...At first glance, teenagers may view stem cells as a boring topic that only adults debate about. But what if these stem cells could cure their diseases or injuries one day? Stem cells, specialized cells that can develop into almost any type of cell, typically do not come up in an everyday conversation. However, due to recent breakthroughs in science, doctors have researched and tested stem cells and their effect on the human body. Although the controversy of using stem cells may not be a teenager's primary concern, they need to keep it in mind as scientists discover more information about stem cells, which doctors could use to treat injuries and heal diseases. Ever since the mid 1800's, scientists have explored stem cells characteristics...
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...ways to derive embryonic stem cells from mice, eventually gaining the knowledge to extract them from humans, in 1998. Embryonic stem cell research is when an egg and sperm cell is obtained from a donor, mixed in a Petri dish, and the egg is fertilized to produce a stem cell line for research.The scientists begin this process by conducting in vitro fertilization, or an egg being fertilized out of the womb, and into a lab setting. A stem cell is essentially a “blank” cell, that’s capable of becoming another more differentiated cell type in the body, such as a skin cell, a muscle cell, or a nerve cell. In this case, a host cell where the embryo can prosper and grow to be used later on for research. In humans, mice, and other mammals, the embryo is a ball of approximately one hundred cells at this stage. Although embryonic stem cell research has great potential in deciphering the cause behind puzzling disorders such as Type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's, and heart infractions,...
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...Ron Kind said, “More important is the fact that embryonic stem cell research could lead to new treatments and cures for the many Americans afflicted with life-threatening and debilitating diseases." Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research is greatly debated between religious and scientific groups. “Killing the embryo” or scientific research to figure out how to save others, regrow bad organs, and solve the mysteries of many diseases. Embryonic cell research may sound like a horrible ordeal but could help us solve many issues that are dealt with today. First off there is the fact that we should probably understand what it is. Embryonic stem cells are the cells of the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, which is an early-stage embryo. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4-5 days post...
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...Stem Cell research is very controversial topic, but to understand what is stem cell we must first understand what exactly is it. According to Matthew C. Nisbet “When it comes to public opinion about controversial issues related to science and technology, many policy makers and scientists assume that increased public understanding of science will lead to increased public support. So as people understand science, and the research behind stem cell, than we can get support for it, but will it work”. Stem cells are unspecialized cells capable of forming into any different type of cells through cell division. They are very important, because they can form any type of human organ, and bones. Scientist have found some major research to turn stem cells,...
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...Religion is a belief system of faith and worship shared by groups of people. These belief systems seek to answer questions that are unanswered by mankind and exist as a superior power over humanity. The evolution of how the world has evolved, has gradually diminished from the ideas that the bible puts forth to become proven otherwise through scientific research and evidence. Religion acts as an authoritarian and dominating hierarchy, impacting on people's will of freedom and liberty. The basic human rights that every individual is entitled to is prohibited because of a belief in a religion. Religion can be thought of as an act of engineered obedience training, it brainwashes and influences...
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...The 21st century is characterized for its technological advancements. Rapid renovation in medical research, disease treatment, and advanced quality of life has marked the turn of the century. Recent development in stem cell research has brought forth an ethical debate; whether research to achieve new medical remedies is permissible at the stake of, arguably, the unborn life of frozen embryos or if stem cell research should cease at the cost of disease stricken people worldwide to preserve an embryo that may never be born. 1. Massage (Articulate) the Problem: a) What is the current undesirable situation? Identify and define issues in the dilemma. The current undesirable situation pertaining to frozen embryo donation is the donor being forced to keep frozen embryos against their own discretion. It may be unfavorable to keep embryos frozen for an extended period of time because of the financial burden. To extract, freeze, and preserve embryos, clients can expect to pay an initial fee of approximately $10,000. According to USCFertility, client can also expect a storage fee of $500 per year and to thaw frozen embryos an additional payment of $5,000 is required (uscfertility.org). Another issue apart of this ethical dilemma is whether embryos are classified as a person or property. If assumed to be property, it is debatable whether preservation of embryos can be mandated. Lastly, and perhaps the most controversial component of this dilemma is defining “conception” to establish when...
