Lab Creates Human Embryos for Stem Cell Research
explanatory Essay
455 words
Lab Creates Human Embryos for Stem Cell Research
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) Scientists at Eastern Virginia Medical School have created human embryos from donated eggs and sperm for the sole purpose of harvesting embryonic stem cells for research, according to a study published Wednesday.
Until now, researchers had derived embryonic stem cells from embryos left over from infertility treatments. Other researchers have derived adult stem cells from sources such as fat cells and bone marrow, although scientists say these types of stem cells are not as useful as embryonic stem cells.
In this case, scientists approached donors and informed them that their eggs and sperm would be used to develop embryos for stem-cell research.
Embryonic stem cells can mature into any cell or tissue, and scientists say they may someday be used to repair or replace damaged tissue or organs for disorders such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer, Parkinson's and spinal cord injuries.
The results of the work by researchers at the medical school's Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine appear in the July issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility, the official publication of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
The society believes the researchers are the first in the United States to have created embryos explicitly for stem cell research, and it was impressed with their thorough study of the ethics involved, said society spokesman Sean Tipton.
"At one level, it's cleaner (ethically)" than using leftover embryos, Tipton said Wednesday. "There's no question as to what you're going to do with these embryos. You're going to the individuals upfront."
A biotech firm, Applied Cell Technology of Massachusetts, has done something similar since early last year, but while it uses donor eggs it does not fertilize them with sperm cells. Instead, it replaces the nuclei of the donated eggs with genetic material from adult cells, and then clones the results. The company calls the subject of its research an "ovumsum," not an embryo.
President Bush has said he will soon decide whether to allow taxpayer dollars to be used for research on embryonic stem cells. He is under pressure from patient groups that favor the research and opponents who feel the work is inherently unethical.
The Jones Institute work was criticized by religious conservatives opposed to embryo research and from others who have been working to find middle ground in the heated political battle.
"It's still killing a human being," Mary Petchel, president of the Tidewater chapter of the Virginia Society for Human Life, told The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that eastern virginia medical school scientists created human embryos from donated eggs and sperm for the sole purpose of harvesting embryonic stem cells for research.
- Explains that embryonic stem cells can mature into any cell or tissue and may be used to repair or replace damaged tissue or organs for disorders such as alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer, parkinson’s and spinal cord injuries.
- Explains that the society believes the researchers are the first in the us to have created embryos explicitly for stem cell research, and was impressed with their thorough study of the ethics involved.
- Opines that using leftover embryos is cleaner (ethically) than using them. there's no question as to what you're going to do with them, tipton said.
- Explains that applied cell technology uses donor eggs, replaces the nuclei of donated eggs with adult cells, and clones the results.
- Explains that president bush is under pressure from patient groups that favor the research and opponents who feel the work is unethical.
- Explains that the jones institute work was criticized by religious conservatives opposed to embryo research and from others who have been working to find middle ground in the heated political battle.
- Explains that the institute's ethics committee concluded that "the creation of embryos for research purposes was justifiable and that it was our duty to provide humankind with the best understanding of early human development."
- Explains that the researchers extracted eggs from 12 women who had signed detailed informed consent documents and were paid $1,500 to $2,000 each.
- Explains that of the 162 eggs collected and inseminated by donor sperm, 50 developed into embryos. the researchers destroyed 40 of those to obtain their stem cells, then isolated three lines, or colonies, that were maintained in culture.
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- Pros And Cons Of Embryonic Stem Cellsopinion essayOne of the many bad reasons for stem cell research is “Embryonic Stem Cells.” This is one of the few ways we are able to get these cells. These embryos are suppose to be about one to five days old and from there we are able to form them into a new organ.
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- Explains embryonic stem cells are unspecialized cells that can renew themselves through cell division and form into any organ that needs to be destroyed or diseased.
- Explains that embryonic stem cells are one of the few ways we are able to get these cells. the problem with this is the destroying of an embryo.
- Opines that stem cell research was a great opportunity to find new ways and offers with the right guidelines put into action.
- Opines that stem cell research has many benefits, such as therapies for patients to endure in this research to find means to their disease or destroyed organ.
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- Explains that therapeutic cloning and embryonic stem cell research bring hope and hope to people around the world. the question that divides people today is whether they should be banned.
- Opines that while therapeutic cloning and embryonic stem cell research is still a major scientific and medical possibility, there are no real promises.
- Explains that many anti-abortionists are against using embryos for research because they believe the human embryo is a life.
- Argues that therapeutic cloning is immoral because it creates and destroys human embryos, which they say are destined to become human beings.
