Stem Cell Research Holds the Potential to Change Medicine

"Over 100 million Americans suffer from diseases that eventually may be treated more effectively ever even cured with embryonic stem cell therapy"

Stem cell research is a field that billions of dollars are being poured into in order to gain more knowledge and experience with the stem cells and their capabilities that could in the future benefit the human body greatly. By using stem cells damaged cells almost anywhere in the body that would otherwise be dead and useless could be replaced by these easily adapting cells. Cells that could be destroyed or damaged by chemotherapy treatments or other events and situations could be replaced by these cells so that the patient’s body can function correctly and fully with the number and types of cells needed in the affected area. These are all great reasons to use stem cells or fund the research of stem cells because of their ability to better human function and life in patients with damaged cells. Stem cells can be retrieved from adult cells, embryonic cells, and cord cells. Stem cells from adult cells are taken from the bone marrow of an individual and are superior to the other options of retrieving stem cells. Unfortunately, this process is the most time consuming in the extraction process. Stem cells from umbilical cords are next in line for the greatest source of these type of cells and is extracted during an individual’s pregnancy. Embryonic stem cells are extracted from a blastocyst after fertilization has occurred between a sperm and egg cell. Many believe this process with embryonic stem cells would require the destruction of human life as the trade off. This is most importantly a myth that has corrupted the viewpoint of many individuals needed to understand the correct and ethical process of extraction of embryonic stem cells in order to vote for this type of research to be funded. The concern with stem cell research regarding the use of blastocysts is a moral concern for many; is this process considered murder? This is the issue at hand.

Embryonic cells are cells derived from a fertilized egg or in other terms, the earliest human blasyocyst stage of an embryo. The stem cells inside each embryo hold vast possibilities of improving medicine and the overall health of many suffering from many diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, leukemia, and other types of cancers. According to Lawrence S.B. Goldstein, "decades of scientific research show the potential benefits of embryonic stem (ES) cell research. ES cells-which are derived from early-stage embryos that may have the ability to generate many types of replacement cells and tissues to help treat diseases which are the result of cell or tissue malfunction. Stem cells derived from adult tissue present exciting possibilities, it is too early to conclude that the potential use of adult stem cells eliminates the need for ES cell research. Therefore, ES research needs to be supported by federal funds to ensure that all the possibilities of this new medical technology are discovered"(4).

Why it isn't being funded/major issues:

Ethical considerations have caused the federal government to halt funding for stem cell research. (4).It is a popular misconception that in order for scientists to extract these stem cells a life must be sacrificed. Not only this, many believe that ES cells are taken from aborted fetuses as well as both of these issues are untrue and should be set straight for the record in order for support and understanding of ES cells to increase. These cells do not come from aborted fetuses. This misconception may come from the argument that unused extra embryos from fertility clinics should be used for ES cell research. As fertility clinics over produce the amount of embryos created for a hopeful couple eager to become pregnant in order to ensure a greater chance that one embryo will implant and become a successful pregnancy, many of the embryos are left unused or unsuccessful. While the unsuccessful embryos are ejected or dissolved naturally by the body, the remaining unused or extra embryos are without a human body to host their development and are often thrown away if not frozen or given away to another couple Instead of discarding embryos that are left over, why not put them to use for medical improvement? As mentioned by Lawrence S.B. Goldstein, even "legislators and many other citizens who oppose abortions, realize that it makes no sense to discard frozen human embryos without regard to the ethics of obtaining stem cells for potentially life-saving research"(3). Isn't it a tad bit unethical to just throw away those embryos that could potentially save lives instead? How about when the embryos are harvested in the body and then extracted? Does it take a life? No Way.

When embryonic cells are taken from the body, at the blastocyst stage the embryonic cells are not human form but are simply a mass of divided cells called the inner cell mass in the egg. As soon as the embryo is fertilized and becomes implanted the embryo is extracted from the body, the ICM (inner cell mass) is removed from the embryo's encasing and is placed in a Petry dish. Simple yet controversial as many are under the misunderstanding that ES cells are taken from a fetus. As political journalist Michael Kinsley states, "if embryos are human beings, it is not OK to kill them for their stem cells just because it is unethical to kill them, or knowingly let them die" (2) he continues making his point by sharing that, "if embryos are human beings, then the practices of fertility clinics are far worse--bother in numbers and criminal intent--than stem cell research". But fortunately, these embryos are not human at all. As mentioned above, the embryo is in the blastocyst stage that contains no human features of any sort. It is merely not human. Those supporting this statement such as ethics scholar and supporter of animal rights Peter Singer strongly express that "research on embryos should be prohibited if there is any possibility that the embryo is capable of suffering. A developed brain and nervous system is a pre-requisite for a capacity to suffer".(1)

Why it should be funded:

Margeret Haerens reports that "the use of embryonic stem cells should not be a dilemma" (2)

If ES research if funded scientists, government officials and/or other assigned regulators can come together to set appropriate rules for research proper ethical oversight, and public input. Full funding does not have to happen of course, a compromise can be met and funding can continue with the remaining two types of stem cells while ES stem cells can be less funded but still funded in the long run. There is a huge potential of curing and treating diseases as well as alleviating and reducing those that face or are facing premature death or disability. There the use of ES cells we will be able to gain a greater chance of defeating and curing deadly diseases that threaten and take the lives of many Americans of many ages. For instance take (source1s) friend Doug. Doug's son, like many other individuals suffering from a disease called diabetes. At the young age of seven years old Doug's son relies on him and his wife to monitor his blood throughout the night he sleep in order to prevent him from slipping into a coma and facing even harsher consequences once at that stage. Insulin comes in very useful but is not early a cure for the disease or condition but with the use of ES cells his condition stands the high possibility that his condition could be eliminated. How? Doug' s son's condition is caused by inadequate amounts of specific cells needed in the pancreas causing it to poorly function, if ES cells are able to adapt to any area of the body they are placed in and can form into specific cells needed to complete the pancreas then the condition would be eliminated or made less severe in any case.

It is important to know all of the facts about ES cell research before judging the importance of its research. Many legislatures and pro life individuals support the funding of ES cell research because they are well informed of the importance and high potential these stem cells hold. Not only that but they are well educated of all the facts regarding ES cell research such as the most important fact that the trade off of ES cell research is NOT the elimination or destruction of a human life in the process of extracting these cells.

Citations and links:

Pros and cons of embryonic stem cell research

1. Research Using Human Embryos Is Morally Acceptable. Peter Singer.
At Issue: The Ethics of Abortion. Ed. Jennifer A. Hurley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001.

2. Embryonic Stem Cell Research Is Not a Moral Dilemma.
At Issue: Embryonic and Adult Stem Cells. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009.
Viewpoint

3. Fetal Stem Cell Research May Improve Medicine. Lawrence S.B. Goldstein.
Opposing Viewpoints: Technology and Society. Ed. Auriana Ojeda. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002.

4. Embryonic Stem Cell Research Should Be Federally Funded. Lawrence S.B. Goldstein.
At Issue: Human Embryo Experimentation. Ed. Roman Espejo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002.