The Debate Concerning Embryonic Stem Cell Research

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.

The great discovery in 1998 when scientists found that they had isolated the embryonic stem cell was the discovery that gave a promise to cute many diseases. However, there many ethical and religious controversies which have limited the further discovery of stem cell research. There are so many techniques that can be used to treat, cure, or prevent certain diseases. One of the techniques used in stem cell research uses embryonic stem cells. For embryonic stem cell research the technique used involves going into a several days old embryo called a blastocyst, take out the inner cell mass to get at the stem cells.

At the same time, the ethical issues that embryonic stem cells raise are extremely important. In order to cure diseases that are affecting hundreds of thousands of people, the people that do not support stem cell research need to look past the ethics so scientists and researchers can conduct embryonic stem cell research to find a cure for these diseases. One of the main ethical issues that seems to concern everyone is the question of whether an embryo is considered a person or not. Various religious groups are against the extraction of embryonic stem cells from human embryos. This is due to their belief that life is sacred from the moment of concepti... ... middle of paper ... ...rcures.org/article.php?uid=1000>.

Embryonic stem cells work to help cure diseases because of the fact that they can turn into any cell type the body needs. Scientists can manipulate embryonic stem cells into the cells that their patients need. The major questions regarding stem cell research are is it morally permissible to destroy an embryo in search of cures of diseases? Those who are against embryonic stem cell research would argue that stem cell research destroys a potential human life. On the other hand, those who are for stem cell research would argue that genetic tests and stem cell research can help detect and find cures for diseases that as of right now have no cures.

19 Apr. 2011. "What Are Embryonic Stem Cells? [Stem Cell Information]." NIH Stem Cell Information Home Page.

Stem Cell Ethics The study of stem cells have brought about many recent ethical questions and been a topic in many recent ethical debates. What is all the talk about? What exactly is stem cell research and why does it raise so many ethical questions? Stem cell research is on the forefront of regenerative medicine and biological science. It is the study of certain cells in the inner mass of the embryo that are produced a few days after the embryo forms during the blastocyst stage.

Should Stem Cell Research be prohibited? The ongoing bioethical controversy of stem cells research has been debated in political arenas across the world. As with any debate there are two sides to the issue. Scientific researchers want to expand their research into emerging fields like stem cell research in hopes of bettering medicine for the future. Human right activists and some religious groups are against this type of research because the harvesting of stem cells from embryos is seen as the destruction of human life.

Embryonic stem cells research is a very conflicting subject in the United States. Some people think that it is morally and religiously incorrect as they are killing a human life at the first stage of life. While some think it is ok because the human life to them starts at the fetus or when the fetus can feel pain. In this paper we are going to discuss the total aspect of embryonic stem cell research: how the government takes play in the study of embryonic stem cells, how embryonic stem cells have help out people so far, and what are embryonic stem cells. Hopefully with this research we will have a better understanding of embryonic stem cells and why some people may benefit from it, as it may help to cure some diseases.

Embryonic stem cell research is a highly debated and a very controversial topic in the United States. There is a plentiful amount of benefits that could come from it. With stem cells researched we could make the lives of people who have illnesses and diseases sufficiently better. However the way you get stem cells is the most controversial part. In order to get them it requires the destruction of the human embryo.

Many diseases in the world today that don't have cures, however the people inflicted with the diseases desperately need cures. Many radical scientific experiments have been used in the past to try and help cure these diseases, but it is very hard for scientists to find cures without trying new kinds of experimentation. Science is an area that's ideas are often considered to be unethical. One of the most controversial experiments is stem cell research. The reason stem cell research is so controversial is because it is said that research plays with human life which many consider unethical.