Stem Cells: Growing an ethical pair
What if millions of Americans could have their lives changed for the better? This could be a reality if human embryonic stem cells research (HESC) was regulated and funded by the government. The reason for the lack of human trials is that many believe the use of stem cells is unethical. This combined with the fact that the process is extremely expensive, and it goes against many people’s religious or morals beliefs. Thankfully, under President Obama, the restrictions formally placed on the research have been reduced resulting in many scientific breakthroughs. For example, it is believed that diseases such as Parkinson 's, heart problems and even spinal cord injuries could be better treated or completely
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The vast amount of companies seeking to employ HESC will go as for as to take advantage of women as shown through history for financial gain(2). Deborah White states that many pro-life organizations see the destruction of the embryo as murder and, the research done on the stem cells is actually human experimentation. White also states that those who oppose stem cells claim that inadequate tests using HESC have been done on humans. In addition, adult stem cells have not been studied enough, and may be able to yield the same results as HESC. “Ten Problems with Embryonic Stem Cell Research” states that tumors have been shown to form in injection sites from adult stem cells. People who are given new organs will also need to be on immune represent drugs for the rest of their lives to ensure that their bodies would not destroy the transmitted cells (Kelly Hollowell). The moral and ethical implications are alarming to some. Jane Maienschein, author of Whose View Of Life, quoted the loose term of life given by the Encyclopaedia Britannica: “Somewhat vaguely applied to the product of generation of any plant or animal which is in process of formation”(50). Ernst Haeckel’s research showed that the gastrula was the beginning stage of all life this theory was also supported by the common belief that actual life started to develop around 40 days, in which the baby begins to take the form of its parents. Unfortunately, the current rule and even law of some nations only allow
Stem cells are cells that have the potential to develop into different types of cells in the body. Stem cells also act as a repair system for many tissues in the body by dividing repeatedly to replenish other cells within a person (National Institutes of Health). Stem cell research seeks to further the advancement of the use of stem cells as well as to find an ethical way to study them. In November 1998, researchers found a way to isolate and culture human embryonic stem cells, (Bevington 2005). The ethics of stem cell research has been debated over the years and some people fully support the use of stem cells, whereas others are completely against the use of stem cells. This has been an ongoing battle for scientists over the span of two decades prior to the 1998 finding.
Throughout the course of history, healthcare advancements have been some of the most important events to happen to the human race. Whether it was the invention of the first stethoscope or the first vaccine for polio, these findings have helped lengthen and improve human life, as well as aid scientists in better understanding humans as a species. In recent years, embryonic stem cells have been discovered to offer a variety of benefits to many different diseases and disorders. However, despite their amazing potential, the source of these lifesaving cells have brought up the question of ethics and morals in the scientific and medical communities as well as mainstream media. Is stem cell research worth the dangers and moral controversies in
Millions of people die every year from diseases and accidents; the nightly news is filled with reports about the devastating effects of cancer, horrific accidents, and disasters that leave people disfigured or paralyzed. Embryonic stem cell research is a part of biomedical science and has the potential to ease the suffering of sick people by curing diseases and defects, creating organs and tissue for patients needing transplants or skin grafts, regenerating axons in spinal cord injuries, and creating new treatments, drugs, and immunizations. However, America’s government does not support this research to an extent that would make a difference in medicine; only a few stem cell lines are authorized, and federal funding is minimal. The
Embryonic stem cell research could one day hold the key to many new scientific discoveries if it is continuously funded in the years to come. I chose to base my research around the question, Should embryonic stem cell research be government funded? When I finish highschool I hope to pursue a career in the medical field. Although I wish to become a doctor and may not be directly researching stem cells, they may one day be a treatment that I will have to administer to patients. To answer this question I first had to understand why embryonic stem cells are a topic for such heated debates. This is another thing that interested me greatly. I had known about how stem cells were produced, but I had not known about the ethics and great amount of
By legalizing the funding of stem cell research, the United States will be joining several other countries in leading the prospective frontier that is stem cell research. The legal suits believe stem cell research is unethical, but all the potential for medical advancements shows otherwise. People can help by donating money to certain places, such as the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and vote to remove restrictions on stem cell research. By doing this, the world just might become a place where all serious diseases have a
A brief introduction to stem cells; Stem cells are cells that are undifferentiated, or, simply put, a cell that has not yet been given a job, such as cells that create molecules. In recent years, scientists have discovered the potency that stem cells contain, due to their versatility. For example, stem cells could be studied and used to cure a man of liver disease, a child’s handicap, a woman’s breast cancer, etc…, etc…. One may now be asking themselves? “That’s great… then why are so many people against stem cell research? What could possibly be the drawback? “. You see, stem cells are acquired by human embryos, or, in Layman’s Terms, unborn fetuses. Take for
“Over 100 million Americans suffer from diseases that eventually may be treated more effectively or even cured with embryonic stem cell therapy. Some researchers regard this as the greatest potential for the alleviation of human suffering since the advent of antibiotics” (White). However, not everybody agrees with this. While embryonic stem cells offer much hope for medical advancement because of their ability to grow into almost any kind of cell, the moral debate of the destruction of an embryo continues. Embryonic stem cells are taken directly from an embryo before the embryo 's cells begin to develop into their specific cells. While there may be promise of embryonic stem cells triggering medical advancements, the ongoing controversy continues to hinder research.
