Debate Rages Over Stem Cell Research

The main controversy over the ethics of this issue is sparked by the advantages and disadvantages between embryonic and adult stem cells. It is said that embryonic stem cells can be manipulated by scientists through cell division into any type of cell in the human body. Adult stem cells, on the other hand, are limited because they have trouble transforming into cells different of their cell origin. It is also more difficult to isolate adult stem cells from mature tissue, making collection of cells take longer. This is a great challenge to scientists because a large amount of stem cells are needed in order for a successful replacement to occur (http://stemcells.nih.gov ). Thus a question of serious debate is generated: do scientist choose the scientific method of stem cell replacement that is currently the most effective or choose the method with no ethical baggage. It is up to one’s personal opinion to decide what is more important: an embryo or a more intricate adult life. I believe that saving sick people and researching cures is more important than saving embryos. The government should continue to provide funding for stem cell research. Research on embryonic and adult stem cells should be done simultaneously in order to compare their success. It is very possible that while embryonic stem cell injections are saving lives, scientists find adult stem cell injections that are just as effective. I do think that if an alternative to embryonic stem cell destruction is available and is as effective it should be used instead. It is amazing how far we have come through medical research and how many lives have been saved because of new discoveries and I do not think this should ever be discontinued.

Maura: I agree that there are many touching stories on the Internet about how people’s lives have been saved because of stem cell injections. I can't imagine discontinuing funding for this research. Even though it is not perfect yet I think we as a society are on our way to finding very important cures.

Maura, if you will take the time to read the footnotes on stem cell research, you will find that ALL of the successful stem cell therapies have been based on using the patient's own stem cells, not the "embryonic (lethal) cells".

You see, the reason is simple. Your own body will fully accept your own cells, but it will usually react strongly against injecting the stem cells from embryos and others into your body, unless they are a perfect match.

The ONLY reason "embryonic (lethal) stem cells" have been promoted is because the DRUG COMPANIES want to PATENT those cells and MAKE BILLIONS of dollars from us! They cannot make much money when doctors take your own stem cells, grow them, and then inject them back into your body for your body to heal itself! The drug companies cannot patent YOUR cells, but they want to patent the cells taken from human embryos, so they can make their fortunes from the dead!

More information at:
www.stemcellresearchfacts.com

I believe the United States government should start Stem Cell Research funding immediately in order to improve our chances of discovering new medical ideas and vaccinations. With these new medical ideas and vaccinations, improvements can be made in social programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Stem Cell Research poses a lot of benefits toward society. Scientists have begun researching stem cells that believe can lead to cures for diseases such as sickle cell anemia, bone cancer, blood diseases, and immune disorders (Lenzer). Programs like the United States Army have began funding in Cell Research because they believe that stem cells can lead to the development of new organs (Dolan). The U.S. Army began this process by hiring tissue engineers to research stem cells in hopes of finding away to develop new tissue and returning lost limbs and organs to many soldiers that have suffered over the years (Dolan). As for the United States Government, President Obama and his staff have been making improvements in Stem Cell Research as well. During the first couple months of his presidency, Obama lifted the ban on Federal funding for stem cell research (Stein). Obama heavily supports Stem Cell research because he too believes that the benefits out weigh the disadvantages (Stein).
However, there are many people in the world that oppose Stem Cell research because they believe it can lead to the destruction of human embryos or the cloning of humans. I agree that these issues are concerns but scientists have began adopting ways in which human embryo destruction can be avoided. Scientists have begun inserted genes into patients with muscular atrophy and after a few weeks they converted these cells into embryos, but they did not use a single embryo in this process. Since scientists have proven that they do not have to use human embryos in order to perform Stem Cell research, I believe more people should be supporting this issue. I believe the only disadvantage to Stem Cell Research is the fact that it will cost a lot of money to perform research and testing. Many tax will be sent and some might be wasted but if a cure is found it would save a lot of money in the future plus save the lives of many Americans.
Stem Cell Research can also be carried out with the use of animals. Scientists and researchers have extracted embryos from pigs and dogs in search for medical improvements. Since insulin is extracted from pigs in order to help regulate diabetes, Scientists believe that pig stem cell research might lead to vaccinations and/or improvements in diabetic patients. With this in mind, human embryos would not have to be tampered with because we are using animal stem cells.
As for all the research I have done, I believe stem cell research should be carried out and that government funding should be provided. I believe it would be crazy to pass on this opportunity because who knows what we could discover and the number of lives it could save.

