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Embryonic Stem Cell Research Essay examples

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Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Embryonic stem cell research is a controversial topic nationwide, because of its clash of ethical and moral values. Many people, including those suffering from diseases that this research is seeking to cure, do not believe in killing a living embryo in order to advance research and science.

“Even though having Parkinson’s Disease is something I’d rather not go through, I cannot find it in me to support embryonic stem cell research at this time in my life, simply because my improvement or being cured shouldn’t depend on the killing of an innocent life,” said Wilbanice Ayala, 22, of Hudson, New Hampshire.

President George W. Bush is one who also does not believe in the “killing of an innocent life” for …show more content…

Still, the reason why researchers are so focused on using embryos instead of stem cells from an existing person is quite obvious.

"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."

Melton is a professor at Harvard University and a leading researcher of embryonic stem cells. The reason Harvard can proceed in this area despite the ban on federal funds is because it is privately funded. The ban vowed not to give federal aid to researchers doing embryonic stem cell research because of the debate over moral and ethical values. Thus, the financial support provided to Harvard gives a lot of hope to people living with degenerative diseases such as Type I diabetes, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Parkinson’s Disease.

One of the leading voices in support of this research is actor Michael J. Fox, who is the founder of a foundation making the most money for Parkinson’s Disease research. At a rally for presidential candidate John F. Kerry in New Hampshire on October 4, 2004, Fox expressed his discontent with Bush’s decision saying it hindered research in the area of stem cells. He said that the people of this

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