Stem Cell Research
by Why I believe stem cell research should continue.
In August 2001, President Bush put out a statement saying that federal funds would not be used to support new embryonic stem cell research. 200 members of the House of Representatives asked the President to put some more funding into the research, but many citizens did not want this to happen (Policies and Players). The President decided that federal funds could be used for existing cell lines, but none could be used on new human embryonic cell lines. This decision greatly limits federal funds needed for research.
In California, Proposition 71 was approved on November 2nd, 2004; this gave the state the ability to pour $3 billion dollars in bonds into stem cell research (Policies and Players). A majority of the population wanted this to happen. The proposition created the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The institute would give the money to small researchers. It is very obvious that former Governor Gray Davis and the state of California want stem cell research to be continued and studied. The majority of California citizens are willing to fund stem cell research (Policies and Players).
Some people do not wish for this to happen, they say it is morally wrong The Catholic Church states that this is the beginning of human life and should be defended, they say that it is not certain that it’s safe, and might create lethal tumors. (The Stem Cell Debate ). The Catholic Church also has a new slogan for the topic “Let’s find Cures We Can All Live With”. Some also believe that it is too risky financially (all that info came from the same article).
Many of the people that are against stem cell research either rarely or never mention the fact that they know it can be taken from adult tissue or bone marrow without harming the donor and there are already times when they have been used to heal (The Stem Cell Debate).
In conclusion, stem cells are cells that can differentiate into different cell types when subjected to the right kinds of biochemical signals. They can be harvested from embryos, fetuses, adults, and umbilical chord blood. They have great potential to help in the study of regenerative medicine and cure complex diseases. Research is needed to advance the safety of the use of these cells and to help mankind. The ethical debate is concentrated on money and morality. It is my belief that all stem cell research, and especially that of embryonic stem cells should be moved forward.
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Post Commentjhenz
On February 25, 2009 at 7:34 pm
i’ve heard of stem cells as being able to help generate good cells to those dying ones. i know little about it. your article have informed me so much about it.
thanks for this article caleb! keep it up.
Concerned Mother
On March 9, 2009 at 11:33 pm
You have obviously never had a child. As a mother who currently has a new son in her womb, I can tell you that my son is very much alive and a person in my womb. A baby is viable and able to survive at 22 weeks gestation, so I take issue with your statement that “a baby is not yet living until if comes out of the woman”. I think that you need to do more research before making such statements. An 8 week old fetus can feel pain in the womb. If you are going to advocate stem cell research, that is your choice, but you cannot say that life is not being taken in doing so.
Caleb Nico
On March 10, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Dear Concerned Mother,
I wrote this four years ago and in that time have altered some of my views on abortion and what you are talking about. I wrote that for the most liberal, science heavy teacher I’ve ever had. I think I must have put those views on abortion in there to satisfy her. I now agree that if a creature can feel pain then you can’t decide it’s ok to morally end its life.
Enough on the abortion debate though. I still think what stem cells can offer is great. If you read closely I did make a reference to better sources of Stem Cells. More moral sources of them.
To everyone that disagrees on my views on Stem Cells (and abortion because that’s what everyone relates it to…) I have a few things to say. You may not be respecting the baby’s life in an abortion, but the amount of good that can come out of it might be worth it. Kantian vs. utilitarian ethics strikes again!
Caleb Nico
Caleb Nico
On March 10, 2009 at 10:23 pm
oh and one other thing, I’m male so of course I haven’t had a child. I sometimes wish I could and I completely understand that I get less of a say on something I can’t experience. Just like how straight people shouldn’t have any say on Gay rights, correct?
Concerned Mother
On March 19, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Perhaps you might consider changing your article to fit your current views before posting it then. As far as my comment that you have not had a child, I mean that I would guess that you have not started a family of your own. My husband will attest to the fact that once you see your little one moving around on an ultrasound, the first of which occurs around 8 weeks, you are hard pressed to deny that they are alive and your child. As far as stem cell research is concerned, I would love to see a program that took advantage of all of the umbilical cord blood, containing many stem cells, that is wasted every time it is thrown away after a baby is delivered. That way stem cell research progresses and babies are born. We will have to agree to disagree as to whether research is worth the life of a child. That is something that I could never condone.