Controversies Surrounding Human Stem Cell Research

CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING HUMAN STEM CELL RESEARCH
Omar Smith 22585392
2/13/18
Intro to biology SCI 120
25011100
A stem cell is an unspecialized organic cell that can multiply into similar cells indefinitely or differentiate into dedicated cells to produce specific organs. Scientists group them into embryonic and adult stem cells where they play the role of growth/development and tissue repair/regeneration respectively (Slack, 2012, 2). Pluripotent stem cells propagate themselves in laboratory cultures and grow into different types of distinct cells that play key functions in the body. They can specialize into the endoderm (internal tissues), mesoderm (internal organs) and ectoderm (external organs such as skin), making them a versatile raw material that can construct and deconstruct a body (Amit & Eldor, 2011, 91). In this essay, we consider the perspectives of the pro-adult stem cell research faction that considers adult stem cells as the legitimate frontier for research and speak against embryonic studies versus the pro-embryonic stem cell research faction who consider the human embryo as a valid vehicle for scientific studies.
Human stem cells are available in the body at various stages of growth from conception to birth through life and in numerous organs including the bone marrow, blood, umbilical cord, breast milk, amniotic fluid, etc. Embryos are also a rich source of stem cells due to their unique status as the primary construct from which the complex human organism grows. It is this possibility: the usage of embryos as sources of stem cells, which has recently raised controversy and ethical concerns among scientists and bioethicists in the research world. The usage of pluripotent stem cells that can differentiate into any of three types of cells (endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm) in research has raised questions and concerns among proponents and opponents of the methods involved (Kiessling & Anderson, 2003, 144).
Embryonic stem cells can grow ad infinitum in laboratory cultures and have the capability to differentiate into numerous cells that constitute body tissue. This has placed them at the center of research efforts to discover cures for various diseases. Proponents of embryonic stem cell research have several arguments in favor of the practices and procedures involved that necessarily lead to the destruction of embryos.
Some of the explanations of the pro-embryonic research faction express the view that embryos are not human life and stem cell research does not involve killing defenseless humans. This is in contrasts to pro-life activists who support adult human stem cell research. Proponents also contend that embryonic stem cells are of a higher quality and more numerous in embryos due to the robust growth at this stage, compared to adult stem cells. Generally, the two primary arguments that proponents prefer advance are considerations of embryos as not humans and the usefulness of stem cells for research efforts (Suarez & Huarte, 2011, 26).
Proponents of embryonic stem cell research have efficiency and quality on their side. Not only are embryonic stem cells more efficient to work with in research, they are more numerous and malleable than adult stem calls, giving scientists an eas...