Why Ban Embryonic Stem Cell Research

1304 Words3 Pages

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.

Open Document