Human Embryo Research

1010 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Do the advantages of stem cell research outweigh the disadvantages

Late one night a woman is driving home on the freeway, she’s hit head on by a drunk driver and killed. The man is charged with two accounts of murder; the woman, and her four-week-old embryo inside her. By law, everyone human being is guaranteed rights of life; born or unborn they are equal. The same law should be enforced concerning human embryonic stem cell research. Dr. James A. Thomson discovered stem cells in 1998 and they’ve intrigued scientist ever since. The stem cells themselves are derived from a three to four day old cluster of cells called a blastocyst and they are so coveted because they are pluripotent, meaning they can differentiate into any type of cell in the human body. Although embryonic stem cells show amazing potential to cure various disease such as cancer, congestive heart failure, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophies, and more. The methods by which they are obtained is controversial. Research on embryonic stem cells is unethical, unnecessary, and purely homicide.

Unquestionably, stem cell research is unethical on multiple accounts. Firstly, embryos are human beings and even though they’re a few days old they are not a “pre-embryo,” a term stating that after conception, the embryo was actually not an embryo. Thankfully, that term is now known as scientifically invalid. As soon as the

Buntrock 2

DNA is fully operational its human, “ embryos aren’t merely biological tissues or clusters of cells; they are the tiniest of human beings” (C.B.H.D. 2). Additionally, research on embryos is a violation of human rights and there is no greater good by doing so in the name of medicine. There have been gross violations of human rights in the past and destruction of an embryo to salvage ...

... middle of paper ...

...ific Society. 13 Oct. 2010. Web. 20 Apr. 2011.

" An Overview of Stem Cell Research | The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity." The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity (C.B.H.D.). Web. 19 Apr. 2011.

Farrell, Courtney, and Rosalyn Carson-Dewitt. "Stem Cell Research: An Overview." Points of View: Stem Cell Research (2009): 1. EBSCO. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.

Issitt, Micah, and Matt Donnely. " Counterpoint: Stem Cell Research Is Dangerous, Unethical, and Ineffective." Points of View: Stem Cell Research (2009): 3. EBSCO. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.

Reaves, Jessica. "The Great Debate Over Stem Cell Research - TIME." Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. 11 July 2001. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.

"What Are Embryonic Stem Cells? [Stem Cell Information]." NIH Stem Cell Information Home Page. 13 Sept. 2010. Web. 20 Apr. 2011.

Show More
Related

  • Embryonic Stem Cell Research Persuasive Essay

    2065 Words  | 5 Pages

    This belief is wrong. Many countries including the United States have laws regarding embryonic stem cells. The United States has limits on when you can take embryos and there off course has to be consent from the donor of the stem cells. All these regulations are being met and the research is being done safely and in a way that always keeps safety as a first priority. New procedures and uses of stem cells also have to be deemed safe or the risks have to at least be shared before treatment can take place. These regulations make sure stem cells are being used in a safe way and that you know the facts about the way researchers are using

    Read More

  • Stem Cell Research:The Cure of Tomorrow

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to Courtney Farrell’s overview of stem cell research, stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can be used to fix and replace other kinds of cells that are missing or damaged, and they can be derived from several different sources. The first of these sources, “embryonic” stem cells have been the source of many ethical debates because the process to gain embryonic stem cells involves the destruction of a human embryo in its early stages. Many people find this unethical and think it’s equal to human murder. According to the article by John Pearson, other types of stem cells include adult stem cells, which can be derived from bone marrow in grown adults, and umbilical blood stem cells; these are found in the blood of the umbilical cord after the birth of a baby and are becoming a great replacement for embryonic stem cells.

    Read More

  • Annotated Bibliography On Embryonic Research

    1094 Words  | 3 Pages

    Opposing Viewpoints offers unbiased opinions on the future of embryonic research as well as how they have currently been used to cure many diseases. In addition, the article specifies how developing ethical standards to ensure that the use of embryos remains moral, allows for science to remain ethical. Many of the topics mentioned in this viewpoint consider bioethics and remain consistent throughout. Essentially, the purpose of this article was to establish a middle ground between ethics and science.

    Read More

  • Embryonic Stem Cells Research, A List of Topics and Sub-Topics

    2164 Words  | 5 Pages

    Embryonic stem cells research has challenged the moral ethics within human beings simply because the point at which one is considered a “human,” is still under debate and practically incapable to make a decision upon.

