The Heated Debate Concerning Stem Cell Research

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Stem Cell Research Should stem cell research be allowed? Stem cell research has been a major biological breakthrough in recent years. It has great potential to help people and ease suffering. But there is also a moral question raised about stem cell research, and that comes from the source of stem cells. Ever since Stem Cell research started, there has been much debate over whether or not it should be allowed. Some people are completely against stem cell research because the stem cells are often taken from aborted pregnancies, they consider it murder. While others want stem cell research to continue because it can help ease people's suffering and cure disease. There are already certain restrictions (in many countries) on much of the research and it is unclear if these restrictions will be lifted. Stem cells have the ability to divide rapidly. These cells are unspecialized or 'blank' cells meaning they have no purpose as of yet, under the right conditions they can become cells with special functions like heart or liver cells. This means stem cells could repair diseased or damaged organs. So for example if part of a mouse's spine was removed stem cells could be put in its place and under the right conditions form the missing part of the spine. The stem cells would become spine cells. Stem cells can be extracted from adults and umbilical cords after a child is born, but are usually taken from embryos or tissue from aborted pregnancies (before the first trimester). Embryonic stem cells are of corse taken from human embryos. It is also possible to clone embryonic stem cells but this is banned in Australia and the USA. After years exp... ... middle of paper ... ...52566f2006d63bb/1e21de619cde0fe685256ac20076b9e2?OpenDocument Last modified March 18, 2004. Stem Cell Information http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp March 22, 2000 JDRF Issues New Stem Cell Research Q&A http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=65A091EC-DE4F-4696-8C3E40493A4101E8 Thursday, 11 April 2002 Stem Cells http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s528800.htm#transcript Friday, 21 September, 2001 Australiaedges forward on stem cells http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1555914.stm Dr Maurice Rickard 12November2002 Key Ethical Issues in Embryonic Stem Cell Research http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/CIB/2002-03/03cib05.pdf By Patrick McCloskey O.F.M Is Stem-Cell Research Moral?http://www.americancatholic.org/News/StemCell/ask_stemcell.a

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