...CLAIM: President Bush’s veto of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act in July of 2006 was a proportional reaction to the expanding influence of conservative political ideology and religious fundamentalism throughout America. VARIABLES: My independent variables are conservative political ideology and religious fundamentalism. My dependant variable is President Bush’s 2006 veto of the Stem Cell Enhancement Act, also known as the H.R. 810 Bill. EXPECTATIONS: I expect to find overwhelming and convincing evidence to corroborate my assertion that the expanding influence of conservative political ideology and religious fundamentalism in America are the two most profound independent variables to affect President Bush’s 2006 veto of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. I also expect to obtain convincing evidence that political conservatism and religiosity have an interactive effect on the public attitude towards stem cell research which directly influences federal policy concerning this controversial issue. It is my contention that the preponderance of evidence will confirm my theory that as the level of conservatism and religious zeal rises; the public support and enthusiasm for stem cell research will wane proportionally, resulting in federal policies that continue to be restrictive and obtuse. EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS THE CLAIM: With the advent of technology and subsequent advances in human stem cell research, the scientific and medical communities were inspired...
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...world in science and technology. American technology has produced advances in many areas of medicine. As this medical research continues, there has controversy between advancing medicine through testing and preserving life. In the United States and around the world, there have been debates and laws created which demonstrate the controversy in stem cell research. One of the main debates is that stem research can be used to discover cures for illness. Many experts believe stem cell research can be used to help against diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer (Lacayo, 2001). However, many people worry that stem cell research will be used for unethical purposes such as human cloning. They also argue that money from the government should not be used to destroy a human embryo. In the United States and around the world there have been many laws regarding stem cell research. President Bush was the first President that made funds available for stem cell research. (Bush, 2007). According to the National Institute of Health, a government biomedical research organization, President George W Bush announced in August, 2001 a policy which advances stem cell research. Federal funds may be used for research on human embryonic stem cells if the following three requirements are met: 1) the destruction of the embryo must be prior to August 9, 2001, 2) stem cells were removed from embryo for the purpose of reproduction, which “was no longer needed.” 3) the donor had informed consent...
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...Stem Cell Research Legislation Human stem cell research is a very touchy subject. The negative attention it has drawn from the press and politicians has detoured many researchers and scientists from the field. “After the scientific and political obstacles are overcome, it is anticipated that the human stem cell research field will make a tremendous difference in conditions, such as burn traumas and diabetic foot ulcers, as well as a number of degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and myocardial infarction(Turksen, 2006).” In my opinion, the field of regenerative medicine is the key to a longer, healthier life. Without the use of human stem cell research, the conditions and diseases that plague the world will never be cured. The history on human stem cell research legislation in the United States is just under a decade old. On August 9th 2001, then, President George W. Bush told the United States the regulations for human stem cell research. The regulation stated that only certain types of human stem cell research could be funded by the federal government. “The National Institute of Health (NIH) funding for research using human embryonic stem cells derived from other sources, including somatic cell nuclear transfer, parthenogenesis, and/or in vitro fertilization embryos created for research purposes, is not allowed under these Guidelines ("Draft national institutes," 2009).” Some states disagree with this legislation; California...
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...Stem Cell Research Legislation Stem Cell Research Legislation In the United States, people have many rights and freedoms that are respected by the Federal Government. As stated in Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau: “There will never be a truly free and enlightened state until the state comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power” (225). In the goal to make America a truly free and enlightened state, laws have been enacted to preserve individual rights. With the furthering of medical science, the issue of individual rights vs. government regulation has been raised many times, and the right of the individual has always been held in the highest regard. This is why our government should both legalize and fund embryonic stem cell research. Stem cell laws in the United States have had a complicated legal history. When you look at the government’s power over our individual bodies, one may ask why the government has any power at all. If the majority of the public were to decide what each individual should do in every aspect of their life, our democratic system would be nullified. Our laws are written to recognize individuals’ capability to make their own decisions. We have the right to donate our organs, and that it is our choice. We have the right to donate our entire bodies to science postmortem, and that is our choice. Couples have the right to donate their eggs and sperm for in-vitro fertilization of another couple, and that is their choice...
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...Devry University | The Social Implications of Stem Cell Research | How Stem Cell Science Affects Society | | David Gaudette | 4/9/2010 | For the sake of clarification, I will use a general definition of stem cell research for the basis of this paper. From the journals, books, and academic articles I have read in order to gather the information needed to write about this subject, I have come to the conclusion that the general purpose of stem cell research is to further the understanding of stem cells in order to develop ways to grow or modify them for medical purposes in which to reduce the suffering of people with disabling diseases or conditions. | David Gaudette Humanities 432 Burke Bowden March 28, 2010 Social Implications of Stem Cell Research The topic of stem cell research has always been scrutinized and hotly debated regarding the legal, ethical, and social implications that are associated with the studies and research methods being performed by scientists around the world. The purpose of this paper is to look closely at the social implications of stem cell research, and briefly explain and identify the effects it has on society and culture. The scientific study of stem cells has affected people in many different ways. There are various treatments and therapies derived from stem cell research that have changed the lives of many people around the world. For example, due to the continuing efforts of the scientific community, patients with disabling...
