The Debate Over Stem Cells - 1144 Words

According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, ethical is defined as â€Å"pertaining to or dealing with morals or the principles of morality.† Whereas, unethical is defined as â€Å"lacking moral principles or unwilling to adhere to proper rules of conduct† (Dictionary). The topic of ethicality is often hotly debated in all aspects of society. As medicine and science begin to rapidly advance each day, the use of stem cells, in regards to research, is becoming extraordinarily prevalent. I believe that the use of stem cells is unethical to a certain extent. Stem cells are cells that are able to renew themselves as well as the ability to generate specialized cells. Scientists refer to these tiny, magnificent cells as stem cells because many different types of cells can stem from them. Stem cells have the ability to develop into other cell types that mature into cells that have specialized functions. For example, stem cells can progress into heart, skin, or nerve cells (Kelly 4). The two main stem cells used in research are embryonic stem cells and somatic stem cells (â€Å"Stem Cells†). Embryonic stem cells are taken from human blastocysts, which is a very early human embryo (â€Å"Stem Cells†). At this stage, the blastocyst has only been fertilized for five to ten days and consists of just one hundred to two hundred cells (Boston Children s Hospital). A common misconception regarding the derivation of embryonic stem cells is that they are derived from eggs fertilized in the woman’s bodyShow MoreRelatedThe Debate Over Stem Cells2008 Words   |  9 PagesHave you ever wondered what stem cells are and why they are important? Have you heard that stem cells are controversial but do not know why? Scientists have been studying stem cells and their ability to regenerate tissues in the body for years. Having the body regenerate itself is not as crazy as it once sounded. Stem cells are very small, immature cells in the human body that are capable of becoming many types of cells. Researchers have been able to find different applications in treating theRead MoreThe Debate Over Stem Cells1159 Words   |  5 Pagesdiabetes? These are just a few examples of the diseases that stem cells can treat. A stem cell is a cell that has the potential to mutate into many different types of cells in the body. Ever since stem cells were discovered, they have gained popularity and started to spark interest in scientists all across the world. Today there is a vigorous battle on the ethics, legalization, and experimentation of stem cells. Although stem cells are still being highly debated, they can open new doors in theRead MoreThe Debate Over Stem Cell Research936 Words   |  4 PagesStem cell research is full of controversy with a million different opinions on each side of the argument. In this essay, the â€Å"pro† side will be viewed and discussed. The background, the pros, the experiments and other information will be deliberated. Hopefully by the end of the composition, one will understand the benefits of stem cell research. In the early 1900s, Alexander A. Maximow was the first to actually use the term â€Å"stem cell† when he discovered the cell. He was a Russian-American physicianRead MoreThe Debate Over Embryonic Stem Cells851 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Over 100 million Americans suffer from diseases that eventually may be treated more effectively or even cured with embryonic stem cell therapy. Some researchers regard this as the greatest potential for the alleviation of human suffering since the advent of antibiotics† (White). However, not everybody agrees with this. While embryonic stem cells offer much hope for medical advancement because of their ability to grow into almost any kind of cell, the moral debate of the destruction of an embryoRead MoreThe Debate Over Stem Cell Research1027 Words   |  5 PagesStem cell research is the study of basic cells that are grown in laboratories where tests are made to determine the essential properties of the cells. Over the past few decades , stem cell research has become a popular scientific debate and controversy. Stem cell research is still considered to be relatively new technology that is responsible for taking human cells and developing them into 220 different cells in the human body. Stem cell research has the potential to help disease research and managementRead MoreThe Debate Over Stem Cell Research1196 Words   |  5 Pagesa major controversy over the topic of stem cell research. It seems to be that the main controversy when it comes to the topic of stem cell research is an ethical debate, and because of this it seems that the side opposing stem cell research always wins due to their use of pathos when it comes to their argument. I personally do not side with those against the idea of stem cell research because I believe that the pros outweigh the cons when you break it down this way. Stem cell research could be theRead MoreThe Debate Over Stem Cells And Cloning1398 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract Stem cells and cloning are very controversial today. There are debates and arguments about it all over the internet. The idea of stem cells is to use them to help cure and prevent diseases. You can use embryonic and adult stem cells. That’s one of the reasons people argue about it, because it kills the potential life of the embryo. [Stem Cells and Cloning] Stem cells and cloning is very controversial in today s society. Some people believe it’s not a good idea because it destroysRead MoreThe Debate Over Stem Cell Research1601 Words   |  7 PagesThe stem cell controversy has been going on for many years. The two basic controversies surrounding stem cell research is whether or not it is morally justifiable, and if stem cells will ever live up to the medical promises. Most of these controversies concern embryonic stem cells more than any other stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are unspecialized, but have the ability to divide and make specialized cells like muscles, nerves, and skin cells. These cells are found in the early stage of human developmentRead MoreThe Debate Over Embryonic Stem Cell Research1652 Words   |  7 PagesEmbryonic stem cell research could one day hold the key to many new scientific discoveries if it is continuously funded in the years to come. I chose to base my research around the question, Should embryo nic stem cell research be government funded? When I finish highschool I hope to pursue a career in the medical field. Although I wish to become a doctor and may not be directly researching stem cells, they may one day be a treatment that I will have to administer to patients. To answer this questionRead MoreThe Debate Over Embryonic Stem Cell Research1543 Words   |  7 PagesWhile embryonic stem cell research has been ongoing for more than 30 years, it has only become a controversial topic over the past decade. The embryonic stem cell was first isolated in 1981 by two scientists at the University of Cambridge. However, it wasn’t until 1998 at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where the first batch of embryonic stem cells were created in a test tube. In 2001, President George W. Bush approved the use of federal funding for research on this topic, following this action