Stem Cell Research Thesis

The transfer of information, often shared through scientific reports and research, puts this topic in a highly international spotlight. Many supporters believe that stem cells will be able to help solve once untreatable diseases or injuries such as spinal cord injuries, skin burns, Parkinson’s disease, and some blood disorders. However, the main argument is if stem cells should be used in finding therapeutic treatments. The use of embryonic stem cells is viewed by many as a moral inconsistency; it is opposed by religious organizations and individuals believing that this research should be abandoned and existing, alternative methods be adapted.

The studying of stem cells is a very controversial issue that has been around since 1998 when the research of the use of embryonic stem cell treatment began. The main issues surrounding the discussion of treating people with life-altering disabilities through the use of these pluripotent cells is the ethicality of the matter and whether or not it is a savage act against a fetus. Many who oppose the use of these stem cells derived from excess embryos use the formerly stated opinion to support their argument, while those who are pro research argue that the destroying of one life could save another. The core complications that arise in studying stem cells lies in many Christian-like ethics and morals, otherwise called Christian bioethics. These are rooted in the modern day controversies arising due to advancements made in biology and medicine, mixed with religious views that argue against it. The conflicting interests of the polar opposites which are scientists and those with religious views have caused many complications along the way to discovering new treatments and cures for diseased cells. This bumpy road which has refrained scientists from making tremendous breakthroughs must smooth itself out, and the only way possible is through coming to an agreement that certain stem cell research should be practiced, such as the IPSC and adult stem cells, and others like the

One of the non-supporting stakeholders are the Catholic church. Along with the catholic church Pope John Paul the 2 does not support this research because he believes that by" kill an embryonic it taking a life and that it should not be done from we do not get to choose who dies …... Embryonic stem cells are obtained from prenatal at a point very early in development. Obtaining these cells typically results in the destruction of the prenatal. The direct and voluntary killing of a prenatal is always a serious sin against God because prenatal life is developing human life." the catholic church says “Experience is already showing how a tragic coarsening of consciences accompanies the assault on innocent human life in the womb, leading to accommodation and acquiescence in the face of other related evils, such as euthanasia, infanticide, and most recently, proposals for the creation for research purposes of human embryos, destined to destruction in the process. A free and virtuous society, which America aspires to be, must reject practices that devalue and violate human life at any stage from conception until natural death." one of the people in the catholic church said this about their thoughts on this research” to humanity begins with respect for each human life. Because life is our first and most basic gift from an infinitely loving God, it deserves our utmost respect and protection.

Abortion, gay marriage, and illegal immigration are all hot button topics currently being faced by Americans. As ardently as each side defends their stance on a controversial issue, an opposing side fights with equal diligence for the beliefs they feel should be valued by our nation. Perhaps nowhere is this battle more heated than in the fight over stem cell research. While supporters of this new field of science tout it’s potential to cure everything from blindness to paralysis, those against stem cell science liken the procedures used by scientists to murder. It is my intention to bring to light the positive benefits of stem cell research as well as counter the claims used by many Pro-life groups who believe the scientists driving this

The Catholic Church teaches that a cloned human embryo is as much a human as the person who is cloned. Both therapeutic and reproductive cloning are unethical because they create humans asexually, not sexually as God intended. The Church teaches that we can never do evil, even if good may eventually come of it, and there is no way to obtain embryonic stem cells without destroying innocent human life, although some reports claim that the Catholic Church attitude to ethical stem cell research is softening, perhaps influence by the “greater good principle” whereby God may permit an evil for the sake of some greater

Scientific research of all kinds is viewed by some as controversial, with one of the most controversial of these being the study of human stem cells. From the first uses of this technology there have been many who have fought to stop it. However, current advances in medical research have made it possible to reduce some of the negative stigma surrounding stem cell research and will lead researchers to develop new cures and other applications that could turn the health care industry further toward the current trend of preventative medicine. Much of the negative connotation surrounds the types of cells used and how they are harvested. New discoveries and techniques have allowed for alternate sources of stem cells and that research has led to new views of the cells and their functions. All of this has, in turn, led to new information about many genetic diseases and possible treatments using stem cells.

Stem cell research is the most controversial topic in the health field since abortion. Stem cell research however, has the potential to unlock an infinite amount of possibilities as well be the key to curing patients with terminal illnesses. Many people from around the world have their opinions on this type of research dealing with ethics, politics, and religion. The most efficient way to study stem cells is taking them from donated embryos (which have been banned in the United States). This research process is claimed to be unethical. The fact is that stem cell research if ever accepted in society, will lead to one of the biggest, if not the biggest medical revolution in the twenty-first century.

