Stem Cell Research

EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH : THE CASE FOR FUNDING

2007

A heated debated has taken place in the scientific community within recent

years . The controversy involves stem-cell research , particularly testing of human embryos in

this newly discovered field . Embryo stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have not yet

formed into any specific type of tissue . Some scientists believe that with the proper procedure

these cells can be manipulated into becoming any tissue in the body thereby promising potential

treatment for many diseases and conditions . But where do the

researchers get the embryo cells

used for their research ? Some cells are taken from the labs of in-vitro clinics others are taken

from miscarried embryos the remaining cells are taken from aborted embryos , with the consent

of the parent (American Association , Stem Cell Research . Opponents say stem cell

researchers are breaking ethical boundaries , crossing a dangerous line between man and Maker

The battle lines are drawn as our lawmakers debate funding for this controversial research . A

close examination of the contentious issue yields one conclusion : the federal government

should fund stem cell research so that scientists can continue their research to find cures for

diseases such as Alzheimer 's , Parkinson 's , and many incurable diseases

Many critics , including President George W . Bush , believe that embryonic stem cell

research crosses a taboo ethical line . In a 2001 speech , the President outlined these beliefs to a

national audience

Embryonic stem cell research is at the leading edge of a series of moral hazards . I also believe human life is a sacred gift from our Creator I worry about a culture that devalues life , and believe as your President I have an important obligation to foster and encourage respect for life in America and throughout the world . And while we 're all hopeful about the potential of this research , no one can be certain that the science will live up to the hope it has generated ( President Discusses ' White House

In 2001 , the President dictated that no federal funds would be allocated for embryonic

stem cell research , and that only already existing lines of stem cells would be available for

private research . The President also exercised his veto power on a proposed bill which

would have funded embryonic stem cell research (American Association Stem Cell Research

However , since the President 's restrictions were implemented , many more scientists

doctors , and ordinary citizens have united in their promotion of and belief in these tiny cells

Since their discovery in 1998 , embryonic stem cells have been promoted as a potential miracle

worker for the medical world . The National Institutes of Health states that stem cell research

promises news treatments and possible cures ' for a wide array of diseases and conditions

( Stem Cell Information . The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research has even

estimated that over 100 million American patients could possibly benefit from new treatments

arising from the research ( Stem Cell Research Religioustolerance .org

Why embryonic stem cells , and why not the adult stem cell research that many opponents

offer as an alternative avenue of scientific experimentation ? While a promising breakthrough

may alter current thinking , the present reality is that only embryonic stem cells are proven to

hold the unique potential for developing into any type of cell in the human body (American

Association , Stem Cell Research . Since embryonic cells are undifferentiated , scientists

believe that they can manipulate the cells into becoming brain cells heart cells , bone cells , or

many more options . The implications of this possibility for the medical world are enormous . If

a patient has a damaged heart , stem cells could be used to create the healthy beating cells of

heart tissue . If a person suffers from severe burns , stem cell therapy could be utilized rather than

painful and unpredictable grafting procedures . If an individual is afflicted with a spinal cord

injury , stem cells (by being developed into nerve cells ) may one day allow that person to walk

again (National Institutes of Health , Stem Cell Information

The late Christopher Reeve , a quadriplegic since 1995 , served as one of the movement 's

strongest advocates until his dying day . The paralysis victim simply asked for a chance .an

opportunity to enjoy a walk with his family .to take a jog in the park .not to live the life of

Superman , but rather the full life of the average man . Reeve never wavered in the belief that

stem cell research could give him that chance . In one of many pro-research interviews , the actor

stated the following : Stem cell research holds the promise of hope for 100 million people living

with incurable diseases from diabetes to heart conditions to Alzheimer 's to Parkinson 's , ALS

MS , and spinal cord injury . It will affect the entire American family ( Stem Cell Research

Religioustolerance .org ) Reeve was symbolic of many . In 1998 representatives of conditions

ranging from infertility to AIDS drafted a letter urging the federal government to support stem

cell research (Ostling , A Balance

Critics claim that true applicable uses for stem cell research are over-exaggerated or too

far in the future to be of valid concern today (Morris , Stem Cell Research . However , these

claims are refuted by more evidence every day . In one recent study researchers working with

mice were able to significantly ease the symptoms of a subject with Parkinson 's disease . The

scientists successfully manipulated the embryonic stem cells into a specific type of neuron

needed to treat the disease (National Institutes of Health , Stem Cell Information . Also

a 2004 article published in the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory

Physiology reported an exciting finding by the Mayo Clinic . Clinic researchers working with

human embryonic stem cells made a potentially revolutionary breakthrough for the estimated 23

million American citizens suffering from heart disease . They turned the stem cells into cardiac

cells , and then placed them in a damaged heart . After a long period of post-evaluation , the

researchers confirmed that the cells were not only accepted by their new home , but that they

rapidly improved the condition of the heart itself (Resnick , Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy

Many critics of stem cell research argue that no significant medical treatments have resulted

from current embryonic research . The aforementioned success stories speak to the falsity of that

belief . Stem cell research has already made amazing advancements in just a few years . The

progress which could be made with time and fewer restrictions cannot be estimated