    Read More

  • The Debate Concerning Embryonic Stem Cell Research

    1400 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ns of a morally questionable nature. It is necessary that our practices remain ethical and that we uphold the value of a human life, as this is the cornerstone of human society. Embryonic stem cell research is one such operation that forces scientists, policy makers, and the larger society to define what constitutes a human life and to find an answer to the crucial question: Is it morally acceptable to violate the rights of a human life for the for the sake of medical progress?

    Read More

  • Stem Cell Research Debate

    1200 Words  | 3 Pages

    Which is why discussing the legality of researching stem cells is complicated. Scientific discoveries and advancements in healthcare are some of the most important things on this planet. However, people's faiths and morals are important as well and must be respected. No one can say absolutely whether or not stem cell research is ethical since the answer stems from opinions. Whether you follow Divine Command Theory or Utilitarianism, both are simply opinions on what is right and

    Read More

  • Stem Cell Research

    1328 Words  | 3 Pages

    Currently, the limitations on research are too restricting, as researchers are limited to resources already gathered. There are sixty existing stem cell lines today, already derived from embryos. Researchers are to only use these lines. These limitations severely hinder stem cell research. The government, especially President Bush, should re-evaluate stem cell research.

    Read More

  • Stem Cells Should Not Be Used Therapeutically

    822 Words  | 2 Pages

    The ethical issues behind the method in which stem cells are obtained out weigh the benefits of stem cell therapy. We should not try to play God, in the aspect of creation of living beings just to be sacrificed for the “betterment of mankind”. Many egregious acts have been committed under the guise of “the greater good”. This is one instance in which the ends do not justify the means.

    Read More

  • Stem Cell Ethics

    1651 Words  | 4 Pages

    The study of stem cells have brought about many recent ethical questions and been a topic in many recent ethical debates. What is all the talk about? What exactly is stem cell research and why does it raise so many ethical questions?

    Read More

  • Stem Cells: The Future of Medicine

    3294 Words  | 7 Pages

    Monroe, Kristen, et al., eds. Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical and Political Issues. Los Angeles/Berkley: University of California Press, 2008. Print

    Read More

  • Moral and Ethical Issues Relating to Stem Cells Research

    853 Words  | 2 Pages

    Stem cells offer exciting promise for future therapies, but significant technical hurdles remain that will only be overcome through years of intensive research. Stem Cells have the incredible potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. Scientists primarily work with two kinds of stem cells from animals and humans. The embryonic stem cells and the non-embryonic stem cells. Stem cells are the cells from which all other cells originate. In a human embryo, a large portion of the embryo’s cells are stem cells. These stem cells can be used for cell-based therapies. Cell-Based therapies are treatments in which stem cells are induced to differentiate into the specific cell type required to repair damaged or destroyed cells or tissues. Stem cells are versatile and offer the possibility to treat a number of diseases including Alzheimer’s, stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc. The problem is that for the process of embryonic stem cell research and embryo will be destroyed if used. This raises a moral issue and questions of whether stem cell research is unethical or not.

    Read More

  • Embryo Transfer

    575 Words  | 2 Pages

    Embryo transfer is the process of taking fertilized embryos from one animal and inserting them into another. This is very useful today in cattle, because now it is economically feasible and it allows the producer a greater number of offspring from one cow with desirable traits. The process starts normally by artificially inseminating the cow. Exactly seven days later, the uterus is flushed, and the embryos and ova. Next, the embryos will be isolated. The embryos are then inserted into the recipient cow.

    Read More

  • Human Genetic Engineering

    984 Words  | 2 Pages

    Pray, Leslie A., Ph.D. “Embryo Screening and the Ethics of Human Genetic Engineering.” Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group, 2008. Web. The Web.

    Read More

  • The Effects of Human Cloning on Medicine

    1768 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lauritzen, Paul. Cloning and the Future of Human Embryo Research. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2001. Google Books. Web. 12 Feb. 2014. source 12 (google books)

    Read More

  • Therapeutic Cloning: Human Embryonic Stem Cells

    819 Words  | 2 Pages

    In a future of engineering where life like robots are being made its only time for scientist and doctors to start cloning organs. Therapeutic cloning is a breakthrough in science and would lead to scientist being able to regrow tissue and especially organs that won’t be rejected by the patients immune system. It’s also known as somatic cell nucleic transfer, is the process ( shown in figure1) of which scientists remove a nucleus from any somatic cell in the body which carries the genetic material. And is then transferred into an unfertilised egg, which nucleus has been removed as well. This can then be used to collect human embryonic stem cells with certain characteristics that scientist can use to develop patient- and disease- cell based therapies or tissue replacements (http://www.stemcellfoundation.net.au).

    Read More

More about Human Embryo Research

Open Document