Stem Cell Research
By Brian Elwell and Michelle Balazs
Stem Cell Research has been
the topic of controversy in the public’s eye, and the government,
since 1998, but do people truly know what it is and how it could
be a benefit or harm to the world?
Scientists are just begging to learn how to use and grow stem
cells, but if their research brings the result they were looking
for it could be a tremendous step for science that could bring
great things, or an ethical battle of the conscience.
Pros
of Stem Cell Reasearch |
Cons
of Stem Cell Research |
Stem Cell Research
has been the topic of controversy in the public’s
eye, and the government, since 1998, but do people truly
know what it is and how it could be a benefit or harm to
the world?
Scientists are just begging to learn how to use and grow
stem cells, but if their research brings the result they
were looking for it could be a tremendous step for science
that could bring great things, or an ethical battle of the
conscience. |
Contrary to media
hype, there is no proof that embryonic stem cells will benefit
patients with terminal diseases. However, killing embryos,
to harvest stem cells as a way of saving these patients
is contradictory. Destroying embyonic life to save another’s
life is at best hypocritical and at worst murder.
|
The problem people
have with stem cells is not stem cells, it’s abortion.
For years abortion has been questioned back and forth from
women’s rights to choose, to when is an embryo a person.
While all these questions are valid, the real question we
must ask ourselves is, will abortion ever stop? In the ideal
situation abortion would be outlawed, and we would leave
this all in the past. But will that ever happen? The answer
is no, and while babies are being killed nothing good is
coming out of it. If stem cell research was being properly
funded not all would be lost in the abortion, and scientists
could come even closer to saving millions of lives. |
Stem cell research
would use IVF, In Vitro Fertilization. That is when the
fertilized eggs are placed in a woman’s uterus. Stem
cell research would use this procedure to produce embryonic
stem cell lines. IVF is already a technology that wastes
a number of embryos annually. Following World War II, declarations
were drafted in order to protect humans from the horrors
of genetic experimentation. The same duty is owed to the
tiniest, most vulnerable subjects. President Bush stated
his goal of leading America into a “culture of life.”
|
Many people have
been swayed by the misconception that if stem cells were
being used, scientists would be growing organs and, “Playing
God.” But this is far from the truth. Stem cells would
not turn into an organ, but would change into tissues and
would continually replace the bad tissues with good ones.
Stem cells offer the possibility of a renewable source of
replacement cells and tissues to treat many diseases, conditions,
and disabilities including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s
diseases, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease,
diabetes, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. |
There is no evidence
that embryonic stem cells can cure anything. In recent years,
adult stem cell therapy has been successful in treating
many diseases and shows great promise for the future. These
cells are replaceable and can be found in “fat”
cells and could be used for the purpose of treatment and
research without destruction of embryos. Unfortunately,
Californians voted to fund 3 billion dollars in stem cell
research. It is a shame our tax dollars are going to fund
such morally bankrupt science. |
| Over all Stem
cells have huge potential and really should receive much
government backing. This is no “Frankenstein science,”
and it’s not cloning. This is just the evolution of
every day medical breakthroughs.
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There is no accepted
physiological point at which the embryo suddenly becomes
more human than before. The most recent research has demonstrated
fetus viability at a much earlier age than previously believed.
The pre-born should have the same moral status as the child
or the adult, and therefore should not be killed for research
purposes.
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