- Opines that therapeutic cloning and embryonic stem cell research should be banned because they fear that it could come into play.
- Analyzes how harris 4bettleheim points out an insurance campaign where a couple was discussing the benefits of medical research. the wife pinpointed the whole idea of therapeutic cloning with her response "just lifesaving cures."
- Opines that therapeutic cloning and embryonic stem cell research sit on the bubble today on whether to be banned or not, creating a huge division of opinions.
- Opines that it would be sad if laws stepped in the way of the promising and advanced idea of using therapeutic cloning and embryonic stem cell research.
- Cites bettelheim, adriel. "cloning by any other name: a defining battle." cq weekly.
- Explains that groups fear cloning legislation could ban significant research.
1273 wordsRead More - Embryonic and Adult Stem Cellsexplanatory essayScientists primarily work with two kinds of stem cells from animals and humans: blembryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Scientists discovered ways to obtain stem cells from experiments with mouse embryos, more than 20 years ago! (It would seem knowledge of stem cells would be much farther along by now) Many years of detailed study of the biology of mouse stem cells led to the discovery, in 1998, of how to isolate stem cells from human embryos and grow the cells in the laboratory. The embryos used in these studies were created for infertility purposes with “in vitro fertilization”.
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- Explains that stem cells relate to the person's health and can develop into many different cell types in the body.
- Explains that stem cells have two important characteristics that distinguish them from other types of cells. first, they are cells, with no specific function, that renew themselves with cell division.
- Explains that scientists work with two kinds of stem cells from animals and humans: blembryonic, and adult. many years of detailed study of mouse embryos led to the discovery, in 1998, of how to isolate and grow the cells in the laboratory.
- Explains that stem cells are important for living organisms for many reasons. they organize themselves into specialized cell types that make up the heart, lung, skin, and other tissues.
- Explains that stem cells can be used to cure many debilitating diseases, such as parkinson's disease.
- Explains that with modern genetics, there is no need to use immunosuppressive drugs because stem cells are modified to produce cells genetically identical to the person receiving the cells.
- Explains that there are a few requirements for stem cells to work. the government has to allow it to take place, and the patient must agree to have an embryo used in their name.
- Describes the steps involved in embryonic stem cell "surgery" and explains how the cells are harvested and coaxed into replicating until the amount needed for the procedure is obtained.
- Explains that embryonic and adult stem cells have advantages and disadvantages regarding potential use for cell-based therapies.
- Describes the five questions they would ask a scientist in the field of stem cell research.
- Asks whether embryonic stem cells can be used to enhance already functioning organs, such as building muscle, or can they grow into a living organism outside of the uterus?
1111 wordsRead More - Cloning Ethicsanalytical essayA unanimous decision should be made on when to consider an embryo a human being that has morality. Until then I believe that the embryo is not close to a human life unless it has made it past the fourteen day period in which it is passed the twinning stage. So with this information I come to the conclusion that under specific regulations and laws, including the ones I mentioned in the summary, the cloning of embryos for biomedical research and obtaining stem cells should be deemed acceptable.
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- Explains that there are three positions that are involved in this debate. the first two positions state that the cloning of embryos should be allowed, while the second position does not.
- Explains that the second position agrees with the cloning of human embryos for research, but does not believe the embryo deserves any special respect.
- Opines that prudence is a good virtue type to describe the dilemma of deciding to clone human embryos for biomedical research.
- Opines that people should always decide and act according to the virtues insofar as possible. the cloned embryo needs assistance to develop to become a fully developed human being.
- Analyzes human cloning and human dignity: an ethical inquiry, which discusses the moral issues involved with the use of cloned human embryos for biomedical research.
- Argues that cloning embryos for stem cells should be ethically appropriate. twinning is the point in the embryo's life where it is decided that it will be one human being or multiple.
- Analyzes the case that believes that cloning for biomedical research should not be pursued.
- Explains that benevolence is a virtue that helps the greater good of society by finding better ways to cure diseases and heal others.
- Analyzes how the position uses prudence to look at the situation only from a moral perspective, whether it is right or wrong to destroy human embryos for research.
- Concludes that cloning embryos for biomedical research and stem cells should be deemed acceptable under specific regulations and laws.
1613 wordsRead More - Embryotic Stem Cells Argumentative Essayopinion essayEmbryotic stem cells are defined as cells derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized in vitro and have been donated for research. It is important to note that these are cells that have not come from eggs of a woman’s body and more importantly that these cells are grown through a cell culture and used for further cultures and experimentation. Any experimentation done to help better life for humans in a safe way, gain knowledge and save lives is something that I support whole-heartedly.
