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Ethical Issues With Stem Cell Research Essay

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The ethical issues of stem cell research are closely tied to their social issues. Embryonic stem cell research causes many social dilemmas and raises the long-debated question of when life conception starts. To many, life conception starts immediately after fertilization, supporting the idea that the embryo is the equivalent of a human life. As a result, pro-life supporters and religious groups view ESC research as the equivalent of murder. On the contrary, some do not believe that embryos possess the same moral status as a living person. Supporters also argue that the blastula, where ESCs are derived from, are already commonly created and destroyed by fertility clinics. Therefore, instead of destroying surplus blastula, they could be put into better use in ESC labs, which could lead to more treatments. While ESCs hold a tremendous potential for advancements in human health, people still wonder if the benefits outweigh the costs. People have the duty of respecting human life, however to many, ESC research violates this principle, since it results in the destruction of a human embryo. Meanwhile, people also feel the moral responsibility of helping …show more content…

It results in a one-celled embryo that is genetically identical to the donated somatic cell. Cloning embryos is a technique aimed at providing a source of stem cells that can be used for research and therapies. The social and ethical issues of stem cells are closely linked, and similarly, SCNT also raises the question: What is the moral status of an embryo?
The answer is subjective, and SCNT faces many opponents from religious and pro-life organizations, since it involves the creation of an embryo with the purpose of destroying it. On the other hand, supporters believe that the treatments that could potentially be developed outweigh its

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