...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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...Jean-Marie Lux Biology 121 Stem Cell Research Paper September 12, 2012 Stem cell research is a relatively new field and has made huge advances in the past fifty years. The idea of stem cells was first made public by a Russian-American Scientist named Alexander Maksimov in 1908. However it was not until 1963 that two Canadian Scientists were able to actually demonstrate the existence of self-renewing cells found in the bone marrow of mice. The Scientists were James E. Till and Ernest A. McCulloch. So although Maksimov was the first person who put the idea of stem cells out there, it is really Till and McCulloch who are credited with proving that stems cells actually existed. Since Till and McCulloch, many Scientist have contributed to the huge advances in stem cell research. In 1968, the first successful bone marrow transplant was conducted on two siblings suffering from Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), a primary immune deficiency which typically results in the onset of one or more serious infections within the first few months of life. These infections are usually serious, and may even be life threatening. In 1978, the presence of Haematopoietic stem cells were discovered in human cord blood cells. Haematopoietic stem cells, are multipotent stem cells that give rise to all the blood cell types. In 1981, Scientist were able to derive embryonic stem cells from mice. One of the biggest advancements in all stem cell research came in 1997 when a link between...
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...SBI4U ISP Part II: Genetic Technology Research Paper Embryonic Stem Cell Use Abstract: Researchers discovered that embryonic stem cells could be originated from early human embryos. This discovery has raised a series of ethical and public-policy questions that are now being confronted by multiple international organizations, nations, cultures, and religious traditions. This essay surveys policies for human embryonic stem cell research in four regions of the world, reports on the recent debate at the United Nations about one type of such research, and reviews the positions that various religious traditions have adopted regarding this novel type of research. In several instances the religious traditions seem to have influenced the public-policy debates. There are many ways in which human stem cells can be used in research and the clinic. Studies of the medical use of Embyonic Stem cells will yield information about the complex events that occur during human development. A primary goal of this work is to identify how undifferentiated stem cells become the differentiated cells that form the tissues and organs. Scientists know that turning genes on and off is central to this process. Some of the most serious medical conditions, such as cancer and birth defects, are due to abnormal cell division and differentiation. A more complete understanding of the genetic and molecular controls of these processes may yield information about how such diseases arise and suggest new strategies...
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...July 5, 1996, Dolly, a domestic sheep, was born at the Roslin Institute, a research center in Scotland. The birth, however, was far from normal. Dolly had been produced by cloning methods and was born to a surrogate mother (“Cloning Fact Sheet”). The methods used to clone Dolly were once considered to be biologically impossible (Wilmut and Highfield 12). Thus, once Dolly’s birth was announced to the rest of the world, an immediate debate over the ethics of cloning began. In particular, reproductive cloning was widely discussed because it could possibly be accomplished through somatic cell nuclear transfer to clone entire humans (“Cloning Fact Sheet”). For medical, social, religious, and political reasons, there are both proponents and opponents of reproductive human cloning and its ethics. Currently, the best way to deal with reproductive cloning is to ban its use because there are many negative consequences that could arise from using cloning technology. There are two different types of human cloning: therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning. The goal of the former is to obtain stem cells from embryos that can be used to study the growth of the human body and to find possible cures and treatments for various diseases (“Cloning Fact Sheet”). The purpose of the latter, on the other hand, is to create a whole human being through cloning. Specifically, reproductive cloning is done using somatic cell nuclear transfer and can theoretically produce a human that has the same exact...
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...According to the National Institutes of Health, human embryonic stem cells are derived from an embryo, a fertilized egg. Shortly after an egg is fertilized, it begins to divide until eventually it becomes a ball-like shape called a blastocyst that consists of roughly one thousand cells. The blastocyst is made up of three parts: outer cells that keep everything together, an inner mass of cells that will eventually develop into an organism, and fluid that disperses itself within the blastocyst (4). At this stage, the inner mass of cells are not specialized yet meaning they have the potential to turn into anything in the body. These cells are what are known as human embryonic stem cells. Currently, embryonic stem cells are apart of a clinical trial to treat patients with Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy, a disease inherited at an early age that ultimately results in legal blindness (5). To correct the disease, embryonic stem cells are injected into the eyes of patients in the hopes they will eventually replace the cells that are altering the vision. Mdsupport.org reports that the embryonic stem cells have shown encouraging signs of hope. In addition to embryonic stem cells there are also adult stem cells. Similarly to embryonic stem cells, they are able to transform into more than one type of cell, but adult stem cells are much more limited in what they can become (1). Adult stem cells have been found in numerous regions of the body in different organs and tissues. For example...
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...Johnathan Bailey Ethical Thinking in the Liberal Arts Grand Canyon University Intellectual Property assignment The main points of the article is that protecting intellectual property is highly important in this information age. The reasons happen to be that people steal information all the times from others, use this information as their own, patent it, even though it wasn't theres. I feel that its important for inventors or just every day people to protect what they make, people happen to be very shifty in this society, everyone is out to gain a dollar, but some people happen to be so ruthless that they will steal at all costs, and may even try to destroy the original proprietor from making any gain at all. The right of the property is based on the rights of the owner and happen to be granted in various markets. Intellectual property is a valid way to protect inventors, musicians, painters so that they can share their work with the world. I feel that people make they deserve to absolute protection over their achievements. The common types of copyrights that happen to be protected happen under intellectual property, happen to be trade marks, patents, industrial design rights and trade secrets. The ideas that happen to be valid is that protection of intellectual property is important, that any one who invents something needs to patent it correctly, and that is why intellectual property is protected in America, by the American invents act. This is good for...