In this essay, the author
- Defines embryonic stem cells as cells derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized in vitro and donated for research.
- Opines that embryotic stem cell research will help better life for humanity by generating cures for diseases such as alzheimer's disease, cancer, diabetes, and many others.
- Opines that they are in support of embryotic stem cells because they watched their grandmother slowly fade from our family due to alzheimer's disease wishing there was something different that could be done.
- Opines that couples donate their unused in vitro embryotic cells for research. they are doing a good cause just as an organ donor does.
- Opines that everyone should support this form of research because we cannot evolve if we don't take risks for change. living a full healthy life is one of the hardest things to do on this planet.
470 wordsRead More - Stem Cell Research Persuasive Speechopinion essayThe embryos are fertilized eggs that are usually 4-5 days old, at this point they are non-thinking and non-feeling. But this ties into the question of when human life begins and the abortion debate, with many people saying that it is murder to be using the embryos. But the embryos are not a baby, they are a cluster of cells that had not attached to the uterus. “These cells can be manipulated to produce any type of human cell for use in research and development of potential treatments for diseases.” Researchers are always looking for alternatives but adult stem cells are less versatile. They are always donated with informed consent so the woman knows what will happen with
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- Opines that stem cell transplants have the potential to cure diseases and save lives, but not if their illegal. stem cells are cells derived from embryos or adult tissue that can divide and renew themselves for long periods.
- Explains that stem cell transplants could lead to life-saving cures and operations. bret hoekema, a man living with hodgkin's lymphomas, has been cancer free since 2013.
- Opines that stem cell research could lead to further innovations in science, such as a cure for neurological diseases and cloning.
- Explains that stem cells research is controversial due to using human embryos to get the cells.
- Concludes that stem cell research is beneficial and should not only be legal but funded. making it illegal could be a big loss for people everywhere.
- Cites hoekema, bret, and robbins, hannah. "a new stem cell advance." harvard gazette.
783 wordsRead More - Embryonic Stem Cell Research Persuasive Essayanalytical essayCould you imagine being able to create new organs, tissues, muscles, and even food? With embryonic stem cell technology, believe it or not, these things are possible. Stem cells are the body's raw materials. Specifically, they are cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. Under the right conditions in the body or in a laboratory, stem cells can divide to form more cells called daughter cells. These daughter cells either become new stem cells or turn into specialized cells with a more specific function, such as blood cells, brain cells, muscle cells or bone cells. The possibilities are almost endless. The debate and main issue with this technology is that the actual stem cells come from embryos. Embryos are an unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development. Although there is controversy surrounding these cells, embryonic stem cells should continue to be researched and used, because they have so much potential.
In this essay, the author
- Describes how kristen and laura dominguez have been cured by stem cell technology.
- Describes how mark post, a professor of physiology and biomedical technology at the university of maastricht, created cow muscle cells made from stem cells.
- Explains that stem cells have been used to create new, fully functional organs and parts of the body. in 2011, the first synthetic organ transplant was a success.
- Explains that embryotic stem cells are used to destroy embryos, but they can be found in adult bone marrow, fat, and amniotic fluid.
- Explains that many people are against taking stem cells from embryos because they are a living organism. the catholic church believes that an embryo is alive and human at conception.
- Explains that embryonic stem cell technology can create new organs, tissues, muscles, and even food. although there are many arguments against this technology, there have already been many success stories because of stem cells.
- Argues that stem cell research is unethical and would be a threat to life. they also argue that there are other methods that can be used to harvest stem cells.
2065 wordsRead More - Stem Cell Research and a Ban on Human Cloningargumentative essayTwo methods of obtaining the cells have been described. In one, the embryo is allowed to develop normally for a week or two to the blastocyst stage, at or after the usual time of implantation in the mother's womb; then this embryo, consisting of hundreds of cells, is dissected for its stem cells. The other method is to introduce molecular signals into the embryo's environment to "trick" its cells into departing from normal development and instead producing "a mass of undifferentiated tissue," which can then be reprogrammed into various kinds of cells [Lee Silver, Remaking Eden: Cloning and Beyond in a Brave New World (Avon Books 1997), p. 128]. In either case, the living embryo is destroyed.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that a ban on producing human embryos through cloning would stall important research in generating "stem cells" to cure various diseases.
- Explains the two methods of obtaining the cells: the embryo is allowed to develop normally for a week or two to the blastocyst stage, then dissected for its stem cells; the other method is to introduce molecular signals into the environment to "trick" its cells into departing from normal development and producing undifferentiated tissue.
