A mother cannot remember her children’s names anymore because of Alzheimer’s diseases. A daughter will never be able to walk again because of a car accident that has made her paralyzed from the waist down. A husband will never be able to see his wife again because he has become blind. But maybe these people will be able to remember, walk or see again. Someday all of the diseases in the world may be curable through stem cell research. Stem cells are very unique because they have the ability to morph into any of the over 200 cells that make up the human body. For the past 50 years scientists have been trying to understand the true potential of stem cells. Nichols (2001) explained that, it was not until 1998 when scientist James Thomson of the university of Wisconsin isolated living stem cells from embryos using in-vitro fertilization (p.44). That was a major breakthrough in stem cell research. Scientists are now able to use embryonic stem cells to treat or cure diseases, but they are far from perfecting it to use on humans. The process of generating stem cells is done by the fertilizing of an egg through in vitro fertilization. If the embryo is healthy then it is divided and is multiplied several times. Then the embryo is destroyed and the stem cells are used. The ethical issues surrounding stem cell research have a major impact on continuing medical research. As humans we must rethink the ethical issues and focus more on the potential benefits of stem cell research. Embryonic stem cells are much more unique then the less controversial, more common multipotent stem cells. Multipotent stem cells like umbilical cord blood and bone marrow stem cells are restricted generating only a number of tissues. Embryonic stem cells are categori... ... middle of paper ... ... and it may take many years to fully understand them before they can be used on humans. Unlocking the mysterious of stem cells could allow us to understand the human body in an entire different way. Works Cited Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2010, September 13). Stem Cell Basics: What are embryonic stem cells?. In Stem Cell Information [World Wide Web site]. Retrieved from http://www.stemcells.nih.gov/ Fitzpatrick, Megan. (2010, November 2). Canada’s Mantle As Stem-Cell Leader Fading, Experts Warn. Postmedia News. Retrieved from http://www.canada.com/ Hochedlinger, Konrad. (2010, May). Your Inner Healers. Scientific America. Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerica.com/ Nichols, Mark. (2001, August 27). Stem Cells A Moral Dilemma. Maclean’s. Retrieved from http://www2.macleans.ca/
" An Overview of Stem Cell Research | The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity."
Few advances in modern science have generated as much excitement and public debate as the discovery of human embryonic stem cells (hESC). The debate over the use of embryonic stem cells in research has polarized the global community along the lines of those who argue that such research holds the promise of medical breakthroughs for many currently incurable diseases and ailments, while opponents condemn such research as it involves the destruction of a potential human life and is seen as humanity “playing God”. There are no clear cut answers to the moral debate concerning this particular area of stem cell research. At the core of the debate lies the ethical question of which is the more valuable; the life of a human being suffering from a fatal illness or life threatening injury, or the life of a potential human being? These are the difficult questions faced by both the scientists engaged in the research, the legislators who define the laws governing such research and the public as a whole. While many agree that embryonic stem cell research has the potential of developing treatments for a number of afflictions that affect humankind, if such research cannot be performed without the the cost of destroying a life it should therefore not be pursued.
Scott, Christopher Thomas. Stem Cell Now: From the Experiment That Shook the World to the
Snow, Nancy. “Stem Cell Research New Frontiers in Sciences and Ethics”. Houston Community College Library. 2004. Print. 10 Nov 2011.
Stem cells are an ongoing research project in which new discoveries are being made about them, and researchers are learning how to use them in new ways. The three current kinds of stem cells all prove to have their own challenges when it comes to using them. The important thing is finding out which stem cell is right for the patient and how much of an ethical concern there is when it comes to using the stem cell. As we learn the best way to use them and they become more popular in the medical field, stem cells will become a new weapon in the fight against certain diseases.
Pearson J. “Point: The Potential of Stem Cell Research.” Points Of View: Stem Cell Research [serial online]. January 2013;:5. Available from: Points of View Reference Center, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 26, 2013.
