Preview

Stem Cell Research

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
957 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Stem Cell Research
Stem Cell Research Stem cell research has been happening for 30 or more years through bone marrow transplants, but has only been a major debate for about the past ten years with the first isolation of embryonic stem cells (UMichigan). According to a popular issues website the definition of stem cells is, "… contrasted with "differentiated" cells. They offer much hope for medical advancement because of their ability to grow into almost any kind of cell” (Pros and Cons…). One of the main debates is between stem cell research and religious views. Some religions such as branches Christianity believe that obtaining and using embryonic stem cells is a sin and should not be used for research or otherwise. Even though I identify as a Christian, I believe that stem cells should be utilized, as long as an egg is not fertilized only for the use of stem cells. One reason many people don’t agree with embryonic stem cell research is that they believe that scientists use embryos that have started to develop into babies. This is a myth (UMichigan). Scientists fertilize an egg in a dish, and use it 5 days after the fertilization when the embryo only contains about 100 cells, none of which are specialized (UMichigan). The embryo is no larger than a period at the end of a sentence (UMichigan). This embryo, although beginning to form, has no heart, no spine, no limbs, and no systems (UMichigan). If this was known by more people, then many people may change their minds about stem cell research. The idea of embryonic stems being obtained from aborted fetuses is what many people think. Well this is a misconception. Embryonic stem cells are only from those embryos made up in dishes in fertility clinics (UMichigan). These are the left over embryos not needed during in vitro fertilization. According to Ronald Conte of Christian Planet, “Embryonic stem cells are obtained from prenatals at a point very early in development. Obtaining these cells typically results in the


Cited: Conte, Ronald L. “Against Embryonic Stem Cell Research”. Catholic Planet. 2 Dec 2004. Web. 29 Nov 2011. “Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research”. Allaboutpopularissues.com. n.d. Web. 30 Nov 2011. “Stem Cell Research: Frequently asked Questions”. University of Michigan. N.d. Web. 30 Nov 2011 “What are the similarities and differences between embryonic and adult stem cells?”. National Institution of Health. N.d. Web. 29 Nov 2011
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Foundation Level: Arguments for and Againts the Use of Stem Cells.
    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Foundation Level: Arguments for and Againts the Use of Stem Cells.

    Stem cells – often referred to as “the building blocks of the human body” are like the basic ingredient needed in order to create a human being. This is why large amounts of stem cells can be found in early stage embryos in comparison to the adult human body where there are not as many present. Stem cells are “unspecialized” cells which have the potential to produce different types of specialist cells such as brain, muscle, or tissue cells. On January the 22nd 2001, the British House of Lords voted to relax the restrictions on the use of human embryonic stem cells. This has allowed scientists to use early stage embryos for therapeutic purposes. And whilst this has so far advanced the medical research into better treatment and possible cures for some disease’s there are many ethical and moral debates that surround the use embryonic and adult stem cells.…

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Sacrificing for the Greater Good
    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Sacrificing for the Greater Good

    White, Deborah. "Pros & Cons of Embryonic Stem Cell Research." n.d. About.com. 22 February 2011 <http://usliberals.about.com/od/stemcellresearch/i/StemCell1.htm>.…

    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Embryonic Stem Cell Research Persuasive Essay
    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Embryonic Stem Cell Research Persuasive Essay

    The CBHD in the same article asserts that “...some evidence suggests that stem cells cultured in the laboratory may have a tendency to recongregate and form an aggregate of cells capable of begining to develop as an embryo...If embryonic stem cells do indeed possess the ability to form or develop as a human embryo, research on such stem cells could itself involve the creation and/or destruction of human life...”(100). Thus, despite of these evidences, condoning human embryonic stem cell research would be irresponsibility. Besides, in order to determine significance of stem cell research, Goldstein asserts in his article “Providing Hope Through Stem Cell Research” that “...the grim arithmetic of most organ transplants is that those who are seriously ill wait for the tragic accidental death of another person so that they may live.”(82). From this point, stem cell is an incredible discovery yet it is unethical. However, in order not to use human embryos to harvest stem cells, the CBHD submits alternative methods and adds that “ ... a promising source of more mature stem cells for the treatment of disease is hematopoietic (blood cell- producing) stem cells from bone marrow or even from the placenta or umbilical cord blood in live births.”(100). Moreover, the CBHD also argues that “These cells are already widely…

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Embryonic Stem Cells Argumentative Essay
    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Embryonic Stem Cells Argumentative Essay

    Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent(able to grow) stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, an early-stage preimplantation embryo. Embryonic stem cells can form any possible cells in the body. These stem cells are used to better understand and treat diseases. They also help scientist understand how diseases occur/develop. Rapid advantages in research on the embryonic stem cells derived from human embryos have collided with opposing views regarding the morality of using human embryos for these purposes. Seeing that there are laws on almost everything, there are laws on stem cells as well. These laws have been a big source of controversy and they vary by country. In Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Greece, Britain, Denmark and the Netherlands, stem cell research using the human embryo is permitted in these countries. While in Germany, Austria, Ireland, Italy and Portugal, it is illegal.…

    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ethics of Stem Cell Research
    • 2751 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Ethics of Stem Cell Research

    The first task of dissecting this debate is to differentiate between the two types of stem cell research. The first is adult (also called somatic or germ-line) stem cell research and is generally accepted and endorsed by all groups. Taken from human bone marrow or other deep tissues, this type of research has already been used for years in the treatment of many diseases, most notably Leukemia. Even the Catholic Church supports adult stem cell research, going so far as to partner with certain groups to further adult stem cell research funding. The disagreement lies in embryonic stem cell research. In embryonic stem cell research, a human embryo is created and then destroyed in order to obtain the intended stem cells. The circumstances which make the embryonic cells more desirable are two-fold. First, technology for embryonic stem cell research is currently farther along than somatic cell research; and therefore, it is cheaper. The more important distinction is in the quality of the cells collected. Adult…