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...CLAIM: President Bush’s veto of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act in July of 2006 was a proportional reaction to the expanding influence of conservative political ideology and religious fundamentalism throughout America. VARIABLES: My independent variables are conservative political ideology and religious fundamentalism. My dependant variable is President Bush’s 2006 veto of the Stem Cell Enhancement Act, also known as the H.R. 810 Bill. EXPECTATIONS: I expect to find overwhelming and convincing evidence to corroborate my assertion that the expanding influence of conservative political ideology and religious fundamentalism in America are the two most profound independent variables to affect President Bush’s 2006 veto of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. I also expect to obtain convincing evidence that political conservatism and religiosity have an interactive effect on the public attitude towards stem cell research which directly influences federal policy concerning this controversial issue. It is my contention that the preponderance of evidence will confirm my theory that as the level of conservatism and religious zeal rises; the public support and enthusiasm for stem cell research will wane proportionally, resulting in federal policies that continue to be restrictive and obtuse. EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS THE CLAIM: With the advent of technology and subsequent advances in human stem cell research, the scientific and medical communities were inspired...
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...world in science and technology. American technology has produced advances in many areas of medicine. As this medical research continues, there has controversy between advancing medicine through testing and preserving life. In the United States and around the world, there have been debates and laws created which demonstrate the controversy in stem cell research. One of the main debates is that stem research can be used to discover cures for illness. Many experts believe stem cell research can be used to help against diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer (Lacayo, 2001). However, many people worry that stem cell research will be used for unethical purposes such as human cloning. They also argue that money from the government should not be used to destroy a human embryo. In the United States and around the world there have been many laws regarding stem cell research. President Bush was the first President that made funds available for stem cell research. (Bush, 2007). According to the National Institute of Health, a government biomedical research organization, President George W Bush announced in August, 2001 a policy which advances stem cell research. Federal funds may be used for research on human embryonic stem cells if the following three requirements are met: 1) the destruction of the embryo must be prior to August 9, 2001, 2) stem cells were removed from embryo for the purpose of reproduction, which “was no longer needed.” 3) the donor had informed consent...
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...Stem Cell Research Essay Stem Cell research is a highly controversial topic in the world of science. Many people disagree with and oppose the research because of their belief that the research is unethical. The laws regarding the research of Stem cells vary from country to country. Many countries have very strict laws on the research and some have completely banned it. There are many organizations and scientists that are pushing for the research and study of the stem cells. These viewpoints establish that Stem cells can be very beneficial for human use. There are three main types of stem cells: embryonic, tissue and induced pluripotent (Euro Stem Cell, 2012). Embryonic stem cells are used because they do not have a designated function...
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...Stem Cell Ethics Essay In today’s society there are many things that are deemed ethical or not unethical. Underage drinking, drug use, divorce, these are just a few that might be considered unethical. Stem Cell Research can fall into either category depending on a person’s views. A stem cell is a biological cell found in every multicellular organism that can divide into different specialized cells. In a growing embryo, stem cells help maintain the regeneration parts of organs. “Cells grown in the lab provide scientists with the opportunity to "engineer" them for use in transplantation or treatment of diseases” (National Institutes of Health). There are two different types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. Embryonic cells are in the inner cell mass and adult cells are found in tissues. “Embryonic stem cells exist only at the earliest stages of embryonic development and are capable of making any cell type in the body. Under the right conditions, these cells retain the ability to divide and make copies of them indefinitely. Scientists are beginning to understand how to make these cells develop into any of the more than 200 different types of cells in the human body” (Stem Cell Research). “Adult stem cells are more limited and specialized than embryonic stem cells. They have the ability to make just one or two kinds of tissue, such as blood and immune system cells, brain or muscle cells. Adult stem cells also have a more limited capacity to replace themselves than do embryonic...
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...English Argumentative Essay Should embryonic stem cell research carry on? Embryonic stem cell research creates an ethical dilemma. It forces us to choose between two moral principles: the duty to prevent or lessen the suffering; or the duty to respect the value of human life. In embryonic stem cell research, it is impossible to respect both moral principles. To get embryonic stem cells, the early embryo has to be destroyed. This means destroying a potential human life. But embryonic stem cell research could lead to the discovery of new medical treatments that would lessen the suffering of many people. So which moral principle should have the upper hand in this situation? The answer hinges on how we view the embryo. Does it have the status of a person? Some say it does, as many people think of an embryo as a fully-grown human. The reason for this is the fact that, once an egg is fertilized, unless stopped, it will grow into a fully-grown adult. This opinion is often related to religious rules which state that conception marks the beginning of human life or the presence of a soul. It has been argued that "the line at which an embryo becomes a human life remains as chance as ever". Others argue that embryos are not humans, believing that the life of Homo sapiens only begins when the heartbeat develops, which is during the 5th week of pregnancy, or when the brain begins working, which is about 54 days after conception. Embryos are of value, however they are not equivalent...
