...Embryonic Stem Cell Research In 1998, the world was introduced to the start of embryonic stem cell research. It has since been the topic of a heated debate between politicians, religious figures, ethicists, theologians and scientists. It raises the question of whether or not the ends justify the means. Many people seem to have a different answer to this question but the overall response from a Catholic position, from an individual and Catholic Church standpoint is loud and clear: embryonic stem cell research is immoral. The sanctity of life is held in high regard in the Catholic tradition, therefore making embryonic stem cell research morally wrong. To justify this, it is important to consider whether or not an embryo is a human from perspectives that are for and against this research, and their justifications. Whilst there is no united Catholic view, drawing from traditional ethics and Catholic principles can give an estimate of the overall Catholic perspective on the treatment of human embryos as opposed to the foreseen medical benefits on the other end of the spectrum. In a broad sense, the use of human embryos is unjustifiable and wrong in the eyes of the Catholic community, no matter how promising the benefits are as it involves the killing of an embryo, and thus by extension, can be regarded as murder. “We value the preciousness of life…as far as IVF embryos are concerned, those who have the responsibility make those decisions, have already made an important ethical decision…the...
Words: 2225 - Pages: 9
...Sullivan Bio-Medical Ethics 24 April 2015 Views on Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Abortion Embryonic stem cell research is a hot topic in ethics now. Even if someone does not understand what it is, they have most likely heard of it. Before learning about the moral issues of embryonic stem cell research in class I did not have much of an opinion on it; I now understand how the process is done and understand the ethical issues that come along with the research. After reading articles and obtaining information about the subject, I think that embryonic stem cell research should be federally funded to see if there is better treatment for medical conditions or even a cure that we have not discovered yet. If results cannot prove that using embryonic stem cells as beneficial, funding should be ceased and researchers can start researching another subject to study. At least we can say we tried. Embryonic stem cell research is not immoral, in my opinion, unless there is not consent of the mother to do research on her embryos and the mother is participating in research in order to abort a baby. Many mothers-to-be are participating in In-Vitro and many embryos are made for implantation and the embryos that are not used are medical waste. It is a shame that these embryos are going to waste when they could be used to benefit the whole population, or utilitarianism. As for the embryos that are being stored and frozen, use them and do not let them go to waste. Embryonic stem cells have not yet differentiated...
Words: 691 - Pages: 3
...controversy over using stem cells for medical research has mostly been centered on the use of embryonic stem cells. There are now other means of extracting stem cells rather than aborting fetuses. Scientists have discovered alternative means; such as certain unspecialized cells found in bone marrow, as well as umbilical cord blood and rare but unique skin cells. As we take advantage of these findings, we not only partially solve the ongoing controversy, but also broaden our knowledge of the spectrum of stem cells as well. The extraction of stem cells may cure many diseases, such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. With these new means of acquiring stem cells, our chances of healing these illnesses increase. Not only will there be more stem cells available for research and healing purposes, but the long fought battle over the abortion of embryos and the subsequent harvesting of their stem cells might be placated. Stem Cell Research Paper Since their discovery, the ethics of human embryonic stem cells have been debated. As the ongoing controversy over human embryonic stem cells persists, we continue to look for alternative means of acquiring similar task-performing cells. Margaret Goodell was one of the first to propose extracting stem cells from other sources, most notably bone marrow. Without the ethics baggage, bone marrow derived cells seemed to put aborted fetuses out of the picture. Yet, according to Catherine Verfaillie of the University of Minnesota, bone marrow cells with the same...
Words: 1379 - Pages: 6
...Stem cell research and therapy Stephanie Reeves Rasmussen College Author Note This paper is being submitted on August 3, 2014, for Ellen Doyles’ Human Biology course. Stem cell research and therapy Stem cell research has great significance for medical use. They have the ability to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. They can also serve as a repair system to many tissues, by dividing without limitation to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. Stem cells are the body’s raw materials. Stem cell research has created quite the controversy and has been a topic of debate for over a decade. There are 3 types of stem cells that are currently being used in stem cell research and therapies; Embryotic, Adult, and induced pluripotent stem cells. There are a few characteristics that differ between these types of stem cells Embryotic stem cells can become all cell types of the body because they are pluripotent, and can be grown relatively easy in culture. Adult stem cells are thought to be limited to differentiating into different cell types of their tissue origin, and are rare in mature tissues which makes it difficult to isolate these cells in adult tissue, and methods to expand their numbers in cell culture has not been worked out as of today. Induced pluripotent stem cells are adult cells that have been genetically altered to have properties of embryonic stem cells. ...
