Stem Cell Research Persuasive Essay

Stem cell research is a fairly new technology that is receiving a lot of attention in many fields due to its applicability to countless areas of study and the ability to use this research to solve issues that we previously had no way to solve. However, along with all the incredible discoveries that have come with this new technology has emerged the question of whether or not stem cell research is an ethical method of study or not. As defined by the National Institute of Health and Human Services, stem cells are a certain type of human cell that has no specific job or function at first. They can be engineered to become a multitude of difference cells including organ specific cells with unique functions or just tissue cells to use in place of

These individuals hold the belief that although they may destroy one potential life that is the embryonic cell, the results of the experiment could lead to improving and saving the lives of thousands of people so it is worth it to proceed with the experiments. It has been said that new stem cell therapy can be predicted to completely change the face of regenerative medicine.3 Given this technology, some scientists feel it is their duty to medicine and the human species as a whole to use it to the best of their ability in order to improve the quality of life of some and save the lives of many. This technology can be used to treat many previously untreatable conditions including but not limited to Alzheimer’s Disease and similar brain conditions, severe injuries to the spinal cord, diabetes, liver and cardiovascular diseases, and even arthritis.4 These problems effect the lives of thousands of people so even though the scientists may have killed an embryo in the process, they make up for it by improving and extending the lives of thousands so the death of one was worth it. One of the largest big breakthroughs using stem cell research has been with Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s is one of the world’s most commonly occurring movement disorders affecting approximately 1% of all adults. Up until this research, Parkinson’s could be treated only to relive symptoms for some but not all patients but with stem cell treatments, the physical and mental conditions of Parkinson’s Disease patients could improve exponentially. Trials done on animals have shown how Embryonic Stem Cells can be used to make fully functional dopamine neurons that can be transplanted.5 This technology could change the lives of not only Parkinson’s patients, but so many