Ethics of Embryonic Stem cell research

Payam Kimiaei Asadi

Refutation Letter

Stem Cell Technology

March 29 , 2007

Dear Mr . Doerflinger

In response to your article on Embryonic Stem Cell Research , I would like to point out that man 's war against disease , has recently advanced dramatically through the introduction of such techniques as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD , and has been instrumental in both saving lives and preventing disease . This approach , which has already been used to fight such diss as Huntington 's disease cystic fibrosis , and more recently , cancer , opens the way for undreamt

of possibilities concerning both the future diagnoses of different diseases , and their subsequent treatments (Genetic Engineering , 2007

Throughout the world , thousands of children are born with life-threatening diseases and conditions , which man , through genetic science , is now potentially capable of either treating , or maybe even entirely eliminating . By allowing genetic scientists the necessary freedom to continue with research , and to use the recent advancements that science has acheived in embryo screening , future generations will be able to live longer and healthier lives (Bionet , 2007

Within your statement you claim that More than two decades of research using mouse embryonic stem cells have produced no treatments . that are safe or effective enough for anyone to propose in humans . These cells have not helped a single human being (Richard M . Doerflinger 2007 . However , in recent years genetic science has already saved , and changed , the lives of many , giving hope to families facing desperate situations . Adam Nash 's birth , in August 2000 , is just one example which so clearly demonstrates the beginning of a whole new adventure that is just beginning to open before man

Adam 's embryo was chosen after having been screened for Fanconi anemia (FA , which is a rare , and often fatal , congenital blood dis , due to the fact that Adam 's parents ' were both carriers of the disease . They already had one child , Molly , who had been born with the rare blood dis , and the Nash 's wanted a sibling for their little girl - but one who was not inflicted with the same dis . However , doctors through the use of PGD , were able to find an embryo with tissue that matched Molly 's , which led to their daughter being cured

For the first time in medical history doctors blended the sciences of in vitro fertilisation , stem cells , and genetic screening (5280 .com 2005 . One-day-old embryos were tested for FA 's genetic code , and healthy ones were further screened for a tissue match . The embryo was then transplanted into Lisa Nash 's womb and immediately after Adam 's birth blood was removed from the umbilical cord . This was then used for the critical , life-saving transplant

Today both Molly and Adam Nash are healthy , normal children that can along with their parents , look ahead with confidence (ScienCentralNews 2004

Clearly research is needed to determine whether the use of embryos is murder , and restrictions enforced to ensure that asthetic choices , such as gender and appearence , are not permitted . But medical sicence isn 't interested...