The Ethics Of Stem Cell Research

The groundbreaking scientific research underway happening this century is revolving around the field of regenerative medicine, specifically stem cell research. To begin to discuss whether or not stem cell research should be scientifically funded we must understand what stem cells are. According to Jordan Saltzberg, author of “The Current Embryonic Stem Cell Research Federal Funding Policy,” embryonic stem cells have the possibility to reproduce and continue to grow and also form any type of specialized cell unlike adult stem cells (2). Since the embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can form any specialized cell they are more valuable than adult stem cells (hASCs). Saltzberg has also stated, stem cells are present throughout a person 's life but are first found in the embryo (2). This shows that one day we may be able to use human adult stem cells instead of embryonic stem cells. Human embryonic stem cells are, for now, the most promising subfield of regenerative medicine. Stem cell research is debated by many different groups, for example the church, government, and everyday people. The majority of religions along with all of their followers believe the research to be unethical, whereas the government and scientific community think that it is vital for new scientific discoveries. Despite the

There is a debate over the ethics of stem cell research and many people on opposing sides of the issue are not aware of all aspects. In order to intelligently debate the legal and ethical issues regarding stem cell research, one must understand what stem cells are, the applications currently available, and the impact of the research. It is also important to understand the distinction between adult and embryonic stem cells before exploring their uses and impacts

It is imperative that students who are planning to enter the medical field be well-informed about this issue so that they can begin to develop their own convictions about medical ethics, specifically regarding the stem cell debate. This report defines what stem cells, describes the different types of stem cell research and their potential role in disease therapy, and the presents the ethical controversy surrounding stem cell research.

Stem cell research is often at the forefront of heated ethical debates due to its assessment of human life. If stem cell research cannot be ethically defended, then it should not be conducted. “You cannot defend a study ethically unless the presumed cost is lower than expected benefits. The cost-benefit analysis of scientific research needs to include human/animal discomfort/risks, environmental issues, material costs, etc” which is necessary to support the positive outcome which the research claims to provide (experiment-resources, 2008).

Despite the new technological advances that bring promise to many medical treatments, few issues cause concern when implementing the research into clinical studies. Many ethical dilemmas slow the progression of research due to the variety of opinions influenced by moral beliefs. Resembling abortion, the process of fetal stem cell research includes destruction of the embryo five to seven days after conceived, in order to obtain the needed stem cells. Stem cells main function is to divide and regenerate into new more specially designed cells. In 1981, mice stem cells were obtained but over ten years later, researchers were able to extract stem cells from human embryos. It is believed the stem cells of a human embryo could better the treatments of birth defects, diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and cancer. The finding of these stem cells and their uses established a moral standstill within medicine and society.

The society is not at an agreeable point when it comes to the research of stem cells obtained from human embryos. The disagreement narrows down to a clash between the two fundamental principles of ethics: The duty to prevent and alleviate suffering, and the duty to respect the value of human life. In most situations, both principles can be satisfied. However, in the research of embryonic stem cells, it might not be inherently possible.

Stem cells are defined as “mother cells that have the potential to become any new type of cell in the body” (Cashin-Garbutt). It sounds like a tool that can be used to help another’s health, yet it is a hot issue in the modern science world. The stem cells come from spare embryo’s, existing cell lines, and therapeutic cells (EuroStemCell). Therapeutic cloning stem cells aren’t even used in patients yet and existing cell lines are well accepted. There are adult stem cells, and embryotic stem cells. The controversy surrounded by the topic comes with the embryotic stem cells. Embryo stem cells are moral, they help those with life-taking diseases, and often times there are extra embryos that are used.

The controversy about stem cell research is the concept that the research itself is “unethical” because it involves the development and usage, and possibly destruction of human embryos. This is not true for most methods of stem cell research. As stated

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 question that has been asked so many times, is stem cell research ethical? To argue ethics over this topic, one must first know what a stem cell is.Stem Cells are “cells with the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells” (Stem Cell Basics: Introduction). The National Institutes of Health say that stem cells are distinguished for two different reasons. The first is “they are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, sometimes after long periods of inactivity” (Murnaghan). The other is they can be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions. In some situations they can repair and replace worn out or damaged tissues. The two different embryonic stem cells and non-embryonic "somatic" or "adult" stem cells. The controversy lies in whether or not using embryonic cells is ethical.

While extremely helpful and innovative, stem cell research is seen as controversial and morally questionable. The main ethical dilemma behind stem cell research is that embryonic stem cells do come from aborted fetuses and many do not agree with abortion or the use of aborted cells and see this as morally wrong. Personally, I believe stem cell research should be used and supported due to all the benefits it could provide for human health and advancements in modern medicine. By utilizing and further exploring this research method, scientists could potentially find cures and treatments to diseases that are currently incurable and infecting the human population. Stem cell research would ultimately be helping people who are fatally ill and help

Human Embryonic Stem Cell (hESC) research possesses ethical dilemmas with the utility of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from human blastocyst, one of the earliest stages of embryonic development. Embryonic stem cell derivation is controversial because there are different opinions and beliefs on when an embryo is deserving of full moral status, equal to the moral respect, rights and treatment to that of a human being. ESCs extracted from a blastocyst will undergo experimentation that would be considered unethical if it were performed on humans. Having a restrictive federal policy would eliminate the unethical destruction of blastocyst that is required to extract ESCs and it would push the scientific community to find other means to provide cells with the equivalent or sufficient potential to attenuate or cure disease, such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Moreover, a restrictive policy would also terminate the unethical experimentation that embryos and fetuses undergo in laboratories across the U.S. The United States requires the integration of restrictive ESC policy for the following reasons: an embryo at all stages has the potential to form human life and is deserving of full moral status, and the need for ESC research can be rendered obsolete now that induced pluripotent stem cells are available.

Science fiction has tried to encapsulate social responses that could arise with the development of genetically altered or “enhanced” human beings. Regenerative medicine, genetic cloning and life extension are all terms that sound like they came out of a fantastic film or novel, though they are in fact subjects of great research and heated debates. Embryonic stem cells are arguably the quintessential building block of life itself. They’re “undifferentiated cells produced after a fertilized egg has divided several times and developed into a blastocyst,” which is “a hollow ball of cells” inside which is a group of “fifteen to twenty embryonic stem cells.”

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.

The report gives a thought regarding the ethical issues identified with culture of stem cells. The feeling of the general population with respect to stem cells culture is considered in this assignment. This assignment gives a thought regarding the information collection technique and the investigation of the information. Ethical and religious issues related to stem cells research are discussed in this assignment. The task will comprehend the perspective of the people with respect to stem cell culture and will take choice about opening of the research laboratory.