Embryonic stem cells actually originate from organic structures derivative of embryos developed via eggs created “in vitro” (sperm and egg joined in a laboratory) contrary to the popular belief that they are born of fertilized eggs in a woman’s body. Though stem cell research aids in the cure of many medical diseases - to name a few, leukemia, arthritis, breast cancer, and sickle cell, controversy has inhibited it with misconceptions of ethical and embryonic moral standards as well as its status as a living human being or a cell. The need for stem cell research, particularly embryonic stem cell research, outweighs the ethical concerns and is necessary to advance regenerative science-based medicine to build more tissue for organ repair.
Since the 1960’s, the controversial claims surrounding stem cell science dominated scientific debates. However, it was not only until the emergence of Dolly the Sheep in 1996, the first cloned animal from stem cells, that cloning and the research surrounding embryonic stem cells became more recognizable to the public, with evidence from a BBC article. Many presidents throughout the years have continuously been going back and forth on stem cell research with its own series of laws and mandates leading to the majority of the population becoming ill-informed about the topic. Stem cell research’s hopes are as follows: are the dead cells of a diseased person’s organ replaceable for better health and likelihood of combating disease? The sheer purpose of the specialization and the ideology behind stem cell research is largely an argument itself. Stem cells divide for long periods of time unspecialized, but develop into a specialized cell later on. Pluripotency makes the stem cell special as opposed to a regular cell, which means that they have the ability to give rise to all of the various cell types of the body and replicate tremendously.
A variety of stem cells exist in the scientific world, but embryonic stem cells have been the most controversial, due to the religious morality proposed by many intellectuals. They also happen to be the most important. Some common arguments include that the embryo is a human being and that embryonic stem cell research promotes the damage of human life in regards to incompatibility of Catholic principles. According to Richard Doerflinger from the Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, these moral principles view human life as a “continuum and sees human individuals of every age and condition as meriting the same respect for their fundamental right to life.” He raises counterarguments to people’s beliefs, such as the common belief that an embryo cannot be a person because it does not have mental or physical abilities. Additionally, he argues that by this certain logic, that people in a coma or Alzheimer’s disease can be excluded from personhood.
As previously stated, a common misconception states that well-developed embryos are taken directly from the mother, whereas in fact, embryos are either made in the lab or through cloning in which a cell is taken from the patient’s body and merged with a donated egg. Though a false claim, the truth lies not too far ahead. Scientists do need to destroy that self-made embryo to obtain usable stem cells. Due to this fact, religious leaders promptly dismiss advocation for embryonic stem cells.
The use of embryonic stem cells need not to be dismissed just because it collides with the principles of just one religious group in our multi-faceted world. Embryonic stem cells provide the scientific world with breakthroughs in research, technology, and a holistic understanding of the human genome and health. The legendary era of Dolly the Sheep brought about more animal cloning, in which Dolly was used to clone four more sheep. Since Dolly’s emergence, a lot has been learned about the cloning process and further information heeds way into improving ways of technology.
Furthermore, some scientists and researchers alike refute the use of embryonic stem cells by advocating the use of other types of stem cells - induced pluripotent stem cells and adult stem cells. Although induced pluripotent cells have a similar function, embryonic stem cells have been proven to be more effective and take a shorter time to develop into a proper cell. Let’s look at one scenario presented by Jerome Zack of UCLA’s Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research: A patient who needs a tissue replacement has the cell reprogrammed into a stem cell in which the cell that is damaged is regenerated in a process that takes several weeks. It also takes several genes and unfortunately, these genes use some of the same cells that tend to cause cancer. An area of new research, as referenced by Nature on Obokota’s experiments, contains a new, easier process of obtaining induced pluripotent stem cells. Obokota states that just by putting external stress, like exposure to low pH (acid bath), physical squeezing, and toxins, an induced pluripotent stem cell can arise. Though radical and optimistic, much research still needs to be done in terms of these cells showing their pluripotency. The other type of stem cells - adult stem cells, do not require the destruction of an embryo and contain pluripotency, but they are restricted to certain lineages.
