The Debate Over Stem Cell Research

Imagine a world free from disease. The idea of a utopian society has been far from reality until the research from embryonic stem cell therapy surfaced. Since former president George W. Bush banned federal funding on embryonic stem cell research in 2001 it has caused a halt in advancements and caused controversy in the public. According to an article by Beau Watts, an accredited physician; embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells (Beau Watts). This means they have not decided what function they perform yet. Since the cells do not know the function, it can be determined by scientists. As described in the “Guidelines for the conduct of human embryonic research” by the international stem cell society; medical professionals can take an embryonic stem cell and “reprogram” it to eliminate the disease. Today 2,200 people died from heart disease (American heart association). Heart disease is only one of many diseases that can be cured by embryonic stem cell research. Religious and/or conservative groups now condemn the research, for multiple reasons. Embryonic stem cells are donated by patients of in-vitro fertilization. After a “round” of IVF, they can choose to donate, freeze, or discard their leftover embryos. Embryos contain two layers, it is the innermost layer that contains the cells used in embryonic stem cell research (Society for stem cell research). It is very important to know that, the embryos that could be used in the research are donated upon request of the patient.

The first type of stem cell, an embryonic stem cell, is known for being able to continuously multiply, as well as for being pluripotent. They can be “derived in vitro from the blastocyst of an embryo usually left over from in vitro fertilization” (Forraz & McGuckin, 2011, p.61). Unlike other types of stem cells, embryonic stem cells have yet to be used in any kind of clinical treatment of patients. The high risks of “immune rejection” or “teratoma formation” are serious obstacles (Harris, 2009, p.182). The second type of stem cell, adult stem cells, is primarily considered to be multipotent and may be found in “specific adult human tissues” such as the skin or bone marrow, just to name a few. Over the last twenty years, the amount of scientific research and trials using adult stem cells has grown significantly, despite their lower potency than embryonic stem cells (Forraz & McGuckin, 2011, p.61). Lastly, cord blood stem cells, are technically considered to be a special type of adult stem cell, but their youthful properties give them “greater restorative and regenerative potential.” Directly following the birth of a child, these stem cells can be collected from the blood in the umbilical cord (Steenblock & Payne, 2006, p.9). Embryonic, adult, and cord blood stem cells

In recent years, stem cell research has become a prominent way of treating: heart disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, spinal problems, and much more ; moreover, in recent years as Stem cell research became more popular, it has sparked controversy over the religion aspect of stem cell research. Stem cell research begins with culturing an embryonic cell and then injecting the stem cell into the area of concern(Robertson). Pluripotent stem cells are gathered and used to treat the areas, pluripotent stem cells are those that are in the earliest stages of development ; in addition, at this stage, cells can learn the jobs and take shape of cells that did the job once before (Robertson).

Imagine a world where people only talk about cancer and a desperate need for organ donors as part of a history lesson. Medical advancements have brought technology closer to making that world a reality. Recent advancements in knowledge of stem cell research has already created the ability for doctors to print a functional organ just as easily as people can print a persuasive research essay. With great medical advancements comes great controversy. The main way researchers have been studying stem cells is by harvesting undifferentiated embryonic stem cells. Those who oppose embryonic stem cell research claim that stem cell harvesting damages and kills the un-born embryo; however, because of advancements in the stem cell harvesting process, embryos are not required to harvest embryonic stem cells and embryonic stem cell research can lead to great medical advancements. What is the main reason the embryonic stem cell research is controversial?

There are many benefits that come from stem cell research; the government should be more open to obtaining stem cell research in other manners because it can be used to regenerate brain cells, it promotes nerve repair, and insulin secreting cells. If the government was to be more open to obtaining stem cell lines in other ways than just donations from fertility clinics, there would be much more stem cells available to be cultured. Since there have been so many limitations set on stem cell research, it has been difficult for scientist to find the many benefits of stem cell therapy. As far as we know, stem cells could be used for the possible cure of incurable diseases such as, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, and paralyzed human beings. Alzheimer and Parkinson’s disease are caused primarily due to the loss of brain cells, which our body does not regenerate. With other common diseases such as diabetes, stem cell therapy can play a role if they promote insulin secreting cells, which are the cells that humans with diabetes are lacking. It is very likely that these incurable diseases can be cured by stem cell therapy if it became easier to obtain such stem cells.

The ethics of research involving fetuses or material derived from fetuses have been widely debated for over three decades, portrayed by its proponents as holding the key to scientific and medical breakthrough and by its opponents as devaluing the most basic form of human life. The latest chapter in this long saga involves the use of embryonic stem cells. Research in this field took a great leap forward in 1998, when the first successes in growing human stem cells in culture were reported independently by Drs. James Thomson and John Gearhart. According to the National Institutes of Health, embryonic stem cell research "promises...possible cures for many debilitating diseases and injuries, including Parkinson 's disease, diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, burns, and spinal cord injuries. The NIH believes the potential medical benefits of human pluripotent stem cell technology are compelling and worthy of pursuit in accordance with appropriate ethical standards (National Institutes of Health 2000). Research in this new and developing field has sparked controversy centered on the moral implications of destroying human embryos and poses several compelling ethical questions. Among them: Does life begin at fertilization, in the womb, or at birth? Might the destruction of a single human embryo be justified if it can alleviate the pain and suffering of many patients?

