Embryonic and Adult Stem Cells - Research Paper Example

?Ar Stem Cell Research 10/09 Stem Cell Research In the world today different ethical issues have arose in all the technical aspects of life such as medicine, health, engineering, and accounting. One such ethical issue which has raised controversies these days is the stem cell research. Stem Cells are those cells which are found in all multicellular organisms such as human beings. Stem cells have the potential to divide continuously and form complex structures which are known as organs. These organs then work together in a systemic manner to produce a living human being. Thus stem cells are the basic root for the existence of the multicellular organisms. These stem cells previously were not given enough heed to be researched upon, but recently as the world of medicine has improved research on the stem cells have become an important breakthrough in the world of science (Solo & Pressberg 2007). Stem cells can be of two types which are embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are retrieved from human embryos whereas adult stem cells are retrieved from the organs of adults. Because of the stem cells to proliferate rapidly and form organs it is important for the medical experts to discover the inner functioning of these stem cells. And thus it has become important to retrieve these stem cells from the embryo and adults. The ethical issue arises in the concept of retrieving the stem cells from human embryos. In the process of retrieving the stem cells the scientists have to destroy the human embryo and in this process a death of a human being may be caused as believed by the opponents of stem cell research. However the proponents believe that the embryo has yet not developed enough to be called a human being and thus a life is not being taken. This essay would further revolve around both these view points and would provide with a definite conclusion as to which view point is more convincing (Newton 2007). According to the scientists stem cell research can be a breakthrough in the medical world to cure many of the diseases which are causing deaths. These stem cells give birth to the organs in the body and it is because of these stem cells that a systemic way of functioning is observed in the human beings. Thus the very reason of the existence of these organs can help to transform many medical researches into success. The exact functioning of these stem cells can help the doctors to replace organs which have become dead or diseased due to any condition in the human being and they can further provide ways to complete healing in a human being. It is believed that successful research on the stem cells can provide a way for breakthrough in the cure of genetic and nervous disorders. Stem cells can help to replace the neurons placed in the body if the research is successful and the parts of brain which are not functioning may be able to function because of these stem cells (Newton 2007; Solo & Pressberg 2007). The question now arises as to why these stem cells are not being used for research by the medical experts. The answer is given by the controversial debates of the moral thinkers. Human Embryonic Stem Cells can be retrieved from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst. As a human embryo begins to develop a blastocyst is formed which consists of an inner cell mass and an outer cell mass which is known as trophoblast. Acquiring the stem cells requires the destruction of the outer cell mass of trophoblast and thus the immediate death of the embryo (Thomas et al 1998). This death of the embryo has caused many arguments to be raised against the stem cell research. According to the opponents the killing of embryo is just like killing an innocent citizen and depriving him of his rights. These opponents argue that a life emerges the very moment a zygote is formed because of fertilization and after this process the killing of the child would be unethical and against the rules of this world. (George & Gomez-Lobo 2002, 258). However the proponents for stem cell research point out here that even a zygote can transform into different zygotes to continue as an embryo for twins. Thus one cannot necessarily proclaim that he is born of that single zygote (Parfit 1984). They also argue that a zygote is not a complex organ or group of cells which are working in coordination to form a life. They are merely cells which might or may not give birth to an organism. Zygote only consists of a layer of cells which are proliferating at a rapid rate and not providing any chance of breath to the new embryo (Smith & Brogaard 2003, McMahan 2002). It is believed that the coordination of cells begins when the embryo is of 16 days and thus damage to a five day embryo should not be considered damage to the life of an individual. But this again is disregarded by the opponents as they argue that coordination is witnessed even in the five day embryo as the cells are continuously proliferating to give different layers to the embryo ((McMahan 2007a). Stem cell research should be discontinued as argued by its opponent because embryo is pronounced as a living human being who is innocent. According to these opponents even the five day embryo has the moral rights to live and not die for social researches. However this is denied by the proponents of stem cell research as they put forward the fact that a five day embryo does not have access to moral rights. They put forward the concept of mental capability which a five day embryo does not possess. Moreover these proponents also put forward the claim that this embryo might turn out to be an individual who does not respect moral rights of others and thus serving the society would be a better destiny for him (Kuhse & Singer 1992, Tooley 1983, Warren 1973). Another argument for research comes for individuals who are donating their embryos for research. The arguments put forward claim that these embryos might come in use by other infertile couples and they should not be used for research purposes. They put forward the claim that if these embryos are used for research purposes then they are to be definitely killed and killing an innocent life is immoral. But here also the proponents put forward an argument which states that in some of the cases the embryo is not to be utilized by anyone but rather destructed. These embryos which are rather destructed should be researched upon as they would prove to be a breakthrough in the medical world and if the research is successful it could save the lives of many individuals living in the world. They believe that abortions already kill the embryo in the mind of the parents and these abortions are not providing the society with any good but on the other hand if these embryos from abortions are used for research purposes then they might do a good to the whole society (Curzer 2004; Green 2002). The