...IS STEM CELL RESEARCH REALLY MURDER? There has been much opposition and debate in the world of stem cell research in the united states and many other countries. So, is stem cell research the key to finding cures for diseases and injuries? It is still unknown in present day medicine and science. In todays society many have viewed stem cell research as a necessity to find out if stem cells may possess properties to cure cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s, and many other serious diseases. While other groups in our society view stem cell research as being morally wrong and should not continue in the world of science. So, what are stem cells? Stem cells are a class of undifferentiated cells that are able to differentiate into specialized cell types (MNT...
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...What is the history of stem call research legislation in the US? How does it compare to the rest of the world? The argument for life is often one that results in two circumstances – either life will go on or life will not. Millions of families are afflicted with diseases and disorders that they would do anything in any lifetime for cures to spare their loved ones. Stem cells through argument of science can cure diseases or help heal individuals who suffer from debilitating conditions such as spinal cord injuries, strokes, heart conditions, and burns to name a few. (Reaves, 2001) The argument for stem cell research proves to be one of both moral hazard and religious conviction. (G.Fischbach, 2004) On the moral side, the idea to use terminated pregnancies in order for gain or just their cells is unfathomable. The religious conviction is that individuals who terminated their pregnancies because of the assumed small value they placed on human life only made these cells available. However, these cells before they form human life are cells that have not generated into existing diseases or degenerative conditions. (NIH, 2009) Stem Cell research can be looked at in many ways, but it personally should be viewed a progression to better lives ruined by diseases and catastrophe, not regression and immoral in the eyes of deities and those superior. In the U.S. states funding for stem cell research was prominent in early part of the 21st century by both members...
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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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...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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...progression of science, there have been many discoveries that deal with life impairing diseases. For example, ability to walk has been given back to an individual who has suffered a spinal cord injury. Stem cell research has opened the doors to science and how it can cure people with like diseases. Some believe that stem cell research is the wave of the future and with it we will be able to eventually cure any disease known to man. Others believe that this type of research is wrong because of the way embryonic stem cells are recovered is incorrect. Stem cell research should be completely funded by the government and mandated; due to the fact it has and could possible be the cure or improve the quality of life of those physical impaired, it establish a greater comprehension on the cause of certain diseases, and last but not least it is ethically correct. With the help of science, people have been cured for spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries remove the possibility of those who once walked from walking. The advancement of stem cell research has shown that by injecting stem cells back into the damaged spinal cord and essentially grows. Stem cells are like clean cells that haven’t found a job yet. By inserting these clean cells into the spinal cord they would start working as a building block where the damage occurred. With the regrowth of the cord, an individual sentenced to life in a wheel chair can walk again. Current research being done is investigating if stem cells can reverse...
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...banned federal funding for any more research into stem cell lines created after that date (August 9, 2001). In 2009, President Barack Obama ended the stem cell ban. Obama said his decision was a “difficult and delicate balance”. He said he wanted to side with the majority of Americans, who did support federal funding for this research. (“Obama reverses Bush-era stem cell policy.” 1) The benefits of this research can lead to new, more effective treatments for human ailments. Stem cell therapy has alleviated the suffering of thousands of people. Unused stem cells are being discarded instead of being used for research. (“Frequently asked questions.” 3) Stem cells are quite resourceful. They can easily be taken from our own bodies and stored just like blood. During radiation or chemotherapy, white and red blood cells can get damaged. These affected cells can easily be replaced with healthy stem cells that adapt. (Pros and cons of stem cell research, 1)The biggest debate about this topic isn’t about whether stem cells work, but who’s going to pay for the research. It’s not a matter of pro-life or pro-choice, it’s pro-science. If my family had the finances for stem cell therapy, we would have made sure that my grandmother was in as little as pain as possible when she was diagnosed with myeloma. No matter what type of injury or disease, cells can easily be replaced with healthy stem cells. (Pros and cons of stem cell research, 1) Stem cells are their own navigators in the body. When an...
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...Business Research Ethics RES/351 August 12, 2013 Stem Cell and Human Cloning Research and Ethics Questions about ethics in research have increased and unethical issues rise from different fields such as Medicine and Science. When the discussion about stem cell and human cloning researches rise for the meaning, “what is life?” the question is simple, but the answer is still unclear. This paper is an overview of the articles about stem cell and human cloning researches that discuss business research ethics and involves ethical and unethical issues. A stem cell is a type of cell found into the body of all human beings, has the capability to reproduce them, and to produce other types of cells such as brain cells, muscle cells, and others. In the New York Times’ article is very clear that the ongoing battle to make this research valid is relentless. This research can be the potential that holds for the future generation and scientists affirms; “stem cells may be used to replace or repair damaged cells, and have the potential to drastically change the treatment of conditions like cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and even paralysis.” (Harris, 2012) However, opponents of embryonic stem cell want the research to be restricted or prohibited entire as inhumane because most researches are done by creating embryonic stem cell from fertilized cells. When the approach is human cloning there is no difference, opponents to the research claim that it is immoral and unethical...
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...The United States is a nation that leads the 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...
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...controversy over using stem cells for medical research has mostly been centered on the use of embryonic stem cells. There are now other means of extracting stem cells rather than aborting fetuses. Scientists have discovered alternative means; such as certain unspecialized cells found in bone marrow, as well as umbilical cord blood and rare but unique skin cells. As we take advantage of these findings, we not only partially solve the ongoing controversy, but also broaden our knowledge of the spectrum of stem cells as well. The extraction of stem cells may cure many diseases, such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. With these new means of acquiring stem cells, our chances of healing these illnesses increase. Not only will there be more stem cells available for research and healing purposes, but the long fought battle over the abortion of embryos and the subsequent harvesting of their stem cells might be placated. Stem Cell Research Paper Since their 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. Margaret Goodell was one of the first to propose extracting stem cells from other sources, most notably bone marrow. Without the ethics baggage, bone marrow derived cells seemed to put aborted fetuses out of the picture. Yet, according to Catherine Verfaillie of the University of Minnesota, bone marrow cells with the same...
