The Heated Debate Concerning Stem Cell Research Essay

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.

Through change and uttermost struggle, the people who care about a subject always seem to push through for what they believe in. For the sake of Embryonic Stem Cell research, the advocates tried their best to show the advancements stem cells may withhold, and for the people who disagree with the research, always seemed to put a new light on the subject, simply humanizing the research. Although the destruction of a human embryo is not something many people would view as ethical, it is something that could hold much promise for those who suffer from terminal illnesses (Sherley). When the miracle of assisting those who could not reproduce children through In Vitro Fertilization transpired the world of stem cell research was acquired (Tauer 924).

In the past two decades, many technological and scientific advances have been made in order to make life easier for many people who suffer from cancer, disease and sickness. Among these advances there is something revolutionary called stem cells. Stem cells can help restore and regenerate almost all parts of the human body such as the heart, kidney, liver, and many other organs. Although stem cells offer a lot, there are many views against and for stem cells, and among these views lies the debate of whether stem cells should be legalized or not (NIH 2). Stem cells offer exciting new opportunities in the field of science such as regenerating human body parts, but many people are still debating whether or not the use of stem cells is

Embryonic stem cell research is a very controversial topic in today’s world. A stem cell is

One of the most heated political battles in the United States in recent years has been over the morality of embryonic stem cell research. The embryonic stem cell debate has polarized the country into those who argue that such research holds promises of ending a great deal of human suffering and others who condemn such research as involving the abortion of a potential human life. If any answer to the ethical debate surrounding this particular aspect of stem cell research exists, it is a hazy one at best. The question facing many scientists and policymakers involved in embryonic stem cell research is, which is more valuable – the life of a human suffering from a potentially fatal illness or injury, or the life of human at one week of

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?

One of the most controversial topics these days is Stem Cell Research. There seems to be a split opinion among societies about the research and whether it is socially and morally acceptable. As a society, we need to open our minds to the possibility of broadening our scientific horizons with stem cell research, and take the time to learn and understand whatever we can about it.

The treatment of diseases and illnesses continually grows and improves. Embryonic stem cells have the potential to help rectify or even cure disease and illnesses that are thought to be incurable. However, the ethical battle over the sanctity of life rages on.

The continuous debate over stem cell research has been going on since around 1998 when scientists learned how to remove stem cells from human embryos. It often revolves around whether stem cell research is ethical and moral, rather than debating over the benefits and the downfalls of stem cell research. One of the main oppositionist of stem cell research is the Catholic Church. In an article written by Nancy Frazier O’Brien, she quotes a document from an assembly held by the Bishops of the

More than one ethical position on stem cell research could be called "religious"; and as a Christian, could ethically support stem cell research because of its potential for relieving human suffering and enhancing human health and well-being. There is more than one way to be moral, more than one way to translate one's faith commitments into public policy. (185)

Stem cell research is capable to cure many diseases, as well as eliminating donor organ rejection, which has been one of the medical difficulties. In spite of having these potentials, the research done so far has been problematic and resulted in more unresolved complication than success. As cited in Healey (2007, p. 25), Sherley (2006) stated “[t]hese defects [from stem cell genetic program] will certainly render tissues derived from them ineffective and potentially dangerous.” On the other hand, it has enhanced the level of study, for being able to provide a path for the study of early human development. Moreover, the trials for new drugs are accessible and early prevention for certain disease could be carried out. Clearly, the future of stem cell research cannot be justified in terms of its

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.

1998, the topic of stem cell engineering have been heatedly debated, publicly. One of the issues that contributed to this complex controversy is the originally broad definition of stem cell itself. Stem cell is defined as “[C]ells that have the capability of differentiating into diverse cell types” by Dr. Lowenthal and Dr. Sugarman. This definition is widely accepted in the scientific world, but with this broad definition, adult stem cells, such as hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, adipose-derived stem cells, umbilical cord stem cells; and pluripotent stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, somatic cell nuclear transferred stem cells, all fall under the premise of

Inside an embryo there are dozens of stem cells. They are basically empty shells, but the special thing about them is that they are pluripotent, meaning that they can develop in to any cell or organ in human body. That makes stem cell research a gigantic part of today’s medical research. With enough research, stem cells can be a big help to the human kind. Their extraordinary abilities could help scientists return memory to Alzheimer’s patients, or grow a man’s limb that had to be amputated due to some tragedy. But, they also have some flaws. As the name suggests, Embryonic stem cells can only be found in embryos and acquiring them destroys the embryo. Embryos are considered by many people to be alive; this creates a rather difficult

The purpose of this casebook is to look at the gray area of stem cells and help differentiate fact from fiction. I will do this by looking at three major media outlets that talk about stem cells, and compare what I find with three definitive sources that have the true facts about stem cells. From my results, we will be able to see how much major media stretches the truth about stem cells.