| Stem
Cell Research
Would you rather give researchers opportunities to save thousands or
perhaps millions of human lives from such diseases as Parkinsonˇs, Alzheimerˇs,
diabetes, etc. or discard frozen tissues that are still being debated
as to whether they are human lives, individuals, or not? Stem cell research
would give people a unique and potentially positive opportunity to save
lives, and yet it encounters fierce opposition.
So, what are stem cells? Stem cells are undifferentiated cells. They
are undetermined as to which specific cells that they are going to be.
The specific cells could turn out to be brain cells, heart cells, lung
cells, etc. There are two ways to obtain stem cells. One method is to
obtain them from embryos, and these are called embryonic stem cells.
Another method is to obtain them from bone marrow or umbilical cords,
and these are called adult stem cells. Some scientists believe that
embryonic stem cells are more versatile and last longer. Other scientists
do not know which one is more beneficial. But, they all believe that
stem cells are the keys for curing many diseases.
Stem cell research is in its early stage. It needs federal funding.
Private funding is not enough. Massive funding from the federal government
is the only source for handling such a large scale project. Many scientists
also believe that since the research is in its very early stage, sharing
information is crucial. Public funding is the only way to make sharing
of information obligatory.
Private funding is small. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet could donate
all of their fortune to the research, but they can not match what the
government can give. In addition, private research is for profit. They
have an incentive to withhold information. One result is that researchers
may work on the same thing or repeat the same experiment. In essence,
each private company has to learn everything on their own which wastes
time. On the other hand, public funded researchers will have to share
information by law, which helps to speed up the research.
Stem cell research opponents are trying to stop public funding of stem
cell research. They claim that it destroys human lives since the embryos
are no longer viable after stem cells are taken out of embryos. They
believe that life starts at conception, either in a womanˇs uterus or
in a Petri dish (Cohen). However, proponents of stem cell research believe
that embryonic stem cells are not considered a life form yet. Dr. Michael
West of Advance Cell Technology stated that stem cells are not individualized,
that they are not body cells of any kind. He said: ¨to ascribe to un-individualized
cell the status of a human is a logical inconsistency〃 (Qtd. in Wildmoon).
West believes that once cells become individualized, then life is established.
Since a stem cell is in an undifferentiated stage, it does not turn
into individual cells like lung cells, brain cells, or muscle cells.
Therefore, life has not been established. The majority of scientists
use stem cells from embryos that are only a few days old. So, life is
not destroyed during the process of obtaining embryonic stem cells.
Embryos of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) can be frozen indefinitely,
be discarded, donated to other couples, or donated for scientific research
(Cohen). Generally, there are few IVF embryos that are donated to couples.
Most embryos are discarded, for it is expensive to keep them frozen.
Thousands of stem cells from embryos have been wasted. Meanwhile, thousands
of lives could have been saved if scientists had the chance to study
these stem cells.
Interestingly enough, there are many conservative, influential, anti-abortion
supporters of embryonic stem cell research. For example Nancy Reagan,
Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, Gordon Smith of Oregon, Arlen Specter of
Pennsylvania, and Bill Frist of Tennessee. In addition, there are celebrities
such as Michael J. Fox and the late Christopher Reeve, who support the
research as well (Cohen). Senator Bill Frist, who is also a physician,
stated:
I am absolutely convincedthat we can address the use of living tissue,
of living cells that otherwise would not be used. I believe within an
appropriate ethical construct, we can use that tissue to the benefit
of hundreds of others, thousands of others, may be millions of others.
(Qtd. in Wildmoon)
Stem cell research and its usefulness are becoming popular and are recognized
nationally, even among the most conservative.
Because of the potential of the research, there are many wealthy countries
in the world starting to get involved in the research, such as the United
Kingdom, Sweden, and Singapore. Their governments offer funding and
a lax regulating environment for scientists research. This attracts
many top U.S. biomedical scientists.
The U.S. is facing a difficult situation. The U.S. can either stop public
funding and depend on other countries for its stem cell research technologies
or support its scientists by allowing public funding for the research
so that The U.S. can look forward to the day that all of its people,
rich or poor, will live a healthier life. The deepest fear is that if
the U.S. is behind in stem cell research and is depending on other countries,
then only the rich will be able to afford to travel overseas to get
treatments and the poor will have to stay behind and endure unnecessary
pain and agony.
People need to call or write their senators and congresswomen to express
their feelings about how stem cell research can save lives and to influence
them to fund stem cell research.
Works Cited
Cohen, Elizabeth. ¨Ethics or Stem Cell Research.〃 CNN.com
18 July 2001. CNN. 15 Oct 2006
<http://archives.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/07/17/cohen>.
Wildmoon, K.C. ¨Scientists, Senator Testify on Stem Cell
Research.〃 CNN.com
25 July 2001. CNN. 15 Oct 2006.
<http://archives.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/07/18/stem.cell>.
Stem Cell Research
John Ngo吳坤海
第九屆校友
Oct 25, 2006
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