Free Essays on Stem Cell Research

Imagine you have a family member or friend sick. That