells that can make all parts of the body,” said Douglas Melton, in an interactive videoconference available at athome.harvard.edu. The conference was hosted in New York and broadcasted to Cambridge, Washington D.C., and Naples, Florida on March 2, 2004. "Embryonic stem cells can do everything. So if you want to work on replenishing tissues, that’s where you go."
“How can the use of stem cells be so controversial?”, one may ask. If the stem cells are donated out of free will or were going to be destroyed anyway, how can putting them to better use be controversial? Sure, a potential life must be destroyed to save a life, but only before one can tell that it is a human. Should the use of stem cells for medical research and use be regulated? These questions and more will be discussed and pondered throughout this paper.
The 70's focused on research that involved fetuses in utero. The 80's shifted to research of transplantation of fetal tissue into adults with serious medical conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson's, and spinal cord injuries. The latest saga involves using cells from days-old "spare" embryos that are created in infertility treatment process and all are considered unethical and unmoral issues.
Embryonic stem cell research and use is a scientific advancement that could change medical history. There are two types of stem cell research, adult stem cells, and embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells receive a very negative connotation in society, and there are many misconceptions about the process and the ethics of embryonic stem cell research. A large majority of society immediately assume that it is the use of aborted embryos because of the word embryonic, and adult stem cells are not as effective as embryonic. However, this is not the case. Embryonic stem cell research is in progress to help cure and reduce the effects of very fatal and harmful diseases that take many of societies precious lives. If research continues to
There is a debate over the ethics of stem cell research and many people on opposing sides of the issue are not aware of all aspects. In order to intelligently debate the legal and ethical issues regarding stem cell research, one must understand what stem cells are, the applications currently available, and the impact of the research. It is also important to understand the distinction between adult and embryonic stem cells before exploring their uses and impacts
The ability to manipulate the stem cell corresponding to a specific organ/tissue remains important. A type of stem cell that can be manipulated is the embryonic stem cell. These stem cells descend from embryos aging from three to five days (Watt) (Driskell). During earlier stages, scientists describe embryonic stem cells as “blastocysts” which contain over one-hundred and fifty cells (Watt) (Driskell). They duplicate into more cells or transform to any cell located in the body (Watt) (Driskell). This “duplication” allows embryonic stem cells to regenerate and repair diseased tissues. Embryonic stem cells gain importance in cancer treatments—if doctors diagnose patients with leukemia, then during chemotherapy, the doctor can infuse embryonic stem cells into the body. Since the cells are young, they can repair the targeted cell, aiding cancer treatments and the patient. In addition, this technique is used with another type of embryonic stem cell called “pluripotent stem cells”. Pluripotent stem cells originate as inner mast cells (cells
Embryonic stem cells research is the most debated type of stem cell research. The moral standings of embryonic stem cell research have been debated since the research started. The side against the research claims that it is wrong to value one’s life above another and that the elimination of the most basic form of life is murder. While the side supporting the research claims that the research could bring about the cure for many types of diseases and help save the lives of millions. Embryonic stem cells are controversial because of how they are obtained and used. While the two sides argue over whether it is moral or not, they both agree that adult stem cells have potential without the moral dilemma.
Researches are continuously looking for ways to cure and treat all kinds of diseases, so why are there limits being put on the kinds of treatments that can be used to treat or cure a disease? Embryonic Stem Cells can be used to treat many different diseases, but some people have their opinion that using these stem cells in medicine is unethical because they are coming from a human embryo. There are countries that have banned the use of embryonic stem cells in medicine, and in America there are people arguing that it should be banned here. But what about all of the lives these stem cells are saving, what if research continues and these embryonic stem cells end up being a cure to a disease? With this in mind, human embryonic stem cells
Embryonic stem cell research has been a heated debate for upwards of 30 years due to the controversial nature of extracting embryos for research purposes. Recently the ban for federal funding to research embryos has been lifted; therefore, sparking even more debate on whether or not embryonic stem cells research is ethical. Embryonic stem cell research is the extracting of embryos in order to conduct research in cell repair and growth. There are two moral principles to choose between: is it used to prevent or help suffering and pain, or should we respect the value of human life? Embryonic stem cell research is considered murder by many. Also, with thousands of embryos preserved in in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics, “it appears that there
As he lies and stares at the same blank ceiling, he begins to question his very existence. At only four years old, he sees the same doctor at the same hospital a minimum of once a week. He wonders why he suffers while other children his age are allowed to run and play. With his condition, he knows his fate will soon be determined, but he is unaware that the type of sickle cell disease from which he is suffering can be cured using stem cells. Scientists have recorded two types of stem cells – embryonic and adult. Stem cells can be retrieved not only from embryos, but also umbilical cords, the placenta, amniotic fluid, and adult tissues and organs (“Stem Cells,” 2011, p.12). Stem cell research is only a small part of a much larger field of regenerative medicine that includes cell-based therapies, gene technology, and tissue engineering (Lysaght & Campbell, 2013, p.251). Stem cells exist in tissues all stages of life; however, they differ in the range cell types that they can form (Merwe & Urban, 2016, p.6). Supporters of stem cell research believe the research is acceptable and that society is obligated to perform life-saving biomedical research (Clifford & Jerit, 2013, p.661). Continuing stem cell research has many medical advantages such as treating diseases, growing organs to test specific drugs, and the potential cures.
Embryonic stem cells research has challenged the moral ethics within human beings simply because the point at which one is considered a “human,” is still under debate and practically incapable to make a decision upon.
Adult: An adult stem cell is a cell that is not yet specialised and is found among differentiated cells in organs or tissue. An adult stem cell can produce all of the major cell types found in tissue or organs. The main role of this cell is to preserve and mend the tissue in which they are
Embryonic stem cell research is a highly controversial topic in today's society, this kind of stem cell commits to regenerate any type of tissue. Unfortunately, Embryonic Stem Cell Research has a dark side. To obtain these cells will kill the embryo automatically. In other words, the acquirement of the Human Embryonic Stem Cell includes performing an abortion. To obtain these cells, it would kill the embryo. This has created controversy since abortion is such a divisive topic. Politicians are uneasy to take sides. The Human Embryonic Stem Cell issue is today's Pandora's Box due to all the unwittingly chaos that it can bring to our lives. By having this new option available in the medical world,