Negative Ethical Issues In Embryo Research

“Now science has presented us with a hope called stem cell research, which may provide our scientists with many answers that have for so long been beyond our grasp.” (Nancy Reagan). Most cells within our bodies perform one specialized task. Contrary to these single job cells are stem cells. These cells are unspecialized and can morph and perform any task that is needed within the body. However, the way that stem cells are harvested has caused a lot of controversy. The way that the stem cells are taken destroys the embryo. We should support the recent decision to allow embryonic stem-cell research in the United States and federally fund the work to use these stem cells to cure diseases. Better stem cell research would provide safer procedures and medical practices for everyone.

Using Embryonic stem cells, there is a chance that over 80 diseases could be cured. These diseases include diabetes, spinal cord injury, and maybe even cancer. Despite all the possibilities that stem cells offer, some feel that the methods used to obtain embryonic stem cells are unethical; However, there are actually many reasons to continue stem cell research. Embryonic stem cell research should be funded because the blastocyst, or embryo, is willingly donated, and can’t feel pain. Although many people say that the

“While we must devote enormous energy to conquering disease, it is equally important that we pay attention to the moral concerns raised by the new frontier of human embryo stem cell research. Even the most noble ends do not justify any means.” This quote comes from former president George W. Bush during a radio conference where he discussed his decision to allow federal funds to be used for stem cell research only in cases where the embryos were not harmed. While still in the beginning stage of exploration, stem cell research, and more specifically embryonic stem cell research, has become a topic of great debate. The ethics and procedures involved have come into question not only by the Catholic Church, but also by many citizens and even our presidents. The morality of this new scientific development lies in the way these stem cells are obtained. For scientists to acquire embryonic stem cells they must be removed from a destroyed embryo. For some this is just a small obstacle or nuisance in technicalities as to what a human being is, while for other it is seen as murder and the taking of a life before it even had a chance. Another reason the use of embryos is frowned upon is because of the alternate and successfully proven approach of using somatic stem cells, which do not require any human life to be harmed. The Catholic Church, being an institution of God and supporting all life, for obvious reasons cannot be a supporter of embryonic stem cell research because of the

There is another way to continue stem cell research without having to question ethics and morality. This solution is adult stem cell research. Instead of taking the stem cells from an embryo, these stem cells are taken from an adult human. These cells can be extracted from bone marrow and blood, which can then be focused to form a specific tissue needed in that body to repair. This is different from embryonic stem cells because adult cells are taken directly from the individual and thus no lives are taken.

The advancement of embryonic stem cell therapies and transplants has drastically changed the realm of medical research. However, the use of human embryos is an ethical concern among researchers around the world. There are several benefits for embryonic stem cells therapy. Embryonic stem cells are beneficial to researchers due to their unique ability to replicate themselves and make specialized cells for any tissue in the body. These cells serve as a potential to cure various diseases and disabilities that threaten the survival of humankind. Since the early 1960’s, there have been ethical deliberations behind the destruction of the embryo. The FDA has stepped in many times throughout the years due to the moral implications of the use of

As the years have progressed, scientific research has begun to grow exponentially. Every day something new is discovered and has been incorporated into everyday life. One recent discovery is the ability to screen eggs from the mother for certain genetic diseases, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, and implant them; ultimately picking and implanting an egg that will produce a normal, healthy child or otherwise known as a designer baby(Ly). Another aspect of a designer baby, is the ability that allows the parents to pick the gender or certain traits they want their child to have(Ly). This means that if the parents want their child to have a very high IQ, be a girl, and be beautiful; then it will have all of those traits. If the parents want their child to play basketball and eventually go pro; then it will have the ability

In the U.K over 70% of the population supports stem cell research but yet it continues to be held back by legislation why is that (Parkinson’s UK)? Stem cells have proven potential to save thousands of lives yet some people still doubt their probability. Although many people believe that Embryonic Stem Cell Research is unethical and should not be allowed to continue. Embryonic Stem Cell Research is ethical because the embryos are usually 5-14 days old therefore making them have an absence of most of the human characteristics and embryos that are aborted are just going to die anyways and lastly because embryonic stem cells have the potential to cure several diseases and increase the lifespan of humans.

Stem cells are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, even after long periods of inactivity. Stems cells can develop into many different cell types within the body during early life and growth. Stem cells can also serve as an internal repair of sorts inside many tissues. When a stem cell divides, it has the potential to either become another type of cell with a specialized function or remain a stem cell.

