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Stem Cell Research Argumentative Essay

676 Words3 Pages

Kylie Benefield
Amber McWhorter
Literature
December 8, 2014
Stem Cell Research: The Never-ending Debate Human understanding of genetics has expanded greatly since the 1950’s, which has led to many supporters but also an equal, if not greater, amount of adversary’s. While human stem cells are recognized universally as a remarkable scientific resource (Stem Cell Laws, 1), many people disagree. Stem cell research has caused political, religious, and scientific debate all over the world. Before you can choose a side in this debate you must first know the facts about stem cells.
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that give rise to descendent cells that become cell types (Stem Cells Controversies and Research, 1). This means that the cells …show more content…

The study of stem cells could ultimately unlock the cure for very many diseases. Stem cells could be used to treat diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and even spinal cord injuries (Embryonic Stem Cell Research- Old Controversy; New Debate, 2). Recently, a group of UCLA researchers have purified a subset of stem cells from fat tissue and used them to grow a bone (UCLA researchers use stem cells to grow new bone, 1). The bone showed to form faster and was of higher quality than a bone grown using traditional methods (UCLA researchers use stem cells to grow new bone, 1). This discovery may one day eliminate the need for painful bone grafts that use material take from patients during invasive procedures. (UCLA researchers use stem cells to grow new bone, 1). The fact that we can make a completely new bone out of cells is a scientific breakthrough. This new bone is just the beginning of much greater things; if scientists can create a new bone then maybe one day they can create entirely new correctly functioning organs. The lifestyle of people with diseases could be drastically changed for the …show more content…

Historically, destroying blastocysts has been the only way to obtain human embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Controversies and Research, 1). Blastocysts are the hollow cellular structure formed in early embryonic development (Stem Cell Laws, 1). They are what might eventually turn into a fetus and then into a baby.On August 9, 2001, President George Bush signed a into law a ban on federal funding for the creation of embryos purely for the reason of research in which the embryo will be destroyed or discarded (Stem Cells Controversy and Research, 1). Since the majority of stem cell research is federally funded, the research became very limited, and his supporters praised his decision. Since then, President Obama has lifted some bans against the use of embryos in stem cell research (Stem Cell Controversy and Research,

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Embryonic stem cells could be used to generate new tissue and/or organs for transplantations without the side effects of anti-rejection drugs. Defective and dying tissues caused by diseases or injury could be replaced with a virtually unlimited supply of specially grown cells. New Drugs and therapies could be identified with the help of human stem cell cultures. Basically, this breakthrough in stem cell research could help millions of people in life-changing ways.

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The major replacement of taking embryonic stem cells is sacrificing already developed adult stem cells.(Right to Life of Michigan, 2016) The stem cells of adults can be easily conformed to the selected research requirements. Abnormalities in adult stem cells are less likely than embryonic stem cells to regenerate in the research being performed.(Stem Cell Controversy,2016) Another option is an altered nuclear transfer (ANT); which an embryo is not created and any other cell except for the egg cell can be genetically altered and transferred back into the female egg.(Stem Cell Controversy, 2016)This activity does not require harming an actual human embryo for the means of the medical research. Additionally, a blastomere extraction can be accomplished on the fertilized egg at two days old; in which, the mundane embryo endures division between the cell and egg eliminating full devastation.

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What if there was a certain type of cell that could ultimately become any specialized cell in a human body, regenerate at amazing speeds, and potentially cure cancers? The cells that can potentially do this are known as embryonic stem cells. While there are many different types of stem cells, the implications of these cells are limitless; it has the potential to cure many birth defects, cancer, and much more (National Institute of Health, 2016). Another advantage is their ability to potentially regenerate diseased and damaged tissues. (Hyslop, Armstrong, Stojkovic, & Lako, 2005).

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Is Stem Cell Research Necessary? San Diego: Reference Point Press, 2009.

