| Stem cell research is one of the most important | | | | That major point of disagreement was countered by |
| breakthroughs that happened in November 1998. It | | | | justifying stem cell research through utilitarian ethical |
| was when two separate researchers successfully | | | | arguments. Pro-stem cell research people said that it |
| took stem cells from aborted fetuses and human | | | | is actually ethically acceptable, even morally required |
| embryos. Stem cell research deals with studying the | | | | to cause the destruction of a few human beings to |
| embryonic stem cells. Stem cells or embryo cells are | | | | possibly benefit millions of other humans. Also, these |
| those specialized cells of the body that has the ability | | | | stem cells are said to be unlike the adult cells in the |
| to replicate on their own or divide for indefinite | | | | sense that they don't cause any problem with their |
| periods when put under the right conditions. When | | | | compatibility with the immune systems of patients |
| given the appropriate signals, they can give rise or | | | | after transplanted. Moreover, these embryonic stem |
| differentiate to the several various types of cell that | | | | cells are reported to be very to coax to become |
| make up an organism. They are capable of becoming | | | | more varied types of tissues, and can be stored |
| all or several of the 210 different kinds of tissues in | | | | longer while awaiting use. Besides, pro-stem cell |
| the human body. Simply put, experts can reproduce | | | | research people said that these test-tube-produced |
| certain kinds of cells that can work to treat a | | | | embryos and fetuses are about to die anyway, why |
| malfunctioning or dying organism. | | | | not make use of them? |
| 1. Goals Of Stem Cell Research | | | | The opponents of human embryonic stem cell |
| - To obtain essential scientific information regarding | | | | research reacted by pointing out that the |
| embryonic development and its use to related fields - | | | | considerable ethical problem is the source of those |
| To cure diseases that cause debilitation, e.g., | | | | stem cells. That living human embryos as the most |
| Alzheimer's, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's, | | | | vulnerable human beings are set to be destroyed |
| stroke, bone diseases, etc. - Drugs screening for | | | | while taking those stem cells out of their bodies for |
| pharmaceutical establishments as opposed to relying | | | | research. That it is never acceptable in the field of |
| on animal models | | | | ethics to kill any innocent human being intentionally - |
| The advent of technology made the medical field | | | | even if it promises benefit to the majority. It is said |
| bring to the world several great innovations... | | | | to be tantamount to reducing these fetuses and |
| PROS: | | | | embryos to mere objects for others' use, instead of |
| - Treatment of innumerable kinds of diseases - Pain | | | | subjects with inherent rights that must be given |
| medications - Cloning - Exotic therapies - Miracle drugs | | | | equal protection. Moreover, if it's the nearness of |
| CONS: | | | | death that becomes a part of the basis for deciding |
| - Biological warfare - Ethics - Moral dilemma | | | | for permitting the killing of human beings, it's also like |
| 2. The Issues | | | | saying that terminally-ill patients, military service |
| The beneficial aspects of stem cell research are said | | | | personnel facing combats, and death-row inmates |
| to be taken for granted because of its unethical | | | | could be killed for their organs and stem cells too to |
| procedures. The use of stem cells that came from | | | | benefit the majority. |
| adult humans did not fetch any questioning. Of | | | | Due to this debate, the use of human embryos and |
| course, the use of stem cells that are taken from | | | | fetuses in stem cell research, whether dead or living, |
| aborted fetuses and early human embryos is what is | | | | has been made illegal while the use of adult cells is |
| frowned upon. | | | | legal. |