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...Stem Cell Research Embryonic stem cell research dates as far back as the early 1900’s when scientists discovered that certain cells could produce more cells in both animals and humans. In 1961, two scientists, Dr. James Till and Dr. Ernest McCulloch, proved the existence of cells that can “self-renew repeatedly for various uses.” (“Stem cell history,” 2011). Stem cells are an important element to medical research. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, “there are four primary sources for embryonic stem cells: existing stem cell lines, aborted or miscarried embryos, unused in vitro fertilized embryos, and cloned embryos.” (2008). In order to extract stem cells found within an embryo, the embryo will be destroyed in the removal process. This is where the ethical and funding debates come in to play. The debate over embryonic stem cell research is politically divided among Democrats and Republicans. As history has shown, Democrats seem to be more supportive of expanding the research as a whole, while Republicans are only supportive of expanding the research as long as it does not involve destroying or harming human embryos. The first time the U.S. government and Department of Health and Human Services placed a ban on researching embryos was after the famous 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade that allowed private abortions. The government was worried about the aborted fetuses becoming exploited for research purposes, so they temporarily suspended...
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...Is Stem Cell Research Ethical? Reginald Lawrence Is it ethical for stem cells for the advancement of medical research? In the 1800s it was discovered certain cells could generate other cells. The 1900s brought upon more research in using stem cells. The ethical issue surrounding embryonic stem cells research arises because human embryos are destroyed in the process. I believe that the benefits outweigh the negatives and that a greater good can come out of using embryonic stem cells. The treatment of diseases and illnesses continually grows and improves. Embryonic stem cells have the potential to help rectify or even cure disease and illnesses that are thought to be incurable. However, the ethical battle over the sanctity of life rages on. Stem cells can be compared to the building blocks of the human body. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, they can develop into any other type of cell in the body. They are extracted from a cell before they differentiate. They have the capacity to make any of the 200 different cells in the body and can also self-renew or reproduce themselves. Currently, there are 89 stem cell lines, a family of constantly dividing cells, registered with the National Institute of Health (NIH). The first line was discovered in 1998. In 1996 Congress passed the Dickey-Wicker Amendment, which put restrictions on federally funding embryonic stem cell research if the embryo was created to be destroyed. In 2001, President Bush implemented guidelines to...
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...The history of stem cell research on humans in the United States began in the 1960’s, first achieving success in the treatment of patient with severe combined immunodeficiency disorder in 1968. Since the early 1970's, adult stem cells have been successfully used for treatment of immunodeficiency and leukemia. Since the discovery, the ethics of human embryonic stem cells have been debated. As the ongoing controversy over human embryonic stem cells persists, we continue to look for alternative means of acquiring similar task-performing cells. However, many people believe embryonic stem cell research is unethical as they believe life is being taken away in the process. There are a range of opinions about human embryonic stem cell research in the community. The overwhelming issue for most people opposed to embryonic stem cell research is that obtaining inner mass cells inevitably leads to the destruction of the embryo. For those that view a fertilized egg as a human life this is most distressing, others consider the blast cyst nothing more than a ball of cells with the potential to become a human. Debate on this issue is essential. The issue of stem cell research, particularly embryonic stem cell research, became a high-profile political issue in the U.S. during the first year of President George W. Bush's term in office (2001). On August 9, 2001, Bush enacted a ban on federal spending for the purpose of deriving new embryonic stem cells from fertilized embryos. He argued that performing...
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...may have heard of stem cell research. Embryonic stem cells have the amazing ability to theoretically grow back any body part. They have the potential to morph into any of the 220 cell types found in the body (Robinson 1). It has the restoration power capable of reestablishing functions of the body as well, such as eyesight. The drawback to stem cell research is that it requires baby fetuses to acquire the material. Stem cells differ from other cells in the body, as they are capable of dividing and rebuilding themselves for long durations of time. This is unlike muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cells. They are not able to replicate themselves, while stem cells can do it many times. This means that if stem cells are kept in a laboratory over a long period of time, they can yield many other stem cells. Another property of stem cells is that they are unspecialized, meaning that they do not help with anything in the body. For example, they are not able to help the heart pump blood in the body. However, stem cells can become heart muscle cells and blood cells, which could do that function. A third property of stem cells is that they become specialized cells. This is called differentiation, when the stem cell morphs into a cell that will have a specific function in the body (Robinson 1). In the last five years, China has increased its research funding greatly in the field of stem cell research. They have been focusing mainly on bone marrow and embryonic stem cells. China has already...
