English Paper
Stem Cell Research
Stem cells are defined as “an undifferentiated cell of a multicellular organism that is capable of giving rise to indefinitely more cells of the same type, and from which certain other kinds of cell arise by differentiation.” (Google) And as science has progressed in the last few decades, the ability to experiment and research these fascinating cells has progressed at an exponential rate. However, the controversy over this new scientific discovery has made it very difficult for any application of the theoretical works to be tested. I believe that stem cell research is morally obligatory, as it takes from an in vitro fertilization with no intention of ever becoming a human being. As no life would result from this process if not for the process itself, and the process could easily result in the continuation of life for those already living, it is indeed morally obligatory and morally praiseworthy.
A stem cell acts as a sort of multipurpose cell, which can either divide into another stem cell or either a brain, muscle, or heart cell. Unlike muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cells—which do not normally replicate themselves—stem cells may replicate many times, or proliferate. A simple sample of a thousand cells in a basic laboratory setting can yield millions of cells in a matter of months. The fantastic ability of an unspecialized stem cell to give rise to a set of specialized cells is called differentiation.
Embryotic stem cells, as the name suggests, are cells that are derived from embryo. Most cells are derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized in vitro—in an in vitro fertilization clinic—and then donated for research purposes with informed consent of the donors. This is often where controversy develops. People are often under the misconception that the embryos are taken from the mother’s womb, “stealing” its chance at life. This could not be further from the truth. This embryo was never intended to become a
Stem cells are defined as “an undifferentiated cell of a multicellular organism that is capable of giving rise to indefinitely more cells of the same type, and from which certain other kinds of cell arise by differentiation.” (Google) And as science has progressed in the last few decades, the ability to experiment and research these fascinating cells has progressed at an exponential rate. However, the controversy over this new scientific discovery has made it very difficult for any application of the theoretical works to be tested. I believe that stem cell research is morally obligatory, as it takes from an in vitro fertilization with no intention of ever becoming a human being. As no life would result from this process if not for the process itself, and the process could easily result in the continuation of life for those already living, it is indeed morally obligatory and morally praiseworthy.
A stem cell acts as a sort of multipurpose cell, which can either divide into another stem cell or either a brain, muscle, or heart cell. Unlike muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cells—which do not normally replicate themselves—stem cells may replicate many times, or proliferate. A simple sample of a thousand cells in a basic laboratory setting can yield millions of cells in a matter of months. The fantastic ability of an unspecialized stem cell to give rise to a set of specialized cells is called differentiation.
Embryotic stem cells, as the name suggests, are cells that are derived from embryo. Most cells are derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized in vitro—in an in vitro fertilization clinic—and then donated for research purposes with informed consent of the donors. This is often where controversy develops. People are often under the misconception that the embryos are taken from the mother’s womb, “stealing” its chance at life. This could not be further from the truth. This embryo was never intended to become a