proponents of the stem cell research also claim that for the greater good of society one can do a minor wrong. They believe that for the betterment of these embryos and adults only the research is being done in a proper way and if the research becomes successful enough then many such embryos would be saved from destruction. They also put forward religious claims with different quotes which state that an isolated fertilized egg does not necessarily enjoy the right of being called a human. It is claimed by these proponents that many of the embryos may go on to develop complications in the women who are bearing it and it is not necessary that a normal child is born of the very embryo. Hence these embryos can serve the greater good of the society by serving people and providing a way for the research on stem cells. Another view point that the proponents provide is that the blastocyst is not a living human being because it does not contain a heart or brain. According to these proponents an embryo is only considered to be human when it has a heart or a brain which controls its bodily functions. In countries where abortion has been made legal high rates of abortion have been reported. The proponents put forward that these abortions may be killing an embryo without any reason so if these abortions are used in an effective way it will not cause any harm to the society but would rather bring good to this society (Newton 2007; Solo & Pressberg 2007). Currently many research therapies are being carried out to find the viability of the stem cells. A study done in New England Journal of Medicine validates the use of stem cells in the patients who are suffering from leukemias. The research undertook many patients into consideration who were suffering from leukemias and their treatment options. The research then compared the patients who were provided with stem cell transplants with those who were not and it was found that stem cell transplant from newborn babies were effective in treating these patients. Thus it was concluded that leukemias can be treated with effective treatment by adult stem cells (Leukemia Patients Survive with Stem Cell Transplant, 2004). Similarly another research done by the UC researchers showed that bone marrow stem cells can be used to effectively treat disorders which are related to the eye. These stem cells can greatly help to cure the genetic eye disorders in children. Research done by the UC researchers was carried out on animals and the tests were positive. This showed that stem cells may also effectively work on human subjects to cure eye disorders (Bone Marrow Stem Cells May Cure Eye Disease, 2007). Not only this, but it was also found that adult stem cells can be used to cure heart attacks by the British physicians. The new treatment helped the heart muscles to recover from the shock that the treatment received. In other words because of the patients own stem cells the patient could recover from a heart attack as their heart muscles could be revived (Julie Wheldon, 2006). Another research carried out on skin cells to make them act as the stem cells worked quite effectively in treating rats with diseases of the brain. Parkisons Disease is one of the examples which the rats were suffering from and showed improvement because of the stem cells. This clearly shows that embryonic stem cells which are considered to be the basic cells of an organism can provide a breakthrough in treatments of different diseases which were previously not curable. (Stem Cells from skin treat brain disease in Rats, 2008). Another research being carried out in Spain shows that stem cells can greatly help to treat genetic disorders such as the Crohn’s Disease. It was found that 20% of the patients on which the stem cell transplant was carried out showed improvement in their Crohn’s Disease (Sunyer, 2009). All the researches which are being carried out on the stem cells are somewhat showing a positive result. And the arguments given by the proponents of stem cell research are more convincing in comparison to the opponents. If these stem cell researches are funded and widely supported then they can greatly help to cure diseases which were previously not curable. The embryos which are destroyed in abortions and other mishaps can be used here as they would serve the society and would save millions of lives. Donations of embryos can also be considered to be of vital importance for the research in stem cells. The stem cell research should be funded and provided with all the resources so that it can progress and save many lives (Newton 2007; Curzer 2004; Solo & Pressberg 2007). References Curzer, H., 2004, “The Ethics of Embryonic Stem Cell Research” 29, no. 5: 533-562. Green, R., 2002, “Benefiting from ‘Evil’; An Incipient Moral Problem in Human Stem Cell Research,” Bioethics 16/6: 544-556. George, R.P., and Gomez-Lobo, A., 2002, “Statement of Professor George (Joined by Dr. Gomez-Lobo),” in Human Cloning and Human Dignity: An Ethical Inquiry, report by the President's Council on Bioethics: 258-266. IDIBAPS - Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (2009, February 21). New Therapy With Stem Cells To Treat Crohn's Disease. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 23, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090219105326.htm Kuhse, H., and Singer, P., 1992, “Individuals, Human, and Persons: The Issue of Moral Status,” in Embryo Experimentation: Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues, eds. Singer, P. et al., Cambridge University Press: 65-75 McMahan, J., 2002, The Ethics of Killing: Problems at the Margins of Life, New York: Oxford University Press. McMahan, J., 2007a, “Killing Embryos for Stem Cell Research,” Metaphilosophy, 38, Nos. 2-3: 170-189. Newton, D. E. (2007). Stem cell research. Library in a book. New York, NY: Facts On File. Parfit, D., 1984, Reasons and Persons, Oxford: Clarendon Press. Solo, P., & Pressberg, G. (2007). The promise and politics of stem cell research. Westport, Conn: Praeger. Smith, B., and Brogaard, B., 2003, “Sixteen Days,” Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, 28: 45-78. Thomson, J.A., et al., 1998, “Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Derived from Human Blastocysts,” Science 282: 1145-47. Tooley, M., 1983, Abortion and Infanticide, New York: Oxford University Press. University of Cincinnati (2007, May 13). Bone Marrow Stem Cells May Cure Eye Disease.ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 23, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070510160859.htm Bottom of Form Top of Form University Hospitals Of Cleveland (2004, November 30). Leukemia Patients Survive With Stem Cell Transplant. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 23, 2010, from Warren, M.A., 1973, “On the Moral and Legal Status of Abortion,” Monist, 57: 43-6.Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Read More