With every debate there are two opposing sides. Many people believe one side is right because it is benefiting others while a great number of other people believe that the opposite belief is the correct way to be thinking because it is what is best for them. It may appear that some state, or even national, issues are analyzed, discussed, and then debated multiple times. One of these debates is in regards to stem cell research and whether it is worth the time and money that it is costing the nation. Although there are many ethical controversies that go along with stem cell research, it is well worth all of the efforts and overrides the negative aspects that come along with it. Just the thought of all the diseases it could potentially cure and all the lives that could be saved should be enough reasons to why it is a good investment. Due to these beneficial qualities, stem cell research should be permitted in today’s society.
Studying stem cells allows scientists to learn about the cells’ properties and what makes them so different. Stem cells have the capability to grow into different cell types that exist throughout the body during both their early life and development.“Scientists are already using stem cells in the laboratory to screen new drugs and to develop model systems to study normal growth and identify the causes of birth defects.”(In Stem Cell Information). Studies have shown scientists who have performed on human embryonic stem cells, to believe these are for reproductive purposes only, which would be through in-vitro fertilization procedures. When the embryos are no longer needed they are donated for research with permission from a donor (In Stem Cell Information).
Stem cell research is the best way to find cures for diseases because they are extremely versatile. Some people say it is killing a life, but in reality, it will end up saving more lives than people can even realize. An example of how stem cell research has helped people is the cure for diabetes. Stem cell transplants have been tested on twenty patients who have type-one diabetes. The result was that the patients were allowed to stop the use of their insulin shots from up to a couple of months to five years. If research continues, the result could be a permanent cure (Eliza Strickland). Besides diabetes, other diseases that could benefit from stem cell research are Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, heart disease, vision and hearing loss, and Parkinson’s disease (In Stem Cell Information).
Stem cell research is also a money-consuming process, which is another reason for the delays when trying to pursue stem cell research (Shamoo and Resnik). Being in a situation where either a relative or friend has a disease that could only be cured by using the findings from stem cell research, money would not be seen as an issue anymore. Erica Nader, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a car accident; used stem cells from her nose and implanted in her spinal cord at the time of the accident. Three years later she received the feeling back in her body and is slowly recovering, being able to walk with leg braces (lifesitenews.com ). This exemplifies the power stem cells have. Without the money that was put towards the research of stem cells, Erica would most likely still have no feeling in her lower body whatsoever. Saving someone’s life is definitely worth the money that is needed to further our understanding of science.
Stem cell research would be helping instead of hurting. Although cells are used for the research, it is not harming anyone who is living. The potential results from stem cell research are remarkable to think about what it could accomplish, and the only way for scientists to be able to continue to find more cures is through the use of stem cell research. Stem cell research is an extremely beneficial use for finding cures for diseases, which in the long run will be saving numerous lives.

I completely agree that until a new technique is found, stem cell research should be able to be in effect. It is curing so many diseases and saving so many lives, that it would be unethical to discontinue the research.

Both of your postings agree that stem cells can help humans in many ways! LIke treating diabetes or heart disease along with so many more benefits. Also Carlonie you made a good comment asking is killing one life for many saving others okay?

Schreck09: I agree that stem cell research should continue to be funded by the government even though it is pricy. I liked that you mentioned alternatives to embryonic stem cell research. If we can find ways around the destruction of embryos (maybe through the use of animal stem cells) we can avoid all the controversy.

After researching both sides of the stem cell debate, I have come to realize that stem cell research using adult stem cells has made incredible advances that are being overlooked. The popular media has overlooked the cures that are being made through using adult stem cells in order to push the legalization of embryonic stem cell research. In the past few years, researchers, scientists, and the media have tried to push away discussions regarding the morals and human worth of the embryo. As Fr. Ted Pacholczyk said,“There is a hesitation to acknowledge the very simple and basic biological truth that each of us was once an embryo and that embryos are already members of the human race, members of the human family, deserving of full and unconditional protection.” In other words, embryonic stem-cell research that intends on destroying innocent human lives is immoral and cannot be justified.
Scientists believe that we must legalize embryonic stem cell research along with adult stem cells because only certain diseases could be cured by embryos. I disagree and believe that this research of embryos should only be done on animals, never on innocent lives. Scientists need to find out whether certain diseases really cannot be cured from adult stem cell research first and then proceed to use other routes. These other routes should only be from miscarried fetuses.
The media needs to look into the amazing advances being made in adult stem cell research. The public should be reminded that not one disease has been cured by using embryonic stem cells. In contrast, thousands of people have been cured of countless ailments using adult stem cells. A few examples: One woman who had leukemia while she was pregnant decided to wait to be treated until she delivered her child. They were able to isolate stem cells from her daughter's umbilical cord and introduce them into the mother to cure her leukemia.”(Fr. Ted Pacholczyk)“The bubble boy syndrome that we are all familiar with, where children are born without an immune system, can be cured by a stem-cell transplant, by a bone marrow stem-cell transplant (Fr. Ted Pacholczyk).”“There is another amazing story about an 11-year-old black boy named Keone Penn who was born with sickle cell anemia. He was cured using an umbilical cord stem-cell transplant. Following the transplant, his blood type changed from one type to another, and he is now considered cured of the disease”(Fr. Ted Pacholczyk).
In conclusion, I argue that the public needs to be further informed of the great advances and ailments cured by adult stem cells. The public needs to realize because of the hype surrounding embryonic stem cells, they are being falsely informed that to achieve cures they must kill an innocent life through embryonic stem cells.

Pattonc2: I understand that you are against killing an embryo stem cell, but I don't understand you're stance exactly. Are you saying that scientists should use miscarried fetuses to cure diseases, and if so is that possible? Also, how does using stem cell research on animals differ from humans?

Pattonc2: I can easily see and agree with what you are saying here. One thing you need to know though is that there has been far more studies done on adult stem cells then there has been on embryonic stem cells. There are also laws that have but placed to keep scientist from "producing" more embryonic stem cells and it was not until this current year that there was government funding available to study embryonic stem cells. With this knowledge, it is easy to see why there has been greater advances with adult stem cells then with embryonic stem cells. I am not saying that i support embryonic stem cell research but i felt this needed to be mentioned.

Not to mention the work that can be done with placental stem cells.

I totally agree with Pattonc2. I believe Stem Cell Research should be carried out because it can help fight some diseases. Also, scientists have proven that embryonic stem cells can be used without the destruction of a human embryo like Pattonc2 said so I agree that more research should be done by using these cells off the baby after it is born