Potential progress does not end with regenerative medicine . The medical

community is also hopeful about the basic research information which stem cells may provide

them . For starters , stem cells are a safer option for testing new drugs than human subjects . Their

amazing replication and differentiation capacities make them an ideal testing ground for any

number of treatments . Perhaps more importantly , cell development is a crucial link in under-

standing complex conditions such as birth defects and cancer . If stem cells afford scientists a

better understanding of normal cell development , then by extension they will also gain insight

into the causes of abnormal cell development which is the culprit behind many defects and

cancers (National Institutes of Health , Stem Cell Research Through that insight , treatments

can become more targeted and efficient . One day , stem cells may even hold the key to that

magic word known as cure "What could be more pro-life than working for a cure for a loved one "--Representative James

Langevin ( House Passes Embryonic Stem Cell Bill ' CNN

We have discussed some of the medical reasons for supporting embryonic stem cell

research , but let us now speak to the heart of the matter . The one question that truly drives

this debate is not about facts and statistics , but it is about the same fundamental question

which fuels the abortion debate : When does life begin ? Opponents of stem cell research

believe that life begins when an egg is fertilized . Since the majority of embryonic stem

cells derive from discarded embryos created by fertility clinics opponents argue that

using these embryos for research is in essence killing ' them (Morris Stem Cell Research

However , advocates argue just as strongly that they are working to save lives , not

take them . Embryos cannot see , feel , or think . These cells have no organs and no capacity for

awareness . The most that can be said for these pre-embryos is that they hold the potential for

developing into human life ( Stem Cell Research Religioustolerance .org . Many religious

groups even seem to hold this position and have few qualms with stem cell research , including

many Muslim and Jewish denominations (Ostling , A Balance

In addition , most if not all of the embryos used by fertility clinics will be either

intentionally or unintentionally destroyed . One survey revealed that upwards of fifty percent of

unused embryos are immediately discarded with the consent of the donor ( Stem Cell Research

Religioustolerance .org . Why not use these samples destined for the trash can to actually save

lives ? A fertility procedure typically results in two dozen fertilized eggs . Of these two dozen

only three or four are implanted in the patient . An estimated 100 ,000 to 400 ,000 unused

embryos currently lie in storage . Some say that these embryos should be put up for adoption

yet estimates say that only about a dozen such adoptions ' take place every year . Either the

donors are reluctant to have an unknown biological child somewhere in the world , or couples

desiring a child are reluctant to use the lower quality embryos that are frozen . The majority of

these embryos will end up destroyed (Ostling , A Balance

The debate about stem cell research will continue . But while we are busy arguing about

whether an egg is a life , millions of people with very real and very un-debatable lives are

suffering and dying every day . The courts have already answered this question for the

government by legalizing abortion . According to the laws of this land life begins at birth . So

why is the government setting a double standard when it comes to stem cell research

We live in a society that prides itself on progress and choice . Neither aim was

ever achieved easily . With change will always come resistance . With options will always

come argument . It is simply the way things are and always will be . But we should never

let the resistance or the argument stand in the way of those two principles .those two very

crucial principles which are the foundation of stem cell research and of our culture

WORKS CITED

American Association for the Advancement of Science and Institute for Civil Society . Stem

Cell Research and Applications : Findings and Recommendations ' AAAS . Copyright

1999 . Accessed November 25 , 2007 . Available HYPERLINK "http /www .aaas .org /spp /sfrl /projects http /www .aaas .org /spp /sfrl /projects

stem /findings .htm

House Passes Embryonic Stem Cell Bill ' CNN . Copyright 2005 Accessed November 25

Available HYPERLINK "http /www .cnn .com /2005 /POLITICS /05 /24 /stem .cells http /www .cnn .com /2005 /POLITICS /05 /24 /stem .cells

Morris , John . Stem Cell Research Will Offer No `Advance ' for Society ' Kansas City

Business Journal . Copyright American City Business Journals Inc Accessed November 25 , 2007 . Available HYPERLINK "http /www .bizjournals .com /kansascity /stories /2005 http /www .bizjournals .com /kansascity /stories /2005

02 /28 /editorial3 .html

National Institutes of Health . Stem Cell Information ' NIH Accessed November 25 , 2007

Available HYPERLINK "http /stemcells .nih .gov /index .asp http /stemcells .nih .gov /index .asp

Ostling , Richard N . A Balance of Benefits in the Stem Cell Debate Washington Post

Accessed November 25 , 2007 . Available HYPERLINK "http /www .washingtonpost " http /www .washingtonpost

com /wp-dyn /content /article /2005 /06 /03 /AR4 .html

President Discusses Stem Cell Research ' White House Press Briefings . Copyright 2001

Accessed November 25 , 2007 . Available HYPERLINK "http /www .whitehouse .gov /news /releases http /www .whitehouse .gov /news /releases / 2001 /08 /-2 .html

Resnick , Mayer . Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy Shows Steady Benefits in Rebuilding Infarcted

Heart ' The American Physiological Society . Copyright 2004 Accessed November 25

Available HYPERLINK "http /www .the-aps .org /press /journal /04 /23 .htm http /www .the-aps .org /press /journal /04 /23 .htm

Stem Cell Research : All Sides to the Dispute Religioustolerance .org . Accessed November

25 , 2007 . Available HYPERLINK "http /www .religioustolerance .org /res_stem .htm http /www .religioustolerance .org /res_stem .htm

PAGE

PAGE 8

Stem Cell Research ...