"In recent years, there has been an explosion of interest in stem cells, not just within the scientific and medical communities but also among politicians, religious groups and ethicists,"3 Fiona Watt argued. Although overhearing debates and controversy regarding stem cells on the news, television or conversation is common, many aren’t aware of what the big debate is about or what stem cells truly are. The major argument against stem cell research is that it is morally wrong and unethical. To phrase it simply, a stem cell is an unspecialized cell that has the capability of turning into a cell with a specific job.1 They are different from other kinds of cells in the body for a few different reasons.3 All stem cells, regardless of what specific type are able to divide and renew themselves; they don’t originate specialized but can become specialized in different circumstances like when older cells are damaged.4 When a stem cell divides, it has the choice to become a more specialized cell like a brain cell, muscle cell among others, or to remain a stem cell.1

What if there was already a way to cure cancer out there right now? What if it was right at the tip of humanity’s fingers, and with a little bit more reach it would be ours? This miracle is known as Stem Cell Research (SCR). Stem Cell Research is a relatively new field that has shown much promise to help deal with hundreds of different conditions and diseases. Though this astounding field holds the key to saving thousands of lives, there is a misguided ethical problem with Stem Cell Research raised by the church. The church only focuses on one aspect of harvesting stem cells when there is more than one way to get stem cells. This isn’t the only thing that is holding SCR back. Stem Cell Research has a chance to be something great but it needs; a better public image (at least from the religious community,) better funding so that progress can be made to put the stem cells to human testing, and more focus on a huge project that has been put on the backburner for so long.

The Church Supports the research of stem cells as long as there are no forms of immoral intention or processes that go along with the research. Although the church supports stem cells for their ability to heal diseases, the Church’s belief also states “the dignity of a person must be recognized in every human being from conception to natural death” (Levada). This means that the church does not believe in using human embryos for stem cell research because that takes away from the dignity of life which is believed to start at conception. The Church states that “The body of a human being, from the very first stages of its existence, can never be reduced merely to a group of cells. They embryonic human body develops progressively according to a well-defined program with its proper finality, as is apparent in the birth of every baby” (Levada). It is understood that life is sacred, so the use of embryonic stem cells is immoral depending on this belief, similar to abortion and in vitro fertilization. Also the creation of embryonic stem cells is forbidden by the church because an embryo “is generated through an act which expresses the reciprocal love between a man and a woman. Procreation which is truly responsible

This paper will be discussing the history of stem cells. There are many different ways to collect stem cells. Stem cells can be used for either right or wrong reasons. People can either use them to cure or to cause harm. Most people use stem cells to cure fatal illnesses. The one researcher that put stem cells out in the science world so people could understand it better was Leroy Stevens. His first encounter with stem cells was with a mouse that had a teratoma.

d. There are a lot of moral and ethical issues raised when using stem cells. When harvesting embryonic stem cells scientist destroy the blastocyst before it can develop into a person. People also believe harvesting stem cells from an embryo is like murder, or abortion. Another issue people have is the creation of chimeras: an organism with both human and animal cells and tissues. Stem cell research sometimes require injecting human stem cells in animals or vise versa. Some people are against the creation of an organism that is “part human” or a human that is “part animal”. Embryo stem cell harvesting has been made illegal in most european countries. In the U.S. it is illegal for the government to fund the research of stem cell lines that were created after August 2001.

Research in stem cells are not a new current discovery; during the 1980s, adult human cells were collected and identified through the work of embryonic cells (Bellomo 51). Embryonic stem

“Embryonic stem cells...are in effect, a human self-repair kit,” (Christopher Reeve, activist – Larry King show). For the advancement of science, stem cells are infinitely valuable, especially when considering all the potential applications in the field of medicine. Stem cell usage is a very controversial topic, because most people think of abortions, cloning, and other negative topics when they hear the term stem cell.

What are stem cells? Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that are found in multicellular organisms. The reason for scientist’s interest in stem cells is because of the possible applications of using them. These stem cells can be used to regrow organs/tissues. By using stem cells, scientists may be able to find cures for different cancers, certain genetic diseases, and different physical trauma damages. They can be used to treat a variety of different medical problems but the issue with stem cell research is that embryos are destroyed when the stem cells are harvested from them. This is considered the moral dilemma that has prevented research in the past. There are three different types of stem cells: embryonic, induced pluripotent and adult.