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...WEEK 6: Stem Cell Research Legislation Course Project Abstract Stem cell research while very important in the medical field has and continues to be a source of controversy. Over the years legislation in the United States has gone back and forth over what is deemed acceptable and ethical as it pertains to this research. Due to recent legislation the ability exists to realize the potential of this research both in the United States and globally. It would be in the best interest of humankind for this research to continue with allowance and funding from the government. According to the National Institutes of Health Resource for Stem Cell Research: Stem cells have the potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. Stem cells are distinguished from other cell types by two important characteristics. First, they are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, sometimes after long periods of inactivity. Second, under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions. Given their unique regenerative abilities, stem cells offer new potentials for treating diseases such as diabetes, and heart disease. (n.d.) Although these cells have these unique capabilities to possibly save lives, they are also the center of much controversy surrounding their usage. The debate on the ethicality...
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...Stem Cell Research Essay Stem Cell research is a highly controversial topic in the world of science. Many people disagree with and oppose the research because of their belief that the research is unethical. The laws regarding the research of Stem cells vary from country to country. Many countries have very strict laws on the research and some have completely banned it. There are many organizations and scientists that are pushing for the research and study of the stem cells. These viewpoints establish that Stem cells can be very beneficial for human use. There are three main types of stem cells: embryonic, tissue and induced pluripotent (Euro Stem Cell, 2012). Embryonic stem cells are used because they do not have a designated function...
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...Caravelcov Global Health Care Issue The controversial issue of stem cell research has ethical, and moral issues that needs defined as to what can be funded and what cannot be funded. Stem cell research offers insight into some of the most disabling diseases but more research must be completed before the treatments can be used for humans. A controversial issue The stem cell research is controversial because of the ethics concerning the legality of using the cells for research, safety for the consumer, and morally wrong to destroy the embryonic stem cells. Both sides have conflicting...
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...Maffei Stem Cell Research Essay Majority of the general population knows or has heard something in reference to stem cell research, weather it is from magazine articles or news, at some point in our daily lives we’ve heard the term “Stem Cell Research.” Stem cells due to their controversial nature, has seen numerous changes in the legislation governing its research and the types of stem cells – weather it is fetal, cord, embryonic, etc... – The legislation affecting stem cells can determine where the U.S. stands on this ground breaking research. According to Lanza, A simple definition for stem cells is as follows “a stem cell is a cell that has the potential to develop into a number of different types of cells in the body.” (2011). Basically, stem cells are the base of all organs and tissues in the human body, a master cell of some sort. Stems cell, also have the potential be the backbone of many medical breakthroughs in centuries to come, from age prevention to helping with disabilities such as blindness, inability to walk, etc... As mention earlier in this paper there are many types of stem cells, but for purpose of this paper I shall focus on adult & embryonic stem cells. An adult stem cell is an undifferentiated cell that is found amongst differentiated cells in an organ or tissue that processes the ability to renew itself, as well as differentiate into other specialized cell types. By their nature, adult stem cells aren’t as controversial as embryonic stem cells...
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...Stem Cell Research How does a complex organism such as person, develop from a stem cell? Undifferentiated cells which can divide themselves and grow for a long time without becoming any particular type of cell are defined as stem cells. Stem cells are important for life because they can transform themselves into any type of cell. The stem has an cell amazing ability to transform itself have allowed scientist to help replace cells that have been lost or damaged due to injury or trauma. Stem cell research will offer room for advancement in medicine because of the cells remarkable ability to change itself and replace damaged neural cell in the brain and spinal cord. In this paper I am addressing issues on the reasons why I am supporting stem cell research. Stem cell research is a breakthrough in science. It has the potential to cure some of the world’s most incurable diseases. I believe that stem cell research should be used just for medical reasons. Research! America.org supports the funding for stem cell research in both adult and embryonic cell lines. This organization has been diligently working to protect stem cell research at the state and federal levels by partnering up with the Stem Cell Action Coalition and the Coalition for Advancing Medical Research. (Research! America ). Former President George W. Bush permitted federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, providing that a limited number of the damage cells were to be replaced by stem cells. Bush said the...
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...IS STEM CELL RESEARCH ETHICAL? Is Stem Cell Research Ethical? Devry University ENGL 135: Advanced Composition Fall Session B 2011 Is Stem Cell Research Ethical? For about a decade now, stem cell research has been heavily debated across a wide continuum of people who have a stake in this argument whether it is for personal and/or professional reasons. One of the main reasons for this debate stems from the deeply underlying ethics that lie beneath this issue. To some people with religious and politically conservative convictions stem cell research is sometimes described as an act against God; therefore, the question of whether stem cell research is ethical or not becomes highly relevant and debatable (as well as also being highly charged) these days. However, when viewed from a different (and perhaps rational) lens other than a religious one, stem cell research could also be thought of as a miracle treatment. The reasoning in which it is known as a miracle treatment is simple because it would help end some people’s unnecessary pain and suffering. With this research they are finding that stem cells could help those who are struck with diseases such as lupus, arthritis, breast cancer, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and even diabetes, along with the most traumatic medical conditions as well such as a spinal cord injury. These days there are several topics that no one likes to talk about, unless these topics are extremely close to the person that they are discussing...
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