Words: 705 - Pages: 3
...Stem Cell Research Legislation Human stem cell research is a very touchy subject. The negative attention it has drawn from the press and politicians has detoured many researchers and scientists from the field. “After the scientific and political obstacles are overcome, it is anticipated that the human stem cell research field will make a tremendous difference in conditions, such as burn traumas and diabetic foot ulcers, as well as a number of degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and myocardial infarction(Turksen, 2006).” In my opinion, the field of regenerative medicine is the key to a longer, healthier life. Without the use of human stem cell research, the conditions and diseases that plague the world will never be cured. The history on human stem cell research legislation in the United States is just under a decade old. On August 9th 2001, then, President George W. Bush told the United States the regulations for human stem cell research. The regulation stated that only certain types of human stem cell research could be funded by the federal government. “The National Institute of Health (NIH) funding for research using human embryonic stem cells derived from other sources, including somatic cell nuclear transfer, parthenogenesis, and/or in vitro fertilization embryos created for research purposes, is not allowed under these Guidelines ("Draft national institutes," 2009).” Some states disagree with this legislation; California...
Words: 1444 - Pages: 6
...RESEARCH TOPIC: What Makes Most Christians fundamentalist opposed to Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research? RESEARCH QUESTIONS: Scientists have the view that, the use of Human Embryonic Stem Cell will help to cure some diseases like Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and several medical disorders sickness. If this is true, then why are the Christian fundamentalist opposing a research that many people believe it is going to save many lives? Are the Christian fundamentalist using their religious belief or their educational (scientific) knowledge in supporting their argument? Have they conducted any research to find out any harmful effect that Embryonic Stem Cell will bring to people? THREE SOURCES FOR THE RESEARCH Richard M. Doer flinger, Old...
Words: 832 - Pages: 4
...Is Embryonic Stem Cell Research Humane? Melvin Hart EN1420 12/1/14 ITT Technical Institute Is Embryonic Stem Cell Research Humane? Stem cells are primitive cells with the capacity to divide and create more identical stem cells, or to specialize and form specific cells. “Embryonic stem cells” which can only be derived from embryos that is still in the womb. They also have the ability to form cells of all tissues of an adult. So they can be manipulated to create new body parts for any human. This research can help with many new and exciting fields in medicine. HES cells are derived from the ‘inner cell mass’ of human embryos that develop in culture in 5 days of fertilization. It does not contain Extra embryonic tissue, which is needed for complete human development, which develop things such as the placenta and membranes of the fetus. So they cannot create a complete new individual in any way shape or form. Just spare parts for a lack of better words. This is why this research is so controversial to almost everyone who knows anything about it. Even the scientist who first discovered this technic have argued about it being just as controversial as abortion because you have to have a fertilized fetus to obtain the cells needed to do this process. So it touches an issue that has been around for years. When does life really start? When an egg is fertilized or when the mother has given birth? Or once the fetus has developed a brain? Really tough question, however I don’t...
Words: 980 - Pages: 4
...Experimentation Critique Stem Cells Abstract According to human guidelines, human stem cell research is questionable. The main ethical dilemma revolves around whether or not an embryo is a human being of a cluster of cells. Stem cell research has the ability to provide treatment for many of today’s incurable diseases and disorders, and it is apparent this type of research produces many ethical issues in which one can consider both positive and negative for such research. Experimentation Critique Introduction Stem cell research is a modern method of discovering new medical break throughs. Research is involoved, using human embryos, causing heated moral debates. Human –nature and goal-based ethics theories apply to this controversial debate. The debate lies in the determionation of the embryos with moral status is owed. There has been extensive research in the underlying law and religious ethics surrounding the use of embryos for medical reasons. Discussed, is the debate, controversy, and opinion of government officials, in relation to the ethics involving stem cell research. Issues/Conflict Stem cell research proposes many ethical issues. The basis of this issue is that embryonic stem cells research holds such vast promise for so many people but obtaining the cell means destroying embryos. The ethical conflict brought on by stem cells means destroying embryos. The ethical conflict brought on by stem cell research is whether or not it is acceptable by social standards...