As one can see, the development of stem cell research greatly expanded worldwide and is becoming more accepted. For example, in Ireland, stem cells can now be manufactured for human use to take diseases such as arthritis and diabetes in order to advance regenerative medicine, since stem cells serve as the repair mechanism for the body. The 1990 Human Fertilization and Embryology Act (HFEA) in the United Kingdom and the 2001 Human Reproductive Cloning Act permit the destruction of embryos for human embryonic stem cells. In China, one cultural attitude states that one begins life at birth; therefore, stem cell usage has really unfolded through in vitro fertilization with embryonic stem cells. Aside from China, other Asian countries have truly contributed to the stem cell research, such as Singapore, Japan, and South Korea. A notable researcher is Haruko Obokota, a stem cell biologist from RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe, Japan, recently just contributed to the new easier process of obtaining induced pluripotent stem cells just by putting external stress. In March 2005, the Brazilian government passed legislation allowing the use of in vitro fertilization embryos that have been frozen for more than three years. However, The Brazilian Catholic Church then challenged the law, and argued that embryonic stem cell research violates the right to life. The Brazilian Supreme Court rejected the petition and permitted embryonic stem cell research.
The hindrance of embryonic stem cell research may very well halt medical discovery. Not everyone followed Brazil’s example to permit embryonic stem cell research. Stem cell research holds promise for treatment and cures of various current untreatable injuries and diseases, and not to mention it promotes the alleviation of suffering of those with incurable diseases. Split by the fundamental views of the duty to prevent further suffering or the duty to respect the value of human life, stem cell research prevents to make an impactful influence on the community as a whole.
The religious leaders who strive and promote for the recognition of the embryo’s status as a human being and the scientists who are immersed in stem cell research remain at the differing ends of the spectrum. In order to move forward with stem cell research and discovering new medical treatments, reaching both moral principles is impossible and it’s either one principle or the latter. On a wider, holistic view, the destruction of embryos seems of a small scale compared to the various opportunities of better health, with talks of even considering the possibility of finding a cure for one of these diseases that have plagued so many individuals and led to death and despair.
Aforementioned, stem cells can give rise to any particular tissue - think about the limitless potential for the variety of medical applications contributing to the human body. Multiple people can benefit from not just adult stem cell and induced pluripotent stem cell research, but also from the lines of embryonic stem cell research as it provides a much better stepping stool to many avenues in the healthcare world. People need not divert their attention away from embryonic stem cells because of the ethical and religious concerns that cloud the subject. The shunning of embryonic stem cell research cannot remain justifiable as it has been known to consistently provide a better understanding of stem cell research itself. Instead of ignoring an existing methodology due to various concerns, there needs to be focus on the efficacy of the method, especially when combined with the newer methods of adult stem cell research and induced pluripotent stem cell research. Perhaps a better way to deal with all this is to continue groundbreaking research on all stem cell research for a united community of combating disease. I believe that garnering attention on the stem cell research instead of nitpicking and criticizing the invalidity of embryonic stem cell research would greatly improve individuals’ chances for better health. Just from the application of a stem cell that comes from an embryo produced in a laboratory, a child can be saved from leukemia, or a mother can have better hopes in defeating breast cancer. Continuing the research on embryonic stem cell research would vastly strengthen the foundation of public health.
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| The big debate Flickr: Photo by Mario Pieperni |
Works Cited:
Doerflinger, R. M. (1999). The Ethics of Funding Embryonic Stem Cell Research: A Catholic Viewpoint. Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, 9(2), 137–150. Retrieved from http://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/kennedy_institute_of_ethics_journal/v009/9.2doerflinger.html
Cyranoski, David. "News – Obokata Stem Cells." Nature 505.7485 (2014): 596. 29 Jan. 2014. Web.
Dhar D, Hsi-En Ho J. Stem cell research policies around the world. Yale J Biol Med. 2009;82:113–115.
"Frequently Asked Questions." What Are Embryonic Stem Cells? [Stem Cell Information]. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.
BBC News. BBC, 24 Nov. 2010. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
Murnaghan, Ian. "Pluripotent Stem Cells." Pluripotent Stem Cells. Explore Stem Cells, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
"Myths and Misconceptions About Stem Cell Research." California's Stem Cell Agency. California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
"Jerome Zack: Creating IPS Cells." YouTube. YouTube, 16 Jan. 2009. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
"Adult Stem Cell." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
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