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...SBI4U ISP Part II: Genetic Technology Research Paper Embryonic Stem Cell Use Abstract: Researchers discovered that embryonic stem cells could be originated from early human embryos. This discovery has raised a series of ethical and public-policy questions that are now being confronted by multiple international organizations, nations, cultures, and religious traditions. This essay surveys policies for human embryonic stem cell research in four regions of the world, reports on the recent debate at the United Nations about one type of such research, and reviews the positions that various religious traditions have adopted regarding this novel type of research. In several instances the religious traditions seem to have influenced the public-policy debates. There are many ways in which human stem cells can be used in research and the clinic. Studies of the medical use of Embyonic Stem cells will yield information about the complex events that occur during human development. A primary goal of this work is to identify how undifferentiated stem cells become the differentiated cells that form the tissues and organs. Scientists know that turning genes on and off is central to this process. Some of the most serious medical conditions, such as cancer and birth defects, are due to abnormal cell division and differentiation. A more complete understanding of the genetic and molecular controls of these processes may yield information about how such diseases arise and suggest new strategies...
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...Stem cells are a special type of cell located in the bodies of all multicellular animal life. They are the precursor stage of all adult cells, so are unique in their ability to develop into every other type of cell in the human body. This specialisation makes them of great interest in the field of biomedicine, as they can be utilised to replace damaged or lost cells in individuals with injuries or genetic illnesses. However, the research and usage of human stem cells remains a controversial and divisive matter. This essay will explain the main reasons why controversy surrounds their use as a medical therapy. The main controversy of stem cells being used in medicine revolves primarily around the research and usage of a particular kind of human stem cell; embryonic stem cells(ES cells). ES cells, as the name implies, are stem cells found only in the innermost mass of cells within blastocysts; the early stage of a human embryo. The extraction of these cells for use however, results in the destruction of the blastocyst. This raises issues about the morality of extracting ES cells, as they can only be removed at the cost of denying the future embryo the chance of developing into the foetal stage and subsequently, becoming a human life. One philosophical outlook on why the use of ES cells is immoral is that “...the human embryo is the same individual as the human organism at subsequent stages of development”1, a viewpoint that is relayed in the sentiments of a 2003 public...
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...Maffei Stem Cell Research Essay Majority of the general population knows or has heard something in reference to stem cell research, weather it is from magazine articles or news, at some point in our daily lives we’ve heard the term “Stem Cell Research.” Stem cells due to their controversial nature, has seen numerous changes in the legislation governing its research and the types of stem cells – weather it is fetal, cord, embryonic, etc... – The legislation affecting stem cells can determine where the U.S. stands on this ground breaking research. According to Lanza, A simple definition for stem cells is as follows “a stem cell is a cell that has the potential to develop into a number of different types of cells in the body.” (2011). Basically, stem cells are the base of all organs and tissues in the human body, a master cell of some sort. Stems cell, also have the potential be the backbone of many medical breakthroughs in centuries to come, from age prevention to helping with disabilities such as blindness, inability to walk, etc... As mention earlier in this paper there are many types of stem cells, but for purpose of this paper I shall focus on adult & embryonic stem cells. An adult stem cell is an undifferentiated cell that is found amongst differentiated cells in an organ or tissue that processes the ability to renew itself, as well as differentiate into other specialized cell types. By their nature, adult stem cells aren’t as controversial as embryonic stem cells...
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...degenerative diseases, thereby defective genes could be replaced and help improve the lives of millions. However, cloning in the human sense has had a difficult start. DNA cloning has permitted the development of modern biology, in particular within the last forty years. In this time frame the world has passed from theories to actually cloning genes. Subsequently, The University of Utah Health Sciences did a study on the history of cloning: Mitalipov and colleagues were the first to use somatic cell nuclear transfer to create a human embryo. …In this experiment, researchers took a skin cell from a patient and fused it with a donated egg cell. Key to the success of the experiment was the modification to the culture liquid in which the procedure was done and to the series of electrical pulses used to stimulate the egg to begin its division. Following the cloning controversy of 2004–2005, in which South Korean scientists falsely claimed to have used somatic cell nuclear transfer to create embryonic stem cell lines, the scientific community demanded much stronger evidence that the procedure had actually been successful. (Learn. Genetics) Subsequently, many states in the US began to prohibit the use of therapeutic and reproductive cloning. Regardless, cloning should be decriminalized, with the stipulation that serious regulations be put into place. People, often too caught in the moral implications of cloning never take the time to learn the scientific process. Moral implications are thoughts...
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