    • 2751 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    embryonic stem cell research
    • 686 Words
    • 3 Pages

    embryonic stem cell research

    This debate on embryonic stem cell research has held on over three decades. The controversy has not ended at this time. The controversy is about the work that holds immense promises from the scientific end and the opponents who view them as giving less value to human life. The most recent debate uses the very early part of development of stem cells for the potential to be alleviate conditions ranging from diabetes to Alzheimer's Disease. In 2001 the Bush Administration proclaimed a policy that permits some research with federal funds used with very strict rules. This policy has gathered little support three years later from the…

    • 686 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Embryonic Stem Cells for Research: A Debate
    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Embryonic Stem Cells for Research: A Debate

    There have been a lot of controversies regarding the latest stem cell research in recent days. People have been publishing a lot about this issue and it is all over the media lately. It has aggregated some religious groups in the world and they have been very stern towards the issue. Here is my point of view regarding this issue:…

    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    A persuasive essay for the use of stem cells for research.
    • 1192 Words
    • 4 Pages

    A persuasive essay for the use of stem cells for research.

    Many people have not been fully informed on the topic of human pluripotent stem cell research. Most American have heard a lot on one side, and very little on the other. Hence, they have not and can not fully evaluate the facts and can only give snap decisions, according to religioustolerance.com. Having heard extensive lectures on both sides, I believe that embryonic stem cell research shows great promise in bettering the medical and scientific community. I agree with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (also known as the AAAS) when theybelieve that stem cell research should be legally and ethically accepted. Using stem cell could reduce the dependence on organ donations and transplantations. In a survey posted on religioustolerance.com, a little more than seventy percent of all Americans support the question, "Do you favor the use of existing stem cells in research to cure ot treat dozens of serious diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, heart disease, and Parkinson's disease?" Don't you think that it would good idea to help cure diseases? Well, most of the people in the United States do, too. There has to be something good about curing people.…

    • 1192 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Stem Cell Debate
    • 4026 Words
    • 17 Pages

    Stem Cell Debate

    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
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Stem Cell Reasearch
    • 779 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Stem Cell Reasearch

    Good morning everyone. The topic of Stem Cell Research has been argued over by politicians, scientists and people all over the world for over a decade. Scientists should not be allowed to continue to create new embryonic stem cell lines.…

    • 779 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Persuasive Essay On Human Gene Therapy
    • 479 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Persuasive Essay On Human Gene Therapy

    From a scientist’s point of view, embryonic stem cells have a huge potential to revolutionize the field of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering as they hold the ability to produce all cell lineages including the germ line. This would provide the gateway for the treatment of a wide range of diseases where the body is incapable of repairing itself. However, some people especially religious communities hold strong objections regarding the use of human embryos in scientific research (De Wert, 2003) (Orive, 2003). The main point being that since “new life begins at the point of conception”, the embryo should hold full human rights (Daley, G.Q. et al., 2007). Nevertheless, there are different legislations in place in different countries regarding the use of human embryonic stem cells. In UK, embryonic stem cell research can only be carried out with authority from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority…

    • 479 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Stem Cell Research
    • 401 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Stem Cell Research

    Embryonic stem cells are cells that come from embryos. These cells can be taken from embryos provided either by eggs fertilized in-vitro or stem cells from aborted babies. Personally, I believe that once an egg is fertilized, then you are referring to a human life. I do not feel it is acceptable to use leftover embryos from an in-vitro clinic, and use them towards scientific experimentation and testing. When referring to an embryo as a result of an aborted baby, I am against abortion and absolutely do not agree with this type of procedure.…

    • 401 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Stem Cell Research Pros And Cons
    • 388 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Stem Cell Research Pros And Cons

    Stem cells are cells that have the ability to become any cell type in the body such as a muscle, a brain, or red blood cell, or any other cell. Because of that, they are able to repair organs and tissues and can potentially treat diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, which is the number one killer in the Unites States. Although stem cells can help massively, there is ethical controversy surrounding embryonic stem cell research. Embryonic stem cell research involves taking the stem cells from the human embryo therefore killing it. The question is whether the medical advantages of stem cell research outweighs the ethical consequences. Because of the fact that stem cells are medically powerful, it outweighs the ethical consequences but to a certain extent.…

    • 388 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Stem Cell Research Ideas
    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Stem Cell Research Ideas

    I think that stem cell research and use is a good idea because it saves the lives of many people and it cures diseases. According to the article Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy ‘Morally Unacceptable’ by Josephine Quintavalle states “An estimated 56 diseases have been treated with the use of adult, human stem cells.” This piece of evidence supports my claim because it shows that many lives and diseases of people have been saved or cured.…

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Stem cell
    • 559 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Stem cell

    Another pro of stem cell research is that it holds the key to reversing the effects of aging and prolonging our lives. Stem cell research has already found many treatments that help slow the aging process, and a pro to further stem cell research is a possible “cure” for aging altogether. The pros of stem cell research all center around the use of adult stem cells, neural stem cells, and cord blood stem cells. There are no moral or ethical questions about the use of these types of stem cells. Those who are pro stem cell research believe that researching and using these stem cells can only lead to progress and medical discoveries that will help us all live longer, healthier lives.…

    • 559 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics