Preview

Embryonic vs Adult Stem Cell Research

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2961 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Embryonic vs Adult Stem Cell Research
Embryonic VS Adult Stem Cell Research Stem cell research just by saying its name creates an uneasy feeling because it is such a controversial topic. There are many ethical and moral issues that make people uneasy because they can’t decided whether they should side with the more ethical side of this research, adult stem cell, or the more well known, embryonic stem cell. This ethical issue between the two research categories gives rise to another issue that isn’t usually discussed. This issue is the difference between embryonic and adult stem cell research and what that difference can mean for people that have come to rely on stem cells to cure their diseases. Embryonic stem cell research is the one most people hear about and the one that most research money has gone to. Adult stem cell research is the one behind the scenes, however; the one that has actually had success. There is a grave difference between embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) and adult stem cell research (ASCR), and that is where these stem cells come from and at what cost to the donor, sometimes this difference can even mean the life of a child once and a while due to abortion. Another grave difference is that ESCR has no logged cures or even success where ASCR has had both. This paper will show in detail those differences between ESCR and ASCR and what they mean for the world and the life a child whose cells are being used without even making an effect. Before talking about the downsides of ESCR there are some important things that need to be pointed out. ESCR was where stem cell research first started.

“Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a



Cited: Bryner, Jeanna. “What is a Stem Cell?” Life’s Little Mysteries. 22 March 2010. Children 's Hospital of Pittsburgh. "Breakthrough Study Finds Adult Stem Cells." Science Daily 25 June 2005. 6 April 2010 Ertelt, Steven. “Adult Stem Cell Research Reverses Effects of Parkinson’s Disease in Human Trail.” Lifenews.com. 16 February 2009. Fumento, Michael. “The Dirty Secret of Embryonic Stem Cell Research.” Forbes.com. 15 July 2009. Hughes, Bradley Richard. “Real-World Successes of Adult Stem Cell Treatment”. Cogforlife.org. 1 December 2004. Mattes, Bradley. “Embryonic Versus Adult Stem Cells? It’s Really No Contest.” Life Issues Institute. 2010. Messinger, Robert. “Pros and cons of embryonic stem cell research: arguments in favor vs. arguments against.” Islets of hope. 07 May 2006. Palca, Joe. “Q&A: Embryonic Stem Cells: Exploding the Myths”.Npr.org. 30 March 2007 Smith, Wesley J. “Embryonic stem cells are not all that”. National Review. 13 May 2004. “Stem Cell Research and Abortion: Opposition to abortion and opposition to embryonic stem cell research go hand in hand.” Abort73.com. 03 September 2009

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Embryonic Stem Cell Research Is Not Ethical. Dennis P. Hollinger. At Issue: The Ethics of Genetic Engineering. Ed. Maurya Siedler. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005.…

    • 2675 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The topic of Embryonic stem cell research carries with it a very controversial past. Some people support it, others do not. Stem cell research costs about 42 million dollars a year, how do they afford it, by the funding of private companies. However, what happens when the money runs out? Where will they get more? Will stem cell research continue? These are the questions I will be addressing in this essay.…

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Embryonic stem cell research is widely controversial in the scientific world. Issues on the ethics of Embryonic Stem (ES) cell research have created pandemonium in our society. The different views on this subject are well researched and supportive. The facts presented have the capability to support or possibly change the public's perspective. This case study is based on facts and concerns that much of the research done on embryonic stem cells is derived from human embryos. This case study will provide others with a more in depth view of both sides of this great debate.…

    • 1593 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Best Essays

    The capability to revert blindness, cure diabetes, let paralyzed people walk again, replace deficient organs with newly grown ones and cure blood diseases are a few of the many potential functions of stem cells. A stem cell is an unspecialized cell that can develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth it also has the ability to divide essentially without limit. Unlike mature cells, which permanently have the same function, stem cells can both renew themselves and create new cells of whatever tissue they belong to as well as any other tissue. Studying stem cells will help researchers understand how the cells transform into the astounding range of specialized cells that make us what we are. Some of the most serious medical conditions are due to problems that occur somewhere in the process of stem cells becoming mature cells. Researchers believe that better understandings of normal cell development will help make clear and perhaps correct the errors that cause these medical conditions (Klein, 2010).…

    • 1483 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Stem Cell ethics research

    • 365 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ethics and Philosophies of Stem Cell Research Nader Zeidan Malek Fatte Mohamad Said Fouad Saba Marc Deeb Joy Chamoun Ethics of Human Stem Cell Research Gene H. Outka Varying Views of Fetuses and Embryos • From the Left •From the Middle • From the Right Preferred Philosophy • Kantian – Murder vs Killing – Choosing Life – Burden of Evil – “Nothing is Lost” Principle The Ethics of Embryonic Stem Cell Research Howard J. Curzer Conservative Ethics of Embryos • Embryos and Federal Funding • Donated Embryonic Stem Cells • Argument Against –…