- Explains that this avenue for providing medical benefits has been described as "largely conjectural." president clinton's national bioethics advisory commission called it "a rather expensive and far-fetched scenario."
- Explains that the national bioethics advisory commission outlined three alternative avenues for promising research using stem cells that do not involve human cloning.
- Explains that president clinton's commission proposes a few, widely used and well-characterized human embryonic stem cell lines, genetically altered to prevent graft rejection in all possible recipients.
- Explains that stem cells could be "customized" to each individual patient and not from embryonic sources.
- Explains the feasibility of identifying "methods by which somatic cells could be 'de-differentiated' and then re-differenced' along a particular path.
- Explains that there are other promising sources of pluripotent (not embryonic) stem cells for treatment of disease.
- Explains that fetal bone marrow is an enormously promising new source of stem cells, since it is 23 times more effective than adult and eight times better than umbilical cord blood.
- Explains that other approaches to tissue regeneration involve growth factors (activators and inhibitors of cell division and growth) responsible for the development of various cell types and tissues.
- Explains how cells of different kinds are being genetically engineered to repair damaged organs, especially by injecting them with an "oncogene." heart cells produced with this gene can "survive and beat like normal heart muscle cells" when transferred to a damaged heart.
- Explains that methods are being developed for growing whole replacement organs, to treat children before or after birth. they hope to receive fda approval for routine use of the technology within five years.
- Explains that studies of telomerase, dubbed by some "the immortality enzyme," have opened up promising avenues in research on cancer and diseases of ageing.
- Concludes that the claim that human embryo cloning is needed to advance promising medical research in cancer, degenerative diseases, etc., is simply false.
- Opines that the fertilization of human oocytes for research purposes is unnerving because human life is being created solely for human use.
1465 wordsRead More - Persuasive Essay On Embryonic Stem Cellsexplanatory essayYou are able to use embryonic stem cells in the scientific community because the stem cells have the ability to produce replacement tissue such as muscle, bone and nervous tissue and would revolutionize medicine. Human stem cells are currently being used to test new drugs. All types of new medications are tested for safety on differentiated cells generated from human pluripotent cell lines. Other kinds of cell lines have a long history of being used in this way. For example, cancer cell lines are used to screen potential anti-tumor drugs. As for today, donated organs and tissues are often used to replace ailing or destroyed tissue. Stem cells, directed to differentiate into specific cell types, offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat diseases including macular degeneration, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid
In this essay, the author
- Introduces kristen stehle, a famous scientist who uses embryonic stem cells, and spearheads an appeal to the president for funding and availability of embryonic stem cells.
- Explains that stem cells have three general properties: they are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods, and they can give rise to specialized cells.
- Explains that embryonic and adult stem cells have advantages and disadvantages in regards to possible use for cell based regenerative therapies.
- Explains that there are three main sources of human embryonic stem cells: already existing, unused, and somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos.
- Explains that embryonic stem cells are used throughout the scientific community for many reasons, such as the ability to produce replacement tissue.
- States that the united states is one of many countries playing an important role in stem cell research. china restricts human reproductive cloning but allows the creation of human embryos for research and therapeutic purposes.
- Opines that embryonic stem cells are a major benefit to many countries including the u.s. by testing these cells we are always learning new things that can help and benefit the medical community.
683 wordsRead More - Embryonic Stem Cell Research Debateopinion essayEmbryonic stem cell research is dealing with embryos that the female no longer wishes to keep. Females having fertility issues can donate their unused eggs to scientific research. Scientist help boost fertility by giving the female a drug which produces more eggs. They then take the eggs and put them in a petri dish and fertilize them. Once the egg is fertilized, then the scientist plants the embryo into the female. The other fertilized eggs can either be frozen or donate them to scientific research. Scientist says they can use embryonic stem cells to fix diseases (“Stem Cell Research”). However, many people believe research should not be done on embryos. The United States government should not fund embryonic stem cell research because the
In this essay, the author
- Explains that embryonic stem cell research is dealing with embryos that the female no longer wishes to keep. females with fertility issues can donate their unused eggs to scientific research.
- Explains that embryonic stem cell research destroys the blastocyst-stage of the embryo, which has two diverse cell types.
- Argues that the dickey-wicker amendment is the only law that stands in the way of embryonic stem cell research.
- Opines that scientists should use adult stem cells instead of taking them from inadequate resources to cure diseases such as blindness.
- Opines that embryonic stem cell research terrorizes women's health. doctors want seventeen million to one hundred and seventy million women to donate their eggs for this research.
814 wordsRead More