Many of the ethical debates about embryonic stem cells involve when a human being is actually defined as a human. Embryonic stem cells can be taken from the blastocyst, a very early stage of development that is a hollow ball with about 150-200 cells and is barely visible to the naked eye. According to the 2010 statistics of the World Health Organization, worldwide 5.7 million people die of Alzheimer’s disease, and 10 million people die of Parkinson’s disease each year. Both Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are currently incurable, but with the use of stem cells, scientists can find a cure for many diseases across the country. If scientists can sacrifice something for the greater good of mankind,
Throughout the last couple of decades the rise of technology has influenced the lives of Americans in many ways. From the time scientists started in depth experiments with stem cells in the 1980s, to the present day, the use of stem cells in research has been a prominent topic not only in legislation, but also in everyday conversations (Bush). This is because of the controversy these conversations introduce, as well as the hope in the potential outcomes and cures they may bring (Clemmitt). Some people believe that stem cell research should not be performed due to the fact that using embryonic stem cells is considered a form of
A great deal of Americans believe that it is morally reprehensible to destroy an embryo for research purposes, as well as create embryos specifically for research, which can almost seem like “playing God.” Many people also base their distaste for hESC experimentation on their religious convictions, such as the Christian belief that life begins at conception. Both beliefs make sense and should be acknowledged when considering if the government should have a hand in funding stem cell research. However, while religious values and morals are valid beliefs that are essential for humanity to function, sometimes they get in the way of real progress and should not be the only factor considered. Furthermore, it can be argued that using “spare” embryos from in-vitro fertilization is even more humane. Supporters of hESC experimentation argue that it would be for the best if the embryos had the chance do everything in their power to help “alleviate human suffering” (Bothwell 165). Additionally, some argue that that federally funding hESC research is unecessary due to one simple fact: the stem cell industry is already largely run on private donations and state funding. While private and state donations have certainly helped usher in groundbreaking discoveries, the resources of the federal government vastly dwarfs the resources of the states; one can only imagine the possibility of future
What kind of research sparks a battle between religious-ethics, political, and scientific theories and beliefs? What makes you question right or wrong, moral or immoral, good or bad? The answer is stem cell research. So what is a stem cell? “Stem cells… are in effect, a human self-repair kit.” (Christopher Reeve, activist Larry King, CNN) Stem cells are cells that exist in an undifferentiated state, and can transform into any of the 220 types of cells that exist in our body. Stem cells have the ability to repair many classes of damaged human tissues without the fear of tissue rejection. There are two types of stem cells but the most promising are the embryonic stem cells- labeled as today’s
Stem Cell Research has been a controversial topic to the public ever since its introduction in 1998 after a scientist James Thomson derived stem cells from human embryos. Stem cells are cells that have the extraordinary ability to “give rise to all cells and tissues in the body” (Holland, Lebacqz, & Zoloth, 2001). Stem cells thrilled scientists. They offered the potential in curing many diseases. They offered the ability to restore organs; one could save failing organs by injecting healthy cells into the damaged parts, this process is called regenerative medicine. Stem cells offered endless possibilities. However, the public didn’t know how to deal with it. They were conflicted on whether it was ethical to destroy human embryos or the miraculous
There are millions of people in the world right now that have serious diseases. Stem cells can develop cures for these serious diseases. Funding stem cell research can allow for the transplant organs and tissues in the body. The funding of stem cell research can progress our understanding of diseases form in our body. Finally, stem cell research can come up with a cure for diseases, like cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. In Summary, the use of stem cells for scientific research is ethical because it can be used in organ and tissue transplanting, advance our understanding of how disease progresses, and the development of new treatments for diseases.
Imagine if your life was as perfect as it could get; pursuing your wildest dreams, no financial problems, loving friends and families who supports you, not worrying about the limitation of your body… but one day, were told that you have an incurable illness or an injury that will leave you permanently paralyzed. Luckily amazing new scientific discoveries could change that. Today we are on the brink of a new age in medicine, all because of the cells inside us. It’s called stem cell research and it could be the first step in medical revolution where we’ll be able to heal our bodies of any illness. Unfortunately, due to the controversies surrounding stem cell research, the government is unwilling to help and remain neutral with sides.
Controversies are brought up arguing if the embryo is human and whether or not that embryo has legal and moral rights. If the inner cell wall of the mass is removed, it prevents the fertilized eggs from developing (“The Great Debate Over Stem Cell Research”). Some believe that human life begins at the moment of conception and that the embryo deserves to be protected. Also, there are some cultures that do not support the use of human life to someone else besides its producer. They also believe that the embryo only has moral rights as a human only after a few months of development (“The Stem Cell Debate: Is it Over?”).