The Ethics of Embryonic Stem Cell Research - Essay Example

The ancient science restricted totipotency to plants only upto its advanced levels. It refers to ability of a single cell to divide and produce, most but not all, differentiated cell in an organism. Modern scientific research has extended this phenomenon to human beings whereby a cell undergoes differentiation through pluriponent cell to multipotent cells (Hams, 12). This field of research in animals and human beings is referred to as embryonic stem cell research. The first cases of its success were found in frogs and this prompted for more researches in higher animals. In 1996 a success in cloning sheep was attained when "Dolly the sheep" was successfully cloned. This sparked emphatic research in man. The technology had its significant appraisal where its contribution to alleviating human suffering has had positive role to play. However, the technology has had unethical, reprehensible and morally repugnant connotations in cases where it has been used for human reproduction. Cloning involves use of cells to produce or create an identical copy of the original. This owes its' tributes to the fact that stem cells can be influenced to develop to most of the 220 types of cells found in the human body such as the brain cells, blood cells, muscles, heart cells etc. since the development of antibodies research have taken practical inclination to this phenomena as a potential way to alleviate human suffering (221). The United States has long and proud history and record as a world-leading example towards advocacy for advances in sciences and medicine that improve human life. Simultaneously as the boundaries of science and knowledge are expanded, the United States leads the world as a proponent of maintaining the highest standards of moral ethics. In view of this bio cloning has both sides of positive contribution to scientific development in favor of man and adverse effects to human moral ethics. Positive contribution of cloning: Adult stem cell research There is great potential hope and promise held by human stem cells for therapies development towards damaged organism regeneration. The ultimate result of this is healing people suffering from harsh diseases. Unlike the cases of using embryo as the source of the cell researchers have established other potential sources of diverse adult tissues. These include; umbilical cords discarder after babies are born, human placenta, bone marrow, fat, nerves, amniotic fluid, pulp of baby teethe and muscles. All these have been found to be a source of versatile stem cells. Such serious disease like childhood leukemia, juvenile, diabetes, Alzheimer's Parkinson, spinal cord injuries, heart diseases, multiple sclerosis, cancer, burns have found their cure (Hams, 35). The achievement made so far regards these diseases and methods used have not violated the moral ethics respect and dignity of the human person. Effects of bio cloning to moral ethics. Embryonic stem cell research is a leading controversy of a series of moral hazards. Embryonic stem cells exhibit indefinite replication ability in a culture dish offering unlimited generation for therapy, research and industrial application. Embryonic stem cell research refers to a mode of research where cells obtained from destroying human embryo at their late first week of age are used for therapeutical purpose, there are two sources of the embryo (Hams, 70 ). First embryos may be created from intro fertilization. The ethical use of intro fertilization is helping infertile couples to get a child. Fertilization is done outside the mother's womb. Not all embryos are planted in the womb and the remaining otherwise called leftovers are frozen and stored for future use. The surplus embryos of invitro fertilization may be used in any of the four methods named below: May be donated for research Many be donated to other infertile couples May be preserved at very low temperatures May be discarded In case of use for research, the entire embryo is destroyed to facilitate harvesting stem cell. This is where moral ethics are violated since a human being has been killed in a petri dish. This is no less than killing a baby in the womb because age and numbers does not matter (Hams,111). Secondly the embryo may be derived from somatic sell nuclear transfer technology known as human cloning. This embryonic stem cell research technology has both therapeutical and reproductive orientations. The purpose of these two technologies bears moral ethical failure. The method bears its origin to development of "Dolly the sheep" 1996. The nucleus from adult don or cell is inserted into a donated egg cell from which the nucleus has been removed. The donor nucleus provides DNA for function and division of the new cell. For reproductive purposes the embryo is planted in the mother to develop upto birth. Incase of therapeutical purposes the embryo after a few days to obtain stem cells from experiments (Humber, 78) Serious issues to contemplate Frozen embryos are also a form of human life and thus it is precious to be protected. Should they be destroyed by all means Could they be used for a greater good These puzzles should be approached by all means and their results should reflect respect and dignity towards human morals and ethics. Therefore the opinions of researchers should be principally supported with arguments by the opinions of the following professionals: scientific, scholars, bioethics, religious leaders, doctors, researchers' and members of the congress. The issues of considerations in the minds of all these grounds should be centered on appropriate appraisal of human moral ethics. The crucial concern should be the qualification of the embryo in question as a human life. It is common knowledge that clusters of cells started human life and are seeds of future generations. Majority researchers who are oriented to use of the left over embryos of invitro fertilization and cloning urge that these embryos are leftovers of a process that helps create life. They propose the couples should be allowed to donate them to researchers to put them to their good purpose instead o wasting their potential. Others urge to the contrary and in favor of human moral ethics. According to the latter, there exists no excess life meaning immorality is exhibited when these embryos are used for scientific research and experiments. They are against exploitation of the human life as a natural resource. This is analogous to the slave trade that was also a reality though a human moral ethically (Turner, 68) Serious moral problems Destruction of human life: a human embryo is no less then a human being. Destruction of an embryo derived from invitro fertilization or cloning means that a human life has been destroyed. Serious moral problems: pragmatism that is potential ability to cure diseases using methods detrimental to human life dignity and morality is unethical. The proponents maintain that is a small price to pay compared to the extent of economic development achieved but this is morally baseless. Harming human beings is unavoidable when embryonic stem cell research is used as a therapeutical asset. The proponents also support their course that ultimately the embryo is going to die. This is an oversight of the fact that morality is evident when a terminally ill person is killed or a death row convict is killed. Serious moral problems: therapeutical use of embryonic stem cell research victimizes woman. A huge number of female eggs are needed to accomplish the goals of this course. The derivation of these eggs calls for pain, inconveniences and health risks. Therefore, since the eggs must be donated for the success of the project, only women driven by need such as poverty an others would donate eggs for the experiment. Horrific experiences: stories have arisen in abstract forms that have sounded sorrowful to their listeners examples of these are situations whereby extremely rich people keep clones locked in their safes to extract spare parts when they are sick. Others suggest that evil dictators would clone thousand of perfectly made soldiers to take over the world. Laboratories would also clone many masses to be used as slaves. Conclusion In vitro fertilization has been found to have positive attributes to economic development when non-embryonic cells are used in therapeutical fields. It has simultaneously been observed to exhibit immoral ethics when embryonic stem cell research is used in the same field rather than its morally accepted reproductive field by infertile couples. Cloning on the other hand has no moral application in the human ethics. The only place where it finds application is the case of natural twins, which arises from a single fertilized egg. Cloning raises health risks due to gene mutation the genetic material derived form adult continues to age such that the new born baby should be more than 30 years old at the time of birth. Many clones have been destroyed by researchers due to worries of how they might recreate or they have spontaneously aborted. Cloned humans also may suffer great emotional risk as they struggle to establish own identity. Creating a countless number of individuals denies the original person existence and becomes nothing less than a lump of flesh and bones with a few identical counterparts. Each of us was an embryo. Human life starts at a stage of fertilization. At this early stage each member is worthy respect and protection from harm threatened by embryonic stem cell research. Works Cited Page Ronald, Cole Turner. Human cloning. Westminister John Knox Press 1st edition 1997 ISBN 13-978-06644257712 James. M.Humber, Robert F Almeder. 1998. Human cloning (Biomedical Ethics Review) Hamana press 1st edition 1998. ISBN 13: 978- 0896035652 John, Hams. Cloning, Routledge, an imprint of Taylor and Francis books ltd 1st edition. 2004. ISBN 13: 978-0415317009 Read More