Stem Cell Research
...ed to create the stem cells. This large mass is then isolated and placed on to a tissue culture dish (Stem Cell Basics). Opponents spin the stated information to imply that scientists promote and even coax abortions among pregnant women. Deeming that notion absurd would qualify an understatement matched by statements such as “drugs are bad.” Scientists do no have to prescribe to a moral standing on abortion to understand the benefits that aborted fetuses may provide in the future saving of lives. To the untrained Lyte 5 and uninformed, using aborted fetuses appears malicious and inhuman. One must understand scientists placed in the position of utilizing these means have the highest respect and adoration for human life and the lost lives that facilitate the research. From the extraction of cells, the process continues to the multiplication and specialization of the cells. While on the dish the cells are able to grow and reproduce due to chemicals known as growth factors already in the dish. These stem cells are grown into colonies so that there will be more of them for the scientists to use. Once there are enough cells present, the chemical growth factors are removed. When the growth factor is removed cells can then separate into the different types of cells (Pearson). This is why stem cells are the only type of cells that can be used. These cells have not yet been assigned to be part of a tissue complex, organ, etc. Once the cells differentiate they separate based on their specialty. Cells become every body tissue vital to life, and the opportunity to control this growth may become essential in the future of human proliferation (Pearson). A primary benefit of this process is these lab grown cells can also be used to fight many diseases. Fetuses that would normally be unused give hope to people affected by terrible diseases like diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, hepatitis, osteoporosis, cirrhosis, osteoarthritis, and muscular dystrophy. These diseases could be fought and could be cured with the help of stem cells (Johannes). The leading voice of opposition comes from organizations against abortion and religious factions against the systematic production of embryos for experimentation. The Catholic Church is continually speaking out against stem cell research and the embryonic Lyte 6 development that makes this exploration possible. Specifically, in vitro fertilization (IVF), a process where an embryo is grown exclusively to be manipulated for medical treatments, has been targeted by the church as violent and inhuman. Regarding IVF for stem cell research, Pope John Paul II stated, "Human embryos obtained in vitro are human beings and are subjects with rights; their dignity and right to life must be respected from the first moment of their existence. It is immoral to produce human embryos destined to be exploited as disposable 'biological material'" (Fiester). With this statement Pope John Paul II pleaded with U.S. President George W. Bush to accept legislation against embryonic development and outlawing research which exploits the beginning stages of human life. After months of conquering personal demons, Bush signed into law a bill prohibiting the further growth and development of embryos for stem cell experimentation, however, the use of embryos already grown and in excess were still permitted (Stem Cells: Rights and Wrongs). How does one weigh human life? If the end of one life could save thousands, is the price too great? A dichotomy must be explained between a living organism and a living person. An embryo, when used for stem cell research, is in the most primary stage of development. A stem cell is an undifferentiated cell; a cell that has not specialized itself for any specific function. The embryo has no sense of mental or physical feeling and is only alive by the most remedial standards. Saving lives and curing disease is more than worth the cost, it is absolutely necessary. Aside from the possibilities of growing organs and body tissues, stem cells have the ability to counteract life threatening diseases and illnesses. In spite of the giant steps Lyte 7 taken in the field of modern medicine to prevent and treat human diseases, many ravaging illnesses, “such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and diseases of the nervous system, such as Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease” (Stem Cell Research), continue to destroy the lives of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Extraordinary efforts in the field of biotechnology have only begun to yield the fruits of its immense potential to combat such these pandemics. Believed to retain the potential as the Excalibur of weapons in battling disease, the stem cell is one of the great discoveries in medicine and science. The possibilities of finding new cures and treatments have now greatly increased, due to the stem cell’s ability to become any type of human cell or grow into an entire organ. Doctors and scientists alike have expressed great excitement over the benefits the stem cell will offer in combating disease in the future. Nearly ten years ago the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), a retrovirus that generates the Auto Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), was mistakenly regarded strictly as a homosexually transmitted and contracted virus. Today HIV is widespread in both hetero and homosexual communities, affecting 22.6 million people of the world’s total population (Johannes). There are medical treatments with the ability to stall the development of AIDS in an HIV infected individual; however, there is no cure. The stem cell holds the unprecedented possibility to develop the cure. Once HIV develops into the AIDS virus the host’s immune system comes under heavy attack. It is a common misconception that AIDS is the cause of death in the host. AIDS destroys its host’s immune system, specifically its helper T-cells which identify invading disease or virus particles, without the helper T-cells the individual’s immune system is unable to identify Lyte 8 therefore unable to attack other incoming virus or disease. The critical loss of helper T cells allows an “opportune” virus to invade and kill the individual