Stem Cell Research "The human being is single, unique, and unrepeatable, someone thought of and chosen from eternity, someone called and identified by name." This was the belief of Pope John Paul II (May). Stem cell research has shown promise and success for curing disease; however embryonic stem cell research must be banned because it requires the killing of embryos, there are alternatives, and embryonic stem cell research has had no successes. Shows promise and success Adult stem cells can be found in umbilical cords, placentas, and amniotic fluid. After birth stem cells are found in almost all tissues and organs. Stem cells have also been retrieved from human brains within twenty hours of the person’s death. They primarily maintain and repair the body tissue in which they are found (“Adult Stem Cells”). “Adult stem cells have already cured thousands of patients. Various cancers, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disorders, ocular disorders, immunological problems, neural degenerative diseases, anemias and other blood conditions, metabolic disorders, liver diseases, and bladder diseases have been treated; in fact about 70 conditions and disorders have been treated with adult stem cells” (Pacholczyk). In 2013, Japanese scientists announced that they had grown a human liver from stem cells. This development showed promise for organ transplantation of organs that have a shortage of donors ("Stem Cell Research Timeline.") The term “stem cell” was first used by a German biologist, Ernst Haeckel, in 1868 to describe the fertilized egg that becomes an organism. Years later, in 1953, tumors found in mice contained differentiated and undifferentiated cells for various parts of the body. The researchers made the conclusion t... ... middle of paper ... ...icancatholic.org. Franciscan Media, n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2014. “History of Stem Cell Research— A Timeline." Boston Childrens Hospital. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. Pacholczyk, Tadeusz. "The Ten Great Myths in the Debate Over Stem Cell Research." Ncbcenter.org. The National Catholic Bioethics Center, 2012. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. May, William. "Stem Cell Research and Michael J. Fox." Catholics For The Common Good. Catholics for the Common Good, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. "Stem Cell Basics." Stem Cell Information. National Institute of Health, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. "Stem Cell Research Timeline." Stem Cell History. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. Stocum, David. "Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 May 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. "When Does Human Life Begin?" Prolifephysicians.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
Medical researchers utilize this versatility to develop treatments for incurable diseases. Despite the considerable benefits of stem cells in medical applications, the use of some sources of stem cells is not ethical. In article 1761 of the Catholic Catechism, the church teaches "One may not do evil so that good may result from it.” The good of medical discoveries does not justify the evil of killing to obtain the stem cells. Therefore, people have a moral obligation to restrict the use of ethically collected stem cells such as those from umbilical cords or adult bone marrow. Stem cell research has potential to cure many diseases. However, in order to conduct ethical research, scientists must limit refrain from using fetal and embryonic stem
For the past few years stem cell research has been a widely debated topic; however, former President Clinton?s stance?allowing federal money to be spent on tightly controlled stem cell research?lead to intense debates over federal funding for stem cell research. There are four ways of obtaining stem cells, which are taken from embryos that are approximately one week old. They are using unwanted embryos from fertility clinics, embryos from aborted fetuses, cloned embryos, and embryos created for research purposes. Stem cells can also be taken out of adult bone marrow, but scientists do not think that adult stem cells hold as much medical potential. Conservatives are against federal funding for stem cell research because they feel that by doing such the government would be contributing to ?murder.? This idea is rooted in the religious beliefs, which include the belief that life begins at conception, held by conservatives. However, liberals support federal funding for the research of embryos because they question whether embryos are full human beings and believe the research could expedite potential medical breakthroughs.
" An Overview of Stem Cell Research | The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity."
8. "Stem Cell Basics." National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2009. Web. .
Stem cell research is a heavily debated topic that can stir trouble in even the tightest of Thanksgiving tables. The use cells found in the cells of embryos to replicate dead or dying cells is a truly baffling thought. To many, stem cell research has the potential to be Holy Grail of modern medicine. To many others, it is ultimately an unethical concept regardless of its capabilities. Due to how divided people are on the topic of stem cell research, its legality and acceptance are different everywhere. According to Utilitarianism, stem cell research should be permitted due to the amount of people it can save, however according to the Divine Command of Christianity, the means of collecting said stem cells are immoral and forbidden.
Reaves, J. (2001, July 11). The great debate over stem cell research. Time, Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,167245,00.html
“Stem Cells: The Future of Medicine.” Medschool.umaryland.edu. University of Maryland School of Medicine Web 14 Nov 2013
This report aims to investigate the different views held on the pros and cons of development in stem cell research. This report will provide background to the debate, its social significance, parties that are involved and analysis of the arguments related to the topic researched.
The wide range of prospective uses for stem cells could greatly improve the health and wellbeing of many people. In stem cell treatments, undifferentiated cells are programmed to form specific cells, which can then be transplanted to the afflicted area. Stems cells can possibly treat afflictions including “Alzheimer’s diseases, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis” (“Stem Cell Basics”). Another important use is in drug testing. Drugs can be tested on stem cells that develop into the target tissue before using it on human test subjects, which improves safety. Finally, transplantation of organs created from stem cells could eliminate the need for human...
Stem cell research has been a heated and highly controversial debate for over a decade, which explains why there have been so many articles on the issue. Like all debates, the issue is based on two different arguments: the scientific evolution and the political war against that evolution. The debate proves itself to be so controversial that is both supported and opposed by many different people, organizations, and religions. There are many “emotional images [that] have been wielded” in an attempt to persuade one side to convert to the other (Hirsen). The stem cell research debate, accompanied by different rhetoric used to argue dissimilar points, comes to life in two articles and a speech: “Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? Yes, Don’t Impede Medical Progress” by Virginia Postrel; “Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? No, It’s a Moral Monstrosity” by Eric Cohen and William Kristol; and “Remarks by Ron Reagan, Jr., to the 2004 Democratic National Convention” by Ron Reagan, Jr. Ethos, pathos, and logos are the main categories differentiating the two arguments.
Eggleson, K. E. (2012). Stem Cell-Based Therapies: Promises, Obstacles, Discordance, and the Agora. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 55(1), 1-25.
"Stem Cell Research Timeline." Stem Cell History. N.p., February 1, 2011. Web. 16 Feb 2012.
Cloning is defined as the process of asexually producing a group of cells, all genetically identical, from a single ancestor (College Library, 2006).” Cloning should be banned all around the world for many reasons, including the risks to the thing that is being cloned, cloning reduces genetic differences and finally it is not ethical. Almost every clone has mysteriously died even before they are born.
...there are some risk factors in using stem cell for therapeutic approaches, hematopoietic stem cell therapy by bone marrow transplantation has already been proofed to be safe if donors’ background and screening, cell contamination, HLA matching and opportunistic or nosocomial infections during immunocompromised period were carefully monitored and controlled. Still, other types of stem cell therapies, despite of their good therapeutic efficacy, are remain in experimental stage and need more data to support and demonstrate the safety in clinical trials. More understanding of stem cell biology is also required in order to keep stem cell under controlled and avoid some complications that they might cause. So, to pave the way for successful stem cell therapy, research in this extent is needed to pursue to maximized therapeutic efficiency with highest safety in patients.
The stem cell research controversy is one of the major headlines in bioscience and has been discussed and debated numerous times throughout the last decade or so.