From the discussion above it is very clear that there are different opinions on the pros and cons of stem cell research. Based on the recent researches, scientists have the capability to work out the alternatives for embryonic stem cell research. And the usefulness compare to embryonic stem cell remains unknown. Undeniably, the stem cell research issue has its most complex parts to be resolved and surmounted. But perhaps we can disclose the way to carry out stem cell research with the balance of bioethics and most importantly, do no harm for humankind one day.
“In November of 1998, scientists reported that they had successfully isolated and cultured human embryonic stem cells a feature which had eluded researchers for almost two decades.”(The center for bioethics & human dignity, n.d.). This announcement kicked off an intense and unrelenting debate between those who approve of embryonic stem cell research and those who are opposed to it. “Some of the most prominent advocates of the research are scientists and patients who believe that embryonic stem cell research will lead to the development of treatments and cures for some of humanity’s most pernicious afflictions (such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, and diabetes).”(The center for bioethics & human dignity, n.d.). Among the most vocal opponents of the research are those who share the desire to heal, but who object to the pursuit of healing via unethical means. CBHD’s view is that because human embryonic stem cell research necessitates the destruction of human embryos, such research is unethical regardless of its alleged benefits. Ethical alternatives for achieving those benefits should be actively pursued.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, National Institutes of Health. (2010). What are embryonic stem cells? Stem Cell Information. Retrieved from http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/pages/basics3.aspx
The issue of stem cell research first began on the scientific scene in November of 1998 when researchers first reported the isolation of human embryonic stem cells. The discovery, made by Dr. James A. Thomson, a biologist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, offered great promise for new ways of treating diseases through stem cell use. The stem cells, which are derived from several-day-old embryos, can theoretically differentiate into virtually any type of human cell, ranging from blood cells to skin cells (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2011). According to the American Medical Association (2013), a stem cell is an immature cell that has the potential to become specialized into different types of cells throughout the body. There are two basic types of stem cells: adult stems cells and embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are produced when a newly fertilized egg begins...
Mangus, D. (2004). Stem cell research should be more than a promise. Retrieved January 17, 2005 from Ebsco host research center.
Embryonic stem cell research is, perhaps, one of the most divisive ethical issues of the millennium. These cells are thought by many to hold the cures for such diseases as diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, heart disease and even cancer. Some researchers believe that these cells could heal spinal cord injuries, allowing a once paralyzed man to walk again. Despite the numerous potential benefits, the issue is exceedingly controversial and has sparked much debate, primarily over one sole reason: embryonic stem cell research causes the destruction of an embryo. This debate can be epitomized into two questions: when does human life begin and what makes an organism human. The answers to these questions are usually opinionated and not backed
Monroe, Kristen, et al., eds. Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical and Political Issues. Los Angeles/Berkley: University of California Press, 2008. Print
The Canadian Stem Cell Foundation claims that, “Bone marrow stem cell transplantation has been curing some kinds of cancer for decades, but in other potential areas we’ve barely begun scratching the surface” Currently there are several clinical trials being done involving stem cells. One current clinical trial is working towards healing hearts, or using stem cells to grow new hearts that are made specifically for transplant patients. This research could be very helpful in the future. Every year 70,000 Canadians have heart attacks, and 23,000 of them could greatly benefit from this medical advancement. Scientists are currently working extremely hard to find an absolute solution to this problem. As of right now they think that the solution will be found in the next three years. Another new clinical trial wants to use stem cells to cure spinal cord injuries by injecting stem cells. As of right now this is more of an idea than a plan, but it could definitely be available in the future. Doctors have injected neural stem cells, in hopes of them developing paths to connect the nerve fibers, and stimulating regrowth. So far patients have only shown small improvements, but with more research there could be a great impact. Regardless, the future of stem cells, and what they're capable of is looking
Science can be described as the pursuit of innovation, advancement and opportunity. Stem cells have offered scientists and the world a new doorway to treat diseases and help millions. The major, significant discovery of stem cells is their ability to differentiate into any cell type which can help rebuild damaged organs. One thing for certain is that these cells brought huge controversies over their uses, how scientists should obtain them, and if the embryos should be used at all on the basis that they should be held on the same morals as humans. Although with these monumental issues at hand, researchers have not given up hope that one day these stem cells will be widely accepted and be used for the benefit of the people.