Do you agree or disagree with the phenomenon of stem cells by taking ethical concerns into consideration? The state of stem cells will be able to regenerate medicine with ethical concerns being taken into account. I therefore agree that ethical values and concerns have to be taken into account with stem cell research. Do researches of stem cells include its history and success Compile a questionnaire Extract data from questionnaires Conclude from data results Evaluate the importance of the research and the usage of stem cells Stem cells are a class of undifferentiated cells that are able to differentiate into specialized cell types. According to Peter Crosta from Medical News Today (2013), stem cells come from two main sources: Embryos formed

The main ethical issue with therapeutic cloning is the moral status of the cloned embryo, as it is created solely for destruction (Kfoury, 2007). Embryos created using this method are not treated with dignity, as they are not allowed to live more than a few days (Kfoury, 2007). Even though some scientist believe that this method can provide a source of cells for therapy in the future, others argue that it would result in commercial pressures and competition which could force scientists to undergo more research on embryos, which would just become a resource for researchers (Hug, 2015). This could mean millions of egg’s from women a year would be needed (Douglas and Savulescu, 2009). This method will mainly affect women in third world countries or places that have fewer legal restrictions as they could be used for their eggs (Kug,

Stem cells not only exist in developing embryonic cells but also in the adult nervous system of all mammalian organisms which include humans. Stem cells can also be derived from developing mammalian nervous system. Embryonic stem cells have vast possibility in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine as they have the capacity to produce each type of cell and tissue in the body. On paper, it could revolutionize the way human diseases and organ transplants are treated by creating any type of cell in a laboratory whenever needed. However, like any type of biological research there is bound to be many ethical issues that surround it and with the study of embryonic stem cells there are many who would call it inhumane as they would say an embryo is life and by destroying one it would be murder. However, in 2006 some researchers at Kyoto University in Japan have identified a way to produce cells with a stem cell like state without having to use embryos as testing. Their research has allowed them to recognised conditions that would create reprogrammed undifferentiated adult and human cells from already specialised cells skin, hair.

To others, there are a plethora of issues in IVF that constitute it as being unethical. Opponents consider it unethical to “play God” and create life in an unnatural manner. They believe couples should conceive on their own without the help of a medical procedure involving embryos. This is due to their opposition to the destruction of embryos during or after the procedure. For example, embryos are frozen in large groups and are disposed of if not used or remain frozen for numerous years (Bliss, 2012). Others believe that people should simply adopt a child instead of going through the expensive and risky procedure of IVF. However, these arguments are only the tip of the iceberg of IVF being that there are several topics to be discussed. One of the most interesting topics within IVF is that of “designer babies”. Although predominantly permissible by law, the ethics of “designer babies” encompasses whether or not it is moral to use PGD for preventive medical measures, sex pre-selection, and the determination of a child’s various traits. As stated above, the ethicality of the procedures lie within the intention of pursuing

Despite different views about stem cell research, on the scientific and technical level stem cell research does not breach ethical values. Many stem cell methodologies now circumvent embryo death which is at the forefront of this ethical debate. In a process known as in vitro fertilization, “researchers mix a man’s sperm and a woman’s eggs together in a lab dish. Some of those eggs become fertilized and begin developing” which are then “implanted into the woman in hopes that she becomes pregnant” (CIRM). After the woman becomes pregnant and a family is started, the couple is given options in regards to the remaining embryos. They can “continue paying to store the embryos or they can defrost the embryos which destroy them or they can choose to donate the embryos for adoption. [They] can also choose to donate the frozen embryos for research” (CIRM). Embryonic stem cells collected in this way through in vitro fertilization may be viable alternatives to proceed with stem cell research. This very sensitive issue can thus be ethically remediated.

If they use nothing for embryos then they should use it for the researches which will contribute a cure for many diseases and they might “contribute new knowledge to how to improve the success rates of thawing embryos.” (Karen Synesiou) But research are very expensive who is going to pay for all the cost. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

There are many arguments for and against the use of parthenogenic embryos. Some of the arguments against a ban of utilizing parthenogenic embryos are the many possible uses in the medical field to treat or cure illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart disease, cancer and the like. Professor Alison Murdoch states using this method “will help us understand genetic imprinting and why babies are born with abnormalities”, however, Dr. Kono who led the parthenogenesis study and his research team found that many of the embryos were abnormal. Furthermore, Dr. Kono stated it is a senseless question concerning using parthenogenesis on humans.