Words: 901 - Pages: 4
...The Ethical Issue of Stem Cell Research Shawn Black PHI 107 Professor Joseph Scahill November 14, 2008 Stem cell the new frontier of medical break through poses an important ethical dilemma for humanity do we support the destruction of embryos to further science or do we support the protection of embryos. We are faced with a critical decision to protect embryos from being a part of a science experiment or do we think that it is ethical to kill a few embryos in the name of science. I will discuss the pros and cons of stem cell research. I will discuss the positive outcomes associated with stem cell research from a medical aspect and the negative outcomes from a biological aspect. I will also argue for stem cell research and against stem cell research. What is Stem Cell Research? Stem cell research is the use of cells retrieved from embryos which are capable of becoming all or many of the 210 different types of tissues in the human body. Stem cells have traditionally been defined as not fully differentiated cells or tissue types. The use of these undifferentiated cells or tissues is used to replicate cells in the human body. These cells are from embryos fertilized between days 5-7 of human development. The cells are then retrieved from the embryo and used by researchers to replenish dying or damaged cells in the body. These cells show great promise to help solve medical illnesses and diseases. The argument we face with this type of research is...
Words: 1829 - Pages: 8
...2013 Formal Essay I Stem Cell Controversy Religion and science, two forces that mix as well as oil and water. For thousands of years people have argued which side is correct: one extreme will tell you that a strong faith in God will lead to a better life, the latter extreme will tell you that life has many more complexities than just a faith a deity. These two both see life differently, the Christians think life should be cherished no matter how small or suffering. While science believes there can be something extracted from one’s small life, scientists have found, that the earliest cells of an embryo can be developed into any sort of cell. The study of this is known as stem cell research. The inner cell mass of blastocyst is extracted from the woman’s ovaries and differentiated into embryo bodies and from there they differentiate into either neuronal or pancreatic cells (bethesda). From here, it is difficult to produce enough stem cell lines or to produce the correct cell type (National Cancer Institute). This finding can save or increase many humans quality of life. But is it ethically correct? Is it morally correct? Could these findings interfere with the “circle of life”? Could this interfere with the genetic code of humans and astronomically change the world forever? Are we interfering with God’s will or the circle of life? The history of stem cell research is brief. In 1962, a new frog was produced by taking an adults frog’s intestinal cell and transporting it into...
Words: 1378 - Pages: 6
...Zac Braun Stem Cell Research Free Write In todays world of medicine, stem cell research is considered to be the most modern of all forthcoming forms of therapy, when in fact it is not. Stem cells were discovered in 1961 by Dr. James Till and Ernest McCulloch who both worked at the Ontario cancer institute at the time. The existence of stem cells and their ability to essentially transform into any other type of cell in the human body was an incredible first step in the long since developed and debated topic of stem cell therapy. Stem cells were immediately suggested as a cure all for diseases originally thought to be incurable and chronic illness; none more notorious than Cancer. Since their discovery, stem cells have made an appearance in every area of human life from politics to medical treatment with regular stops at religion and moral ethics in between. Prior to any controversy, however, the potential of stem cells still had to be unveiled. Stem cells, in a nutshell, are a remarkably blank form of human or any eukaryotic cell. They have the ability to take on any sequence of DNA and become the respective encrypted cell. These stem cells are found almost in every living tissue, the only difference between a stem cell and a regular functioning cell is their ability to renew themselves through cell division and that they can be induced to become any other form of tissue. In example, a stem cell found in the liver can divide and become a brain cell. Stem cells are found...
