Stem cell research

STEM CELL RESEARCH

2006

A heated debated has taken place among the scientific community within the last two years . The controversy involves stem-cell research particularly testing of human embryos in this newly discovered field Embryo stem cells are undifferentiated cells which 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 holding a promising treatment of many diseases and conditions . But where do the researchers get the embryo cells

used for their research ? Some are taken from the labs of in-vitro clinics , others are taken from miscarried embryos , and the remaining are taken from aborted embryos , with the consent of the parent ( Stem Cell Research ' Religioustolerance .org . Opponents say these scientists are treading on very thin water , crossing a dangerous line between man and Maker . The battle lines have been clearly drawn as our lawmakers debate whether to fund this controversial research . In to fully arrive at an answer on stem cell research , three fundamental questions must be considered : Can stem cell research live up to the hype ? Do better alternatives exist ? And , finally , When does life begin ? When all of these factors are considered , we may arrive at

a surprising conclusion : embryonic stem cell research is not a desirable - or even a viable -

medical treatment

The Advocates Say : 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 ' - Christopher Reeve ( Stem Cell Research ' Religioustolerance .org

But . While the aims of stem cell research proponents are admirable how much do they really

know about this promising cure-all ? If stem cell research really holds all of the answers that its

defenders claim , then our global healthcare system may have discovered a talisman of un-

precedented proportions . However , evidence from some of the field 's leading scientists suggests

that stem cell research may be nothing more than this generation 's snake oil ' Lord Winston

one of the leading pioneers of embryonic stem cell research in Europe said I view the current

wave of optimism about embryonic stem cells with growing suspicion (Coburn , Stem-Cell Bill

Rests . In addition , Chief Executive Office of Human Genome Sciences William Haseltine

claimed that The routine utilization of human embryonic stem cells for medicine is 20 to 30

years hence . The timeline to commercialization is so long that I simply would not invest (Swenson , Embryonic Stem Cell Fairy Tales . So , while defenders of embryonic stem cell

research truly believe in the cells ' potential to be the next Penicillin , leading researchers are

highlighting two key problems with stem cell research : over-exaggerated claims concerning its

current usefulness and unrealistic expectations for its future usefulness

Foremost , current research has revealed some critical problems in using embryonic stem

cells for therapeutic purposes . Experiments have shown a strong capacity for...