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...Embryonic Stem Cell Research Legislation and related legal issues Heidi Brannen Law 310 Professor Floyd June 1 Human embryonic stem cell research has been and will continue to be a very controversial issue in society all over the world. Many countries have recognized the importance of this research and its benefits, while others have continued to make such research illegal with no plans to change in the near future. This paper will be discussing the past, current, and hopeful future legislation in regards to embryonic stem cell research and how it could affect the future of medical advancement. Embryonic Stem Cell Research Legislation and related legal issues Research on human embryos and fetuses has been in development for decades with the first well known development being the polio vaccine which stemmed from work on cultures of human fetal kidney cells in the 1950’s. The controversy of such research is not so much in the science of the research itself, but in how the cells are obtained from unborn embryos and fetuses in their earliest stages of development. In the 1970’s, the controversy focused on research involving fetuses in utero, aimed at developing techniques such as amniocentesis and improving the understanding of conditions such as congenital heart disease, as well as on research involving tissue from aborted fetuses of the type that led to the polio vaccine. Federal funding of this research was halted until guidelines and safeguards...
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...The control and manipulation of genetic material has become common place in our society. What was once the dream of science fiction authors and fans has become reality. Such topics as stem cell research, in vitro fertilization, and cloning have created quite a stir in scientific communities. However, these advancements do not come without a cost, or without ethical dilemmas. First, a definition of these terms is required. Following that, we will explore some topics and the ethics associated with them. Stem cells exist in all living things. These cells go on to either produce more stem cells or specialize to become different types of living tissue. Stem cells can be broken down into two main classifications, embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells, as the name would imply, are only found in developing embryos. These cells are the most versatile. On the other hand, adult stem cells are only able to transform into a select few types of tissue. (Bongso & Lee, 2005) In vitro fertilization involves the fertilization of an oocyte outside of the female reproductive system. Fertilization occurs in a Petri dish, after which time the embryo is reintroduced into a female uterus where it is allowed to implant and develop. (Seibel, 2008) Cloning is a scientific method of producing an offspring that is genetically identical to the parent. In cloning, only one parent is required, therefore it is considered to be asexual reproduction. (Rugnetta, 2012) All of these...
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...Comp1 Stem Cells Research Paper Stem Cell Research Paper Since their 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. Margaret Goodell was one of the first to propose extracting stem cells from other sources, most notably bone marrow. Without the ethics baggage, bone marrow derived cells seemed to put aborted fetuses out of the picture. Yet, according to Catherine Verfaillie of the University of Minnesota, bone marrow cells with the same ability as stem cells are very rare. She estimates that perhaps only one out of ten billion marrow cells are versatile enough to have the ability to adapt into other functioning cells. Although this could be done, the process of finding these cells makes it difficult. Bone marrow “stem” cells, if you will, have no molecular marker that differentiates them from other bone marrow cells. The only way to recognize the difference between them is by a process of tests, which makes finding them excruciatingly difficult. They are more common in younger children, however, they have been found in some donors who were in their late forties and fifties. Verrfaillie believes this to be attributed to the development stages in youth. Besides the ethical point, adult cells are easier to manage, according to Verfaille. They are more responsive to the environment they are...
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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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...Embryonic Stem Cell Research In 1998, the world was introduced to the start of embryonic stem cell research. It has since been the topic of a heated debate between politicians, religious figures, ethicists, theologians and scientists. It raises the question of whether or not the ends justify the means. Many people seem to have a different answer to this question but the overall response from a Catholic position, from an individual and Catholic Church standpoint is loud and clear: embryonic stem cell research is immoral. The sanctity of life is held in high regard in the Catholic tradition, therefore making embryonic stem cell research morally wrong. To justify this, it is important to consider whether or not an embryo is a human from perspectives that are for and against this research, and their justifications. Whilst there is no united Catholic view, drawing from traditional ethics and Catholic principles can give an estimate of the overall Catholic perspective on the treatment of human embryos as opposed to the foreseen medical benefits on the other end of the spectrum. In a broad sense, the use of human embryos is unjustifiable and wrong in the eyes of the Catholic community, no matter how promising the benefits are as it involves the killing of an embryo, and thus by extension, can be regarded as murder. “We value the preciousness of life…as far as IVF embryos are concerned, those who have the responsibility make those decisions, have already made an important ethical decision…the...
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...FALFA11 Sec E The history of Stem Cell Research Legislation in the United States Adult stem cell research on humans began in the 1960's, first achieving success in the treatment of a 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. Many are in support of the scope, nature, necessity and urgency of stem cell research. If the possibility is there to preserve life and cure diseases such as Cancer, Leukemia, Heart Disease AIDS/HIV, the United States Federal Government should issue more funds towards stem cell research. Those very same people that are against stem cell research may someday find themselves in dire need stem cells to save their lives. A German AIDS patient was able to stop drugs he had been taking for 10 years after getting a transplant of stem cells from a donor with a rare gene variant known to resist the deadly disease. The transplant also cured his leukemia, researchers reported. Embryonic stem cell research does not appear to be ethical and it seems as if a life is being taken in the process. One can’t help but pose the question, “when do the actual stages of life begin”? A Blastocyst is a thin-walled hollow structure in early embryonic development that contains a cluster of cells called the inner cell mass from which the embryo arises. The outer layer of cells gives rise to the placenta and other supporting tissues needed for...
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