Words: 660 - Pages: 3
...A Civil War on Ethics For many years scientists all over the world have been fighting an ethical battle concerning morality of stem cell research. There are various opinions surrounding stem cell research and a vast amount of evidence supporting each side of this controversy. Patrick L. Taylor of children’s hospital Boston describes human embryonic stem cells as the primary cells from which cells in the body ultimately differentiate and develop. Taylor believes that advancements in stem cell research are leading to a medical revolution. Taylor lists a few things it can help with, such as insights into how organs and tissues develop, detailed knowledge of the factors that affect growth and how they interact, and dramatic new research and clinical applications (Taylor). Many people don’t believe that stem cell research is ethical. This opinion is driven mostly because of the destruction of embryos; Society sees this as murder in many cases. President Bush believes the human embryo is understood and valued in terms of its potential to become a gumanbeing. In his words, “Like a snow flake, each of these embryos is unique, with the unique genetic potential of an individual human being”. By comparison, federal policy in the United States is more circumspect insofar as there is no particular attention to the potential of the developing human embryo. If the human embryo was deserving of legal protection on the basis of potentiality, then logically the federal government would have...
Words: 658 - Pages: 3
...Stem Cell research is a very controversial topic in today’s society. This topic brings up many ethical questions about it is right to do the research or not. Stem cells come from embryos that are only a few days old. The ethical issues that arise are many. If one believes that an embryo is a baby upon fertilization, then one would feel that this was unethical to do the research no matter what the benefits would be. On the other hand, some feel the benefits of what can be learned from stem cell research outweighs the ethical and moral dilemmas that are argued. This long debate brings about many questions about the ethical approaches, that there have been restrictions placed on the research in the lines of what type of embryos can be used for the research. Ethical or not there are always two sides to debate, stem cell research is no different. Throughout this paper I will discuss the ethical issues that stem cell research brings into light and the benefits that stem cell research brings into light that may just outweigh the ethical issues, then determine it these benefits and ethical issues really make stem cell research the most beneficial way to help cure diseases such as juvenile diabetes, Parkinson’s disease or even spinal cord or neck injuries. Argument for Research Stem Cell research can help scientist discover more about human cells and how they grow, change, and replace damaged cells within the body. The information that can be learned is priceless. Using this research...
Words: 2970 - Pages: 12
...Stem Cell Application Assignment * Stem cells are 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. Adult stem cells are found in small numbers in most adult tissues, such as bone marrow or fat. Compared with embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells have a more limited ability to give rise to various cells of the body. * Stem cells hold the promise of treatments and cures for more than 70 major diseases and conditions that affect millions of people, including diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cancer, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS), spinal cord injuries, blindness, and HIV/AIDS. These are all degenerative diseases and stem cells help recreate whatever body material has been lost. It is prominently used in blood diseases such as leukemia. * * A stem cell transplant (also called hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation) infuses healthy blood-forming stem cells into the body. Stem cells can be collected from the bone marrow, circulating (peripheral) blood, and umbilical cord blood. * Yes, stem cells are being used to treat leukemia. It prolonged the life of my grandpa who suffered from leukemia by six years. * The controversy surrounding stem cell research led to an intense debate about ethics. Up until the recent years, the research method mainly focused on embryonic stem cells, which involves...
Words: 514 - Pages: 3
...The control and manipulation of genetic material has become common place in our society. What was once the dream of science fiction authors and fans has become reality. Such topics as stem cell research, in vitro fertilization, and cloning have created quite a stir in scientific communities. However, these advancements do not come without a cost, or without ethical dilemmas. First, a definition of these terms is required. Following that, we will explore some topics and the ethics associated with them. Stem cells exist in all living things. These cells go on to either produce more stem cells or specialize to become different types of living tissue. Stem cells can be broken down into two main classifications, embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells, as the name would imply, are only found in developing embryos. These cells are the most versatile. On the other hand, adult stem cells are only able to transform into a select few types of tissue. (Bongso & Lee, 2005) In vitro fertilization involves the fertilization of an oocyte outside of the female reproductive system. Fertilization occurs in a Petri dish, after which time the embryo is reintroduced into a female uterus where it is allowed to implant and develop. (Seibel, 2008) Cloning is a scientific method of producing an offspring that is genetically identical to the parent. In cloning, only one parent is required, therefore it is considered to be asexual reproduction. (Rugnetta, 2012) All of these...
Words: 1871 - Pages: 8
