The Stem Cell Dilemma Essay - 1784 Words

The Stem Cell Dilemma Every day, nearly 3,000 people die while waiting for an organ transplant (D’Agnese). Moreover, 66,000 people are still on an organ donor list in the United States, few of which will ever see their name come up on that list (â€Å"Improving†). Many people believe nothing can be done about this sad fact. However, this is not the case. Studies on stem-cell research point toward a solution to this deadly problem. With efficient use of stem cells, many diseases and medical problems could be solved. Stem-cells are very young, specialized cells. Usually coming from a human embryo, they have the ability to develop into more specialized groups of cells or tissues (â€Å"Stem Cells: A Primer†). As of 2001, scientists†¦show more content†¦Not only would stem-cells help with organ transplants, but they have also been shown to treat other diseases such as multiple sclerosis (Lee). Despite these facts, some may still think it is morally wrong to use stem-cells. There are many reasons that help prove the fact that the use of stem-cells does not equal the destruction of a life. Supporters of stem-cell research believe that embryos composed of only a few cells that are being stored in a lab are not alive, because they are frozen. They may have once had the potential to live, and though this potential was lost, it was not lost because of stem-cell research. Many of the cells that are being used come from ended pregnancies when a life would not develop anyway. If an embryo were to go unused, why not use it instead to save another life? There are actually over 110,000 embryos being stored in the United States alone, with no life in sight for them (Robinson). These embryos are not alive, and should be used instead of discarded. To make this debate even easier, stem cells may in the near future come from, for example, the ACT developed â€Å"embryos†. With the ACT’s embryos, the scientists started with human eggs, though they wer e not fertilized with sperm; these eggs were then coaxed into fertilization. The eggs were kept in a culture and seemed to develop like normal embryos, though they could probably never be able to developShow MoreRelatedThe Ethical Dilemma Of Embryonic Stem Cells958 Words   |  4 Pages19 July 2016 The Ethical Dilemma of Embryonic Stem Cells â€Å"Now science has presented us with a hope called stem cell research, which may provide our scientists with many answers that have for so long been beyond our grasp.† (Nancy Reagan). Most cells within our bodies perform one specialized task. Contrary to these single job cells are stem cells. These cells are unspecialized and can morph and perform any task that is needed within the body. However, the way that stem cells are harvested has causedRead MoreHuman Stem Cell Research : Ethical Dilemmas With The Utility Of Embryonic Stem Cells1879 Words   |  8 PagesTrevor McCarthy Human Embryonic Stem Cell (hESC) research possesses ethical dilemmas with the utility of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from human blastocyst, one of the earliest stages of embryonic development. Embryonic stem cell derivation is controversial because there are different opinions and beliefs on when an embryo is deserving of full moral status, equal to the moral respect, rights and treatment to that of a human being. ESCs extracted from a blastocyst will undergo experimentationRead MoreHuman Embryonic Stem Cells : The Moral Dilemma898 Words   |  4 PagesHUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS: THE MORAL DILEMMA Stem cells are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, even after long periods of inactivity. Stems cells can develop into many different cell types within the body during early life and growth. Stem cells can also serve as an internal repair of sorts inside many tissues. When a stem cell divides, it has the potential to either become another type of cell with a specialized function or remain a stem cell. The abilitiesRead MoreStem Cell Success or Moral Dilemma Essay1599 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Stem cell research saved my life!† For some this is true, and for others its a moral infringement. For many religious groups this has been a very controversial, unethical way for scientist to commit murder in the name of science. On the contrary for those riddled with diseases its a chance at a new life. Scientist have come so far over the last few decades in their research, if we now stopped researching stem cell therapy, it would be an enfeeblement to medical technology. It is very importantRead MoreThere Was A Seventeen-Year-Old Boy Named Joe Beene That1674 Words   |  7 PagesThere was a seventeen-year-old boy named Joe Beene that severely injured himself during a football practice in November. Because of Joe’s injury, Joe’s family had a very difficult moral dilemma that involved the right to conduct stem-cell research to help with medical conditions. The injury t hat Joe sustained was a broken neck that left Joe paralyzed from the Chest down hindering Joe from any activities including taking care of himself. I couldn’t even start to understand the pain and suffering thatRead MoreThe Debate Of Embryonic Stem Cell Research1292 Words   |  6 PagesEmbryonic stem cells research is the most debated type of stem cell research. The moral standings of embryonic stem cell research have been debated since the research started. The side against the research claims that it is wrong to value one’s life above another and that the elimination of the most basic form of life is murder. While the side supporting the research claims that the research could bring about the cure for many types of diseases and help save the lives of millions. Embryonic stem cellsRead MoreThe Ethics Of Stem Cell Research1365 Words   |  6 PagesStem cells are cells that have the potential to develop into different types of cells in the body. Stem cells also act as a repair system for many tissues in the body by dividing repeatedly to replenish other cells within a person (National Institutes of Health). Stem cell research seeks to further the advancement of the use of stem cells as well as to find an ethical way to study them. In November 1998, researchers found a way to isolate and culture human embryonic stem cells, (Bevington 2005).Read MoreStem Cells a.k.a. Mother Cells have the Ability to Replenish Tissue and Regenerate Organs841 Words   |  3 PagesStem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the capacity and potential to develop into specialized-functioning cells. They are known as the â€Å"mother cells,† due to their ability to replenish tissue and regenerate organs. The two types of stem cells are embryonic and somatic (adult) cells. Embryonic stems cells (ESCs) have not been differentiated, whereas somatic adult cells (ASCs) have. In other words, embryonic stem cells can be coded to become any specific cell required by the body. Adult stemRead MoreThe Conflict Between Medical Potential And Ethical Objections1358 Words   |  6 Pages Stem Cell Research: A Conflict Between Medical Potential and Ethical Objections In 2011, 23 year old Katie Sharify was involved in an automobile accident that damaged her spine, leaving her paralyzed from the chest down. Katie’s medical team proposed an experimental approach to her therapy using stem cell research, in which stem cells taken from a 5 day old embryo could be converted into cells used for communication between the brain and body. Seeing the glimmer of hope, Katie accepted. HoweverRead MoreA Research Study On Stem Cell1680 Words   |  7 Pageslife, cells make up every organ and body part of a living organism. Among various types of cells of human bodies, a stem cell can turn into any type of specialized cell of human body. A stem cell is a cell that has the ability to develop into any conceivable different kind of specialized cell type. The existence of a stem cell was first discovered by Drs. James Till and Ernset McCulloch from Canada. A stem cell can be distinguished into two types: adult stem cell and embryonic stem cell. An embryonic