Stem cell - Research Paper Example

It has been a debate that covers the treatment, creation, and destruction of human embryos. Stem cells play an intricate part in the development of organisms; hence individuals believe that the manipulation of these cells is wrong. This paper will review the controversy that surrounds stem cell research, and some of the answers given about this controversial subject. The controversy surrounding stem cell research is the taking of embryonic cells from foetuses in order to get material to study.

The most opportune time is after conception, or during the 5th or 9th week. This is the time the foetus can start producing these cells. Biologists then use these cells to study their relation to an organism, or immediate environment. The controversy, therefore, borders on ethical boundaries (Robertson, 2010). People believe that it is unethical to manipulate cells to find out about their properties. Stem cells are unspecialised cells that can be manipulated into any specialised cells, for example, the brain cells.

With these cells, it is possible for scientists to restore, or regenerate cells that are otherwise, dead. It is through this research that this is made possible. Controversy has come up since during the harvesting of these cells there is the destruction of fertilised human eggs (Snow, 2003). This implies that the egg is killed, which further implies that the infant the egg would have grown into, is ultimately killed. Individuals, including some politicians, are campaigning to have stem cell research illegalised.

This is through the belief that stem cell research is killing human life. An example of this is the removal of public funding for all embryonic stem cell research. This happened in the United States. The morality behind stem cell harvesting is still a monumental problem that scientists face. In the harvesting of adult stem cells, the subject is less controversial. This is since human life is not at stake (Snow, 2003). The versatility and availability of adult stem cells has made this possible for scientists and biologists.

It raises a little concern to know about the legality of abortion in the Unites States. How can the removal of foetuses become legal, and yet the research carried out on fertilised eggs be branded illegal? It is like the pre-embryos get better treatment than the matured, fertilised egg, which has undergone more stages in the development. This is puzzling to most people who are against both abortion and stem cell research (Panno, 2005). If it is considered a moral thing to do in aborting a foetus, then it should be a moral, funded, and legal thing to carry about stem cell research.

Some of the answers given, when it comes to stem cell research, are particularly convincing. It is believed that this manipulation may open a different field of opportunities. The replacement of damaged body organs through this research is one of them. Scientists suggest that the damage done to body organs through disease can be restored with the use of stem cells. This is through the manipulation of these cells to more specialised ones to perform the functions of the dead cells in the body (Panno, 2005).

All this occurs during the research of these stem cells, and this should be a compelling reason to continue stem cell research. Aging is another answer that is often provided to the controversy surrounding stem cell research. The cells responsible for the aging in human beings can be altered, which leaves room for the introduction of