Foetal Stem Cell Research example essay topic

'Should we allow cloning of foetal cells for use in medicine?' This essay includes the key ideas and student outcomes C 11. Human being culture cells for a variety of purposes, Understand techniques of cell cultures, and discuss some contemporary examples of their use and C 12. Chemicals can interfere with cell metabolism, Discuss possible benefits and / or harmful effects of chemicals that human beings use. 'Should we allow cloning of foetal cells for use in medicine?' is a current and controversial topic among many Australians. The debate lies on the source of the foetal stem cells; this topic has attracted criticism from many at the individual, global and social levels including religious groups whom believe that only god had the right to take away life.

Stem cells are key cells, which have the capacity to develop in many different cell types such as blood, muscle, skin and nerve cells. Stem cells come from foetal cells, among the first to appear as a fertilized egg develops. Another rich source is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord after birth. Stem cells have the capacity to divide and replicate indefinitely in culture, which may prove useful for the treatment of some conditions. Human foetal stem cells can also be cultured in large numbers, clonal ly propagated, genetically manipulated, differentiated in alternative ways under the influence of specific growth factors, and induced to form mature cardiac and neuronal cell types. Researches aim to gain useful foetal cells through natural or organized abortion or stillbirths.

Scientists can use these unique properties of stem cells to produce limitless supplies of most human cell types. In fact cell therapy has the potential to treat any disease that is associated with cell dysfunction or damage, including stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, heart attack, spinal cord injury, cancer and AIDS. Ultimately, embryonic stem cell research will open the door to cloning in all its forms. There are many positive benefits to the individual which may arise from stem cell research such as the ability to aid many serious illnesses: e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, heart disease and cancer. It is hoped that the new cells may be guided to replace and repair damaged tissue. The impacts of the cloning of foetal cells could also have a positive impact on society as there would be less people in the hospital systems suffering from some of these diseases and therefore the costs to the health care system would be reduced.

Along with positive benefits there are also a number of negatives for such research. There are a number of important ethical and practical reasons for not using foetal stem cells. Such as the cancer potential of embryonic stem cells remains a real concern to the patient in using these cells. The risk of tissue rejection is also a major problem associated with embryonic stem cells. From a society point of view the procedure may be too expensive initially for widespread use. Lastly one of the most concerning negatives at a global level is that allowing stem cells to be taken from cloned foetal may open the door to reproductive cloning.

At this stage foetal stem cell research has not helped a single patient in the entire world. It has a zero success rate worldwide to date. Scientists are even admitting that all the potential benefits of foetal stem cells are still a long way off. Currently Australian Federal law does not permit federal funds to be spent on this type of research however, John Howard believes that foetal stem cell research should be legislated both federally and by the nation's six states He believes that there would be enough support in Parliament to pass such legislation. With the nations six states favor using foetal stem cells to research cures for diseases. Reuters, 2002 I'm unsure whether or not the cloning of foetal cells for use in medicine should be allowed to go ahead in Australia.

There are a lot of positives and there are a lot of negatives towards such treatment. One of my major concerns is, are scientists promising hundreds of people cures that are non-existent? On the other hand if scientists were able to find cures by using foetal stem cells it would be a huge advantage to the thousands of people who suffer from these diseases Australia wide. Although if a law is introduced to allow the cloning of foetal stem cells for the use in medicine I believe that they should only be allowed to use the stem cells from stillbirths or abortions, as the fetuses will already be dead therefore there no one will be taking away life.