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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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...The Trials of Stem Cell Therapy Stem Cells: Plenty of Hope, but Halting Progress By KAREN WEINTRAUBSEPT. 15, 2014 Photo Embryonic stem cells, from a woman with Type 1 diabetes, were induced to turn into insulin-making beta cells, in hopes they could be implanted to cure the disease. Credit Bjarki Johannesson/New York Stem Cell Foundation, via Reuters Edgar Irastorza was just 31 when his heart stopped beating in October 2008. A Miami property manager, break-dancer and former high school wrestler, Mr. Irastorza had recently gained weight as his wife’s third pregnancy progressed. “I kind of got pregnant, too,” he said. During a workout one day, he felt short of breath and insisted that friends rush him to the hospital. Minutes later, his pulse flatlined. He survived the heart attack, but the scar tissue that resulted cut his heart’s pumping ability by a third. He couldn’t pick up his children. He couldn’t dance. He fell asleep every night wondering if he would wake up in the morning. Desperation motivated Mr. Irastorza to volunteer for a highly unusual medical research trial: getting stem cells injected directly into his heart. “I just trusted my doctors and the science behind it, and said, ‘This is my only chance,’ ” he said recently. Over the last five years, by studying stem cells in lab dishes, test animals and intrepid patients like Mr. Irastorza, researchers have brought the vague, grandiose promises of stem cell therapies closer to reality. Photo Edgar...
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...Stem Cell Research Paper Stem Cell Research Paper Human Biology The human body is capable of many miraculous feats. Every hour, every minute, every second, millions of cells are working to maintain homeostasis within the body. This paper is going to focus on one type of cell in particular, the stem cell. The properties of this little cell are amazing. These unique cells self-regenerate through cell division, and in addition to being unspecialized, have the ability to develop into many different specialized cells of the body. Numerous studies have shown the potential of stem cells to cure cancers, as well as slow or reverse the damages of some neurological disorders, yet stem cell researchers have met with both public and legal resistance during their attempts to show the incredible usefulness of these cells. Therefore, the question is, with stem cell research showing the potential to reverse the damage from or slow the progression of neurological disorders, and possible cures for cancer and other diseases and disorders are the possible benefits too much to ignore? The ability to self-regenerate is one the things that makes the stem cell such an appealing area to study. Most cells and organs in the body do not have the ability to self-regenerate, nor self-repair but stem cells can do both. Stem cells themselves are unspecialized, in that they have so special function (Stem Cell Basics, 2009). Part of the beauty of the stem cell is that through cellular...
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...Technology Integration: Stem Cell Research HCS/578 May 26, 2012 Linda Bell JD, BSN, RN Technology Integration: Stem Cell Research Stems cells are the building blocks of the human body. Stems cells are valuable because of their capability to develop into other cell types. Studies have been conducted that suggest that stem cell could be used to repair or regenerate damaged organs or tissues and treat an assortment of medical diseases, such as diabetes, or Alzheimer’s along with the development of new medications. Three types of stems cells exist embryonic, adult, and foetal, which are found in human tissue and animals. This paper will highlight ethical dilemmas of stem cell research. It will also stress the effects stem cell research has on global health. The paper will also feature health policies on stem cell research in the United States and how these policies differ from international policies. Ethical Dilemmas Posed by Stem Cell Research Several ethical issues need to be considered on the use of this type of research, such as the safety, legality, and morality of stem cell research. Stem cell research requires the general population to pick among two moral principles. The first one is the obligation of preventing and alleviating suffering and the obligation to respect and value human life. The use of embryos for stem cells research results in “...the destruction of blastocysts formed from laboratory-fertilized human eggs” (Mukhopadhyay, Tokas, & Mathur...
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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 and therapy Stephanie Reeves Rasmussen College Author Note This paper is being submitted on August 3, 2014, for Ellen Doyles’ Human Biology course. Stem cell research and therapy Stem cell research has great significance for medical use. They have the ability to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. They can also serve as a repair system to many tissues, by dividing without limitation to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. Stem cells are the body’s raw materials. Stem cell research has created quite the controversy and has been a topic of debate for over a decade. There are 3 types of stem cells that are currently being used in stem cell research and therapies; Embryotic, Adult, and induced pluripotent stem cells. There are a few characteristics that differ between these types of stem cells Embryotic stem cells can become all cell types of the body because they are pluripotent, and can be grown relatively easy in culture. Adult stem cells are thought to be limited to differentiating into different cell types of their tissue origin, and are rare in mature tissues which makes it difficult to isolate these cells in adult tissue, and methods to expand their numbers in cell culture has not been worked out as of today. Induced pluripotent stem cells are adult cells that have been genetically altered to have properties of embryonic stem cells. ...
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...Stem cell A stem cell is essentially a “blank” cell, capable of becoming another more differentiated cell type in the body, such as a skin cell, a muscle cell, or a nerve cell. Microscopic in size, stem cells are big news in medical and science circles because they can be used to replace or even heal damaged tissues and cells in the body. They can serve as a built-in repair system for the human body, replenishing other cells as long as a person is still alive. Adult stem cells are a “natural” solution. They naturally exist in our bodies, and they provide a natural repair mechanism for many tissues of our bodies. They belong in the microenvironment of an adult body, while embryonic stem cells belong in the microenvironment of the early embryo, not in an adult body, where they tend to cause tumors and immune system reactions. Most importantly, adult stem cells have already been successfully used in human therapies for many years. As of this moment, no therapies in humans have ever been successfully carried out using embryonic stem cells. New therapies using adult type stem cells, on the other hand, are being developed all the time. Significance of the Study Stem cell therapy is a potential treatment for spinal cord injury and different stem cell types has been grafted into animal models and humans suffering from spinal trauma. Due to inconsistent results, it is still an important and clinically relevant question which stem cell type will prove to be therapeutically effective...
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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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...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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