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It is also said that some researchers believe that is might be possible to use stem cells to replace heart valves, reverse the effects of diabetes, or to grow new

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In an article written by Nancy Frazier O’Brien, she points out the fact that during a United States Conference of Bishops meeting there was a 191-1 vote in favor of a document titled “On Embryonic Stem Cell Research: A Statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops”. This document basically stated that we, as a people, have crossed a certain line of morality that causes us to believe it is permissible to use a human being as a research specimen (O’Brien). This idea adds an entirely new level of difficulty when dealing with this particular conflict. If human embryos are thought of as human beings than the conflict deepens with the debate of the morality in killing one thing to save another. The conflict behind embryonic stem cell research is very difficult, and religious groups, such as the Catholic church, present a very firm stance.

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We use to think that this was the only way of getting these "magical" stem cells. In 2007, it was announced that two scientists had independently discovered a method of transforming adult cells into a state that resembled an embryonic stem cell, effectively eliminating the need to take

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The embryonic stem (ES) cells have shown some evidence that they could be the key to solving degenerative diseases. Some well known degenerative diseases are… Alzheimer’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Cancer, Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and many others; there are over 200 diseases that could be cured with a regenerative ability,. This article discusses the minimal amounts of evidence found for the possibility of embryonic stem cells curing degenerative diseases. The evidence is limited, but is there. John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka were able to “‘reprogram’ or revert and adult specialized cell to an embryonic cell-like state in the laboratory by injecting special proteins.”

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There have been several ethic concerns and problems that follow this topic. Professional consent is needed to be written down and signed by all participants who are involved in any stem cell transplant. As mentioned, embryonic stem cells are a major part in treating many stem cell related procedurs, and because of that, a lot of research has made the extracting of embryonic stem cells mandatory. However, in order to extract embryonic stem cells, the fertilized egg cell, which at this stage of growth is called blastocyst, has to be destroyed after 5-7 days of life. This is by many considered to be murder of a young living organism, which will later become a fetus.

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Our world today further develops into the future to improve our lifestyle and health, and one of the largest science advances that scientists are striving to achieve is upon the Stem Cell research on regenerating damaged tissues in the heart. In addition, therapies that can rebuild or replace damaged cells with tissues grown from stem cells, are discovered and experimented to save more individuals undergoing and suffering heart disease, damage, and disorders. Also, stem cells such as the adult and embryonic stem cells lead scientists into the route of new discoveries of testing or drugs, and is also a fundamental initiative of the research that is helping scientists to understand the basis of the human body. This stem cell research on regenerating

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On the other hand, the reason the research is so popular is that, if successful it could theoretically cure otherwise incurable diseases, the cells could grow organs that could be used for transplants and they are, at the early embryonic stage, “totipotent, that is, under the appropriate conditions… could develop into a complete, individual organism” (Biomedical). Using these methods could change the world in so many excellent

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The research we see today is only the beginning of something we have yet to truly understand. Stem cells show the potentially the cure for various diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, spinal injuries, cancers, schizophrenia, and much more. Scientists have discovered that when in a laboratory, stem cells can be used to regrow organs and limbs which can later be used in transplants and treating sickness. The successive research on stem cells will soon allow doctors and scientists to experiment and test medicines and other drugs without using humans and animals as specimens. Eventually, more study will help find the success rate of the medicines and drugs on these cells leading to the human population.

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This amendment declared that no government funding would go towards anything that results in or could cause the destruction of embryos. A few years later, President Clinton asked the NBAC (National Bioethics Advisory Commission) to create an overview of stem cell research as well as an overall opinion on the morality. After discussing, the NBAC declared public support for the research and also advocated for researchers’ ability to use cell lines from embryos left over from infertility

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The existing state of stem cell research There are some nations that offer treatments using but in such treatments only ASCs derived from the patient's body are used (autograft). When likely, autografts are preferred as they get rid of the risk of rejection by the receiver's body. There is promising research going on in the arena of SCs to

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This process provides a safe alternative to embryonic cells, as the stem cells did not produce tumors. Adult stem cells are also being found in more tissues than ever thought (Stem cell Basics). This would allow many different uses of the adult stem cells, as they can only form certain major cell types of a tissue or

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