    • 365 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Stem Cell Debate

    • 4026 Words
    • 17 Pages

    Few recent scientific issues have stimulated so much media attention, public debate and government involvement as that of stem cell research. Stem cells offer people hope by promising to greatly extend the number and range of patients who could benefit from transplants, and to provide novel therapies to treat debilitating diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's, Huntington's, heart disease and stroke, as well as accidental damage such as spinal cord injury. So why would anyone object to research in this area? The problem is simply that a particular type of stem cell, which potentially could provide many cell types for a wide range of therapeutic uses, is obtained from the very early embryo. To make matters even more contentious, the same cloning technology that gave Dolly the sheep could in theory be used to tailor stem cells to the patient. Some people worry that we are taking research too far down paths that make them feel uncomfortable, others think it is downright immoral and against their deep-held, often religious, beliefs. But what are the scientific issues and why do many of us feel equally passionate that the research should be allowed?…

    • 4026 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Stem Cell Research

    • 957 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Cited: Conte, Ronald L. “Against Embryonic Stem Cell Research”. Catholic Planet. 2 Dec 2004. Web. 29 Nov 2011.…

    • 957 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    II. According to Sharon Schmickle an award winning author of Minneapolis post there are risk and disadvantages for stem cell…

    • 486 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Embryonic stem cell research is a very controversial topic in science today. Many people believe that it is morally wrong; others believe that it is an obvious solution to stem cell therapies and cures for disease. I personally believe that the research of embryonic stem cells is a perfectly good answer to many medical issues within the human body. While it is understandable that some people believe it to be wrong or immoral, it needs to be recognized that it could potentially lead to the knowledge of information needed to cure many diseases. There is no denying that the conception of embryonic stem cell research is an incredible idea that could change the way scientists and doctors look at cellular diseases forever. It…

    • 1116 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Stem Cells

    • 2269 Words
    • 10 Pages

    In the first five days the inner cells of the organism will create the entire body, including all of cell types and organs such as the heart, lung, skin, sperm, eggs and other tissues. This is where stem cells come into play to form and take on specialized functions in the body. Stem cells are defined as unspecialized cells that retain the ability to divide throughout life and take the place of specialized cells that get damaged, are lost, or that die. (Ralbovsky).The human body has over 200 different types of cells throughout it…

    • 2269 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Stem cells have a remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. Stem cells undergo processes to form new types of cells which can have a specialized function. According to this function, lives could be saved by the formation of new tissues and organs. Some of the specialized cells are muscle cells, brain cells or blood cells. Although stem cell research is debatable due to moral concerns, its positive medical benefits exceed the negative social consequences.…

    • 584 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Stem Cell Research

    • 1355 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The history of the United States legislation for stem cell research is extensive and controversial. Dr. James A. Thomson, a biologist at the University of Madison Wisconsin offered great ideas in treating diseases using stem cell research (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2010). In November 1998, researchers first reported the isolation of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2010). Dr. Thomson had so much promise in finding new ways to treat diseases, but was limited in his research because his work was ineligible for public funding (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2010). The National Institutes of Health (NIH), 1996 appropriations bill will not fund any researchers that will use their money for the creation of a human embryo or using embryos for any research purposes (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2010). Furthermore, any research that involves the destruction of embryos, discarding embryos or even subjecting the risk of injury or death greater allowed for research on fetuses in utero are not funded by the NIH (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2010). With scientist offering great ideas and promise to the stem cell…

    • 1355 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Stem cell research is a very controversial topic, many say that humans should be playing god and that all the money going into stem cell research should be going to others causes like charity which would apparently help more people in the long run compared to what stem cells might be capable of doing. However, in our opinion, stem cell research will help a lot more people in the future. One example is that stem cell research can potentially help treat different kinds of diseases, like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease. Stem cells could also help scientists and doctors understand how some very harmful diseases might develop. Finally, stem cells are a great way to try new medications and drugs in a much safer way.…

    • 537 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Greatly debated, stem cell research is very controversial; especially embryonic stem cell research. Many debate over the ethics of the research versus the medical advantages. The medical advantages outweigh the ethical views. The mass of embryonic stem cells that are used come for in vitro fertilization (IVF) (Black). Those cells are disposed as medical waste—using them for research gives those cells a purpose and to be wasted (16). Embryonic stem cells can regenerate into nerve cells which can solve brain diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s (48). Stem cells allow testing of potential drugs without using a human or animal. This rids the ethics of animal testing and human clinical trials (Benefits of Stem Cells). “Stem cells are the human body’s building blocks” (Black). Stem cells are what “transform from a fertilized egg to a” baby (10). “In adults, they “replace damaged or worn-out cells” with new ones (10). The stem cells used for research are embryonic cells. “Embryonic stem cells are cells that occur at the earliest stages of human and animal development” (16). The use of the embryonic cells has cause great controversy; especially in the United States. In 2001, President Bush had enforced the rule that only sixty stem lines created before August 9, 2001, could be used in stem cell research and that it would be funded by federal money (Black). This allowed stem cells to be derived from embryonic cells from in vitro fertilization and to be used in the research (19). The hype for stem cell research didn’t start until Christopher Reeve had experienced a traumatic injury that harmed his spinal cord (8). He created the Christopher Reeve foundation that helped fund research for spinal cord injury. Reeve’s main support was for stem cell research with embryonic cells. The son of President Ronald Reagan, Ronald Prescott Reagan, also supported stem cell…

    • 1547 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    References: The Real Promise of Stem Cell Research Dr. David Prentice, HealthNewsDigest.com Derivation of Human Stem-Cell Lines from Human Blastocysts, C. A. Cowan and others. March 25, 2004, New England Journal of Medicine, p.1355 King James Version…

    • 1349 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays