Embryonic Stem Cell Research example essay topic

Human embryonic stem cell research has become a big moral issue throughout the world. There are a vast amount of reasons to stop this research all together and even more to keep it alive. This research could very well be the answer to almost all of our health problems, but yet there are still some people that are against it saying that we don't have the right to do this and "we " re not god". But like most good things in life, there are sacrifices to be made. What are human embryonic stem cells and how can it be beneficial to our society? Human embryonic stem cells are a self-renewing cell line that give rise to all cells and tissues of the body ranging from muscle tissue to nerves to blood, and maybe any type of cell that makes up the body...

There is potential for these cells to allow permanent repair to failing organs by injecting healthy functional cells developed from them, also known as regenerative medicine. The ability to do this would change the world of medicine. This means that major organs such as the brain, heart, and the spinal chord that are severely damaged from disease could be injected with these cells and instead of just stopping the disease, like we do now, you could actually regenerate some new cell and restore the organ. In November of 2000, President Clinton said that he could endorse the studies done on IVF (in vitro fertilization) that were created for the purpose of reproduction. But he could not support the creation of embryos via IVF for the sole purpose of research. Meaning that scientists just can't go out and create an embryo in a test tube and use that for his or her studies.

This is the main reason that people are against the research. Elizabeth Cohen was interviewed on CNN and she had this to say". Their reason to oppose it is because they say life starts at conception whether that conception is done the natural way or done in a petri dish in an IVF lab somewhere. They say that these leftover IVF embryos frozen in labs all over the country could at any time be implanted into a woman's uterus and become a child and, in fact, have pointed out that some infertile couples have adopted these embryos and impregnated the wife and today have happy healthy children".

This is a good point. I don't want to kill embryos that could possibly become human beings either. But that's what has to happen in this situation. Its not like they " re letting mothers hold these embryos up until time of birth and then cutting them out and using them for research. They are using them while they are embryos. When a couple decides to have a child using IVF doctors usually produce more embryos, using the sperm and the egg, than are actually planted in the mother.

The remainder of these are stuck in a freezer and kept there in case another is needed. Once the pregnancy is successful these embryos are either dead from the wait, destroyed, or given to scientists for research. There was only one positive choice out of those three conclusions. If they " re going to die anyway, why don't we use them for something that could change mankind? There is no child present, and they feel no pain. And in doing this millions of lives could be saved.

Sacrifices have got to be made to get something good in the long run. I for one am for stem cell research. I think if there is any way to do away with the vast amount of diseases in the world today, we should take all necessary steps to do so. This issue has been brought before congress time and time again. Michael J Fox had a spoke to congress on September 14, 2000 supporting the research. As you may know Fox suffers from Parkinson's disease.

So the new techniques that are being developed could change his life in ways we can only imagine. Before congress Fox said, "For two years you have had a parade of witnesses -- scientists, ethicist's, theologians of every school, and some celebrities -- discussing every nuance of stem cell research. You " ve given time to all sides of the issue, including the few but very vocal opponents. But the consistent and inescapable conclusion is that this research offers the potential to eliminate diseases -- literally save millions of lives. So, while I applaud your thoroughness, I can't help but say, respectfully: 'Enough! Its time to act on what we " ve learned.

Sadly we " ve already lost two years' progress toward a cure. Further delay would come at a high price. This is why I'm back before the committee today. Every day funding is delayed means that a person with Parkinson's is getting closer to total loss of independence or slipping slowly toward the progressive inevitability of this disease. These delays have real human consequences measured in suffering and loss of life". This to me is an easy decision.

There is no price for human life. And if a cluster of cells can help save human lives then that's what we have to sacrifice. People like Michael J Fox and Christopher Reeves should be able to have hope. If not for themselves then at least for the people that will exist in the future. If you had the choice to either save your dying father or save your potential cousin that has not even begun to develop into an actual functioning human life form, which would you choose? It goes without saying that you " re going to save your father.

It just comes down to the fact that the person that is being helped is already a living human being and they have, in some way, impacted the human race. And the cells that are being used to help, are just that, cells. There is no way you can develop an emotional attachment to a group of cells. All you can do is get emotionally attached to the idea or the person you imagine it to become, which more than likely is not what its going to become. When it comes down to it, stem cell research has great potential.

This could be the biggest thing in medical history, past, present, and future. There are a lot of pros and cons that have to deal with this subject. And in the end there are probably more cons than pros. But its not the quantity of the pros and cons, it's the quality. And the quality of prolonging the life of existing humans out ways saving cells that could, and I emphasize could, become a human.