without any resistance. All past attempts to replace helper T cells in AIDS victims have failed. However, the stem cell has already shown its ability to become a helper T cell. In early 2004, a Canadian research team was able to grow “a potentially limitless [population of] T cells in the laboratory” (Pearson). This was done by genetically engineering mouse embryonic stem cells to produce the DL1 molecule, essential in making T cells. Through the utilization of these newly modified mouse stem cells, the Canadian research team was able to “coax” the stem cells to differentiate into immature immune cells. Amazingly, after being placed into mice without an immune system, the immature immune cells produced mature T cells, “helping the animals fight off a mild viral infection” (Pearson). HIV and AIDS are not the only future targets scientists soon hope to be successfully treating with the aid of stem cells. Many cancers and other autoimmune disorders, including leukemia have been sighted as within the extraordinary reach of the great health potential offered by the miraculous, malleable clay the stem cell has become. For over forty years now, hematpoietic, blood forming, stem cells have been commonly used in many therapies including, bone marrow transplants, treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, and some blood disorders. The possibilities for saving lives are infinite, but the question is whether or not scientists taking it too far, trying too hard to prolong human life. Currently 6.3 billion people are alive on planet Earth. With advances in medical technology and the constantly extending average life expectancy, even proponents of Lyte 9 stem cell research and its inherent benefits have begun to question whether a line should be drawn limiting the fruits of their labors. This new controversy refers to scientists manipulating nature to preserve human life and whether nature should be allowed to take its course. Overpopulation is the pandemic now plaguing the natural resources of the planet, and before long Earth will be so grossly consumed that habitual living space will become nearly nonexistent, and the increase in population density could render humans increasingly susceptible to communicable illness. Opponents claim using stem cells to prolong lives and interrupt nature is an act of ‘playing God’, and by doing so humans are fostering their own extinction. On the other hand, the natural instinct and purpose of any animal is the proliferation of the species. Pushing the boundaries of science and medicine is the door to this goal, and if humans do not continue to push the boundaries of medical science, thwarted will be another instinct of humans, the instinct of discovery. The heart of a society, its stability and legitimacy lies in the morals and values understood as certain. As it pertains to science and medicine, these values are known as ethics of practice. The world recognizes two important ethical commitments to the public: curing disease and the protection of human life (Bettelheim). Stem cells can aid in the process of finding cures for diseases and other illnesses, adding a most essential layer of potential in the ever ongoing battle between man and microbe. The controversy often associated with the stem cell is the method of its retrieval. The most controversial way is to take the stem cells from fertility clinics; however, if some stem cells were not taken from fertility clinics the cells would be discarded. If the stem cells would be thrown away, then why not use them for medical research? Even with such straight Lyte 10 forward logic, many people still combat the idea of using the stem cell for scientific research. Aborted fetuses allow much controversy to be diffused; no life is taken but life is saved. As in the fertility clinic these fetuses would be thrown away without serving a purpose. Aborted fetuses would have the chance to save thousands of individuals plagued with the debilitating symptoms of disease, and also help those waiting on the organ transplantation list. There is no distinct line separating the world population for those in favor and those who are not towards the research of stem cells. A woman in favor of research may wish to donate her own fetus to the stem cell cause. This is a possibility where scientists have direct permission from the donor herself to commence research, however, granted there will be controversy in this situation; other individuals will claim negligence on the informed donor. Fertility clinics would be able to attain a clear legal distinction between which fetuses will be used in research and those to be discarded. The various sources of stem cell embryos must be legally stabilized in order to secure the future of stem cell research (McDonald). And research is only as stable as the flow of money going into it. Until only recently, federal law had maintained a chokehold on stem cell research by barring American tax money to fund it. On August 9, 2001, President Bush permitted the limited federal funding of stem cell research. Unfortunately this funding did not come without its barriers; serious restrictions on types of stem cell research within the United States were redefined (Why Government Funding Falls Short). Such severe restrictions, such as limiting the amount of funding researchers receive, greatly reduce the amount of stem cell research. The result is producing limited results which appear shoddy Lyte 11 and nondescript, and funding is reduced yet again. Restrictions on funding often harbor grave consequences for the outcome of the research held in contempt. Strong backing for these limiting restrictions are almost wholly derived from the personal ethical standpoint of the individual, not supported by any solid scientific standpoint. Withstanding the high heat of the debate over the research of the stem cell, researchers have been receiving very minimal amounts of funding for a few decades. The Stem Cell Research Foundation (SCRF) has offered 100,000 dollar grants over the past decade, to scientists for a duration of two years. These grants are not solely domestic; international research teams are allowed to also compete for this grant. The SCRF also has accepted donations for stem cell resear...