General Definition
Stem cell research has been conducted on different levels since the 1980s. However, it was not until two groundbreaking discoveries on the subject that stem cell research attracted public attention. There is a great potential in stem cell research with discoveries such as new ways of treating the previously incurable diseases through cell therapy and the development of a new source of cells (Lovell-Badge, 2001).
General Pro Argument
Stem cell research has myriad potentials of applications in the medical and healthcare sector. two discoveries can be used in cell replacement therapy and help in the treatment of debilitating diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s, and Hunting disease (Liras, 2010). The combination of the cloning and pluripotent stem cell technology can help with the development of the appropriate amounts of cell types that can be used in the treatment of patients and thus eliminate cases of immune rejections among patients.
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General Con Argument
The very first concern by ethicists was about the procedure that is used to harvest embryonic stem cells. Although stem therapy can treat numerous diseases, removing embryo stem cells from human embryos do not attract positive political and social reaction. When ESCs are isolated in the lab, the embryo, which has life and the potential to become human, was destroyed. Philosophers and religious leaders equated the harvest of stem cells from embryo to termination of life, which, according to them, is not ethically right.
Background
Stem cells have an indefinite potential to renew themselves and leave their original undifferentiated states. This has been an important research focus with myriad potentials of applications in the medical and healthcare sector. Research on animal cloning by Ian Wilmut, Keith Campbell, and colleagues, was the first major discovery on the subject. Wilmut and the team discovered that an adult cell nucleus could be reprogrammed to produce an entire animal (Lovell-Badge, 2001). Elsewhere, Jamie Thomson and his team managed to derive a pluripotent human embryonic stem (ES) cell. The combination of the two discoveries can be used in cell replacement therapy and help in the treatment of debilitating diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s, and Hunting disease (Liras, 2010). The combination of the cloning and pluripotent stem cell technology can help with the development of the appropriate amounts of cell types that can be used in the treatment of patients and thus eliminate cases of immune rejections among patients. Despite the evident potential of stem cell technology, there has been political and social aspects around the subject that have forced medics and researcher to partake in ethical debates. key societal influencers such as professional ethicists, moral philosophers, and religious leaders are arguing that the isolation of stem cells from embryos, which destroy the human embryo is unethical and immoral because it equates to terminating a life.
Stem cell research has managed to contribute to the medical sector through the development of new medical procedures that can now treat diseases that were previously degenerate. The identification, isolation, and growing of stem cells can be used in cell replacement therapy and help in the treatment of debilitating diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s, and Hunting disease (Liras, 2010). For example, the existing knowledge on stem cells has been successfully incorporated in medical application, with approximately 25,000 hematopoietic stem cell transplantations being conducted annually to treat diseases and conditions such as leukemia, immunodeficiency illnesses, congenital metabolic defects, lymphoma, and myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative syndromes (Zakrzewski, Dobrzynski, Szymonowicz & Rybak, 2019). This shows a lot of potentials that exist with stem cell technology to improve medical procedures and treatment in the future since there is a lot that is not yet known.
Stem cell research has a potential to make new discoveries that will be beneficial to the future generations especially with its applications in the healthcare sector. Studies in recent years have managed to prove some embryological rules to be wrong. Contrary to the lineage restriction rule, which argues that cells originating from one of the three primary germ layers cannot form cell types characteristic of another, more than one study has reported such a possibility (Lovell-Badge, 2001). Besides, only a few cell types have been explored comprehensively and used extensively in treatments. The main stem cell types that have been researched include bone marrow and skin. Other cell types, for example, the midbrain cells and pancreatic duct cells, have not been studied extensively (Lovell-Badge, 2001). However, a breakthrough with these cells can help in the treatment of conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and pancreatic cancers. Additional research on stem cell technology can be helpful as it presents an opportunity to develop new medical treatment methods and improve the existing procedures. Currently, the potential tumor risks associated with stem cell procedures have not been assessed. The use of induced pluripotent stem cells has previously been connected with tumorigenicity (Liras, 2010). When cells are reprogrammed, there is a risk of the development of oncogenes and, thus, a potential cause of cancer. Studies on the subject have led to the development of procedures to remove oncogenes after the stem cells achieve pluripotency. Stem cell research has helped correct previously existing embryo rules which were wrong and could be limiting in research activities. In addition, the conduction of research on stem cells is beneficial as it presents an opportunity to discover new and more effective medical procedures.
The main disadvantage and ethical concern of performing stem cell research is the use of embryo stem cells from human embryo. According to moral philosophers and most ethicists, the exploration of human embryo potential does not raise any new ethical problem (Lovell-Badge, 2001; Hyun, 2010). Although stem therapy can treat numerous diseases, removing embryo stem cells from human embryos did not attract positive political and social reaction. When ESCs are isolated in the lab, the embryo, which has life and the potential to become human, was destroyed. Philosophers and religious leaders equated the harvest of stem cells from embryo to termination of life, which, according to them, is not ethically right. The negative debate surrounding ESCs usage in stem cell research has led to the development of guidelines to that either prohibit or allow controlled stem cell research. The destruction of a human embryo for the purpose of research is one of the negative attributes of stem cell research programs that raise moral and ethical questions.
Consent by donors is another ethical problem surrounding the stem cell research. Currently there is a guideline that dictates that a stem cell research can only use an embryo upon the consent of the donor. However, there are many grey areas that can be exploited that may be unethical among other individuals. In the United State, a study on stem cell can proceed without the need for consent if the biological material is disidentified. For example, if an embryo fails to develop successfully for implantation, the material can be disidentified and used in a stem cell research. Such a case can attract ethical concerns since the original donor may object the project. Also, in other cases, sperm or oocyte from donors, who do not have any further role in assisted reproduction or childbearing, can be used in the creation of an embryo. There is an argument that original donors do not have to be informed about such a decision since they have already given up their right to artificial reproduction technology (Lo & Parham, 2009). Nonetheless, according to ethicists, the original gamete donor should have a say in the use of their biological material in the stem cell research. The use of biological materials on stem cells research, in some cases, disregard the rights of donors which is incorrect and unethical.
Stem cell research has led to the introduction of a number of medical procedures which can now treat diseases that were previously uncurable. In addition to the introduction of medical procedures, especially in cell therapy, stem cell research has also a potential to make new discoveries that will contribute to the existing literature as well as come up better medical procedures. Despite the advantages, there are some disadvantages associated with stem cell research. First, the isolation of stem cells from human embryo can lead to the termination of embryo life which is considered morally incorrect and unethical. In addition to that, the stem cell research might ignore the donor’s right to consent to the use of his or her biological materials.
In my opinion, stem cell research has been very beneficial. Today, diseases and conditions, which were previously incurable, can be cured through the application of knowledge from stem cell research. The immense potential that lies with stem cell research should not be overlooked. Instead, a way to incorporate the concern of ethicists while conducting further investigations on stem cells should be conducted. The primary political and social concerns around stem cell research involves the safety of human embryo. Due to the immense potential of stem technology, scientists have put great effort into developing procedures that enable successful isolation of stem cells from embryos without endangering the lives of embryos.
References
Hyun, I. (2010). The bioethics of stem cell research and therapy. The Journal of clinical investigation , 120 (1), 71-75.
Lovell-Badge, R. (2001). The future for stem cell research. Nature , 414 (6859), 88.
Liras, A. (2010). Future research and therapeutic applications of human stem cells: general, regulatory, and bioethical aspects. Journal of translational medicine , 8 (1), 131.
Lo, B., & Parham, L. (2009). Ethical issues in stem cell research. Endocrine reviews , 30 (3), 204-213.
Zakrzewski, W., Dobrzyński, M., Szymonowicz, M., & Rybak, Z. (2019). Stem cells: past, present, and future. Stem cell research & therapy , 10 (1), 1-22.