Stem cells are cells which can essentially form into any type of cell that can be found in the body. There are various types of stem cells. These include embryonic, adult, genetically reprogrammed adult stem cells, and perinatal stem cells. The most versatile, as well as controversial, type of stem cells are embryonic stem cells. These cells are found in 3-5 day old embryos which are formed through in vitro fertilization ("Stem Cell Basics" 1). While scientists have been able to reprogram adult stem cells to act as if they were embryonic, there is yet to be any conclusive evidence as to how the use of the altered cells will affect humans ("Stem cells: What they are and what they do" 1). The use of stem cells is largely focused on regenerative medicine which takes advantage of the stem cells versatility to create and replace damaged tissues in

Adult stem cells are not necessarily derived from adult human but merely not from embryos. These stem cells can found in bone marrow, connective tissues, hair follicles, umbilical cords and other areas of the body. It is said that these cells have been used to treat an estimated 11,000 patients in the United States in the past two years alone, and over 70 diseases, including Parkinson’s and diabetes. (Pence, 2009) There have been 0 recorded successful treatments achieved by the use of embryonic stem cells. As well, stem cells from umbilical cord blood have been used to treat 65 diseases such as leukemia, and lymphoma. (Sweat,

Stem cells are defined as the population of cells within an organism that retains its ability to divide and differentiate into various cell types. Since the early 1980s, scientists have researched the use of stem cells in the treatment of various human diseases such as cancer and diabetes. The research has sparked a controversial debate worldwide due to the nature of stem cell research and the source of pluripotent stem cells used in research. Stem cell research is a necessity, despite the source of pluripotent stem cells, because the research has led to breakthrough information involving the treatment diseases and injuries and the use of stem cells to replace damaged cells.

Stem cells are cells with the potential to become any type of cell in the body. There are two different types of stem cells: adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells are very valuable and are used mainly to treat blood diseases, but sometimes adult stem cells from the brain are used to treat neurological diseases. Adult stem cells can also be difficult to recognize in the adult body. Embryonic stem cells are more flexible than adult stem cells and can be used for a bigger variety of diseases (California’s Stem Cell Agency,2011). Some people do not believe in the use of embryonic stem cells, because they believe they are killing future life. Despite the controversy over how stem cells are gathered, stem cells have undeniable

The stem cell controversy has been going on for many years. The two basic controversies surrounding stem cell research is whether or not it is morally justifiable, and if stem cells will ever live up to the medical promises. Most of these controversies concern embryonic stem cells more than any other stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are unspecialized, but have the ability to divide and make specialized cells like muscles, nerves, and skin cells. These cells are found in the early stage of human development. When the human egg is fertilized by sperm and becomes a blastocyst, which is basically a cluster of stem cells, the harvesting for embryonic stem cells begins. In order to harvest the stem cells scientists basically destroy the blastocyst. The embryonic stem cell is an efficient treatment for a variety of diseases that affect many human beings. Those diseases include Parkinson’s, muscular dystrophy, heart diseases, diabetes, vision and hearing loss, or even spinal cord injury.

Scientists are attempting to conduct stem cell research for numerous reasons. Stem cells are unspecialized and can renew themselves through cell division for longer duration of time. Cells can be manipulated under certain conditions to become any cell that the scientist encodes them with. Examples of these are liver cells or heart cells. Scientists have performed studies which suggest that stem cells can grow into two-hundred ten types of cells in the human body. (Sakaki-Yumoto, 2013) Scientists also believe that these cells can be used to cure many diseases that they have tried to find a cure for things such as spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and hundreds of rare immune system and genetic disorders. (Watt,

Pro-lifers do not seem to have a problem with this. Their problem only seems to be with using the stem cells from these embryos for life saving research. Does not the need of the many, outweigh the need of the few? (Star Trek, The Wrath of Khan, 1982) This researcher believes that it does.

Catholics are absolutely against embryonic stem cell research. News is already talking about how the Catholics approve for stem cell research but inside of an interview with Catholic News Service Nancy O’Brien wrote: “Declaring that the stem-cell research does not present a conflict between science and religion, the U.S bishops overwhelmingly approved a statement June 13th calling the use of human embryos in such research “gravely immoral” and unnecessary” (O’Brien “Catholic News Service”). As you can see from that message, Catholics are all for the stem cell research however they hate the fact that embryos are involved and are even working up to get that taken care of. This research is honestly going against everything that Catholics believe in. Multiple times inside of this document that was submitted and approved was multiple statements of immoral judgements. One quote inside of this document that really stood out is, “The issue of stem-cell research does not force us to choose between science and ethics, much less between science and religion” (O’Brien “Catholic News Service”). This quote really hit the spot on this view because it has a good point, science and religion are starting to seriously get some tension between them. The more we become technology oriented and the more we find out different ways to do stuff then the more we are going to step on someone’s toes. This quote really hit that by saying that ethics and science don’t go as much together as science and

“At its core, this issue forces us to confront fundamental questions about the beginnings of life and the ends of science. It [stem cell research] lies at a difficult moral intersection, juxtaposing the need to protect life in all its phases with the prospect of saving and improving life in all its stages.” George W. Bush in his address at the Bush Ranch in Texas precisely captures the essence of the issues surrounding stem cells. “Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the capability of self replication as well as being able to give rise to diverse types of differentiated or specialized cell lines.” (Stien). Researching these cells can lead cures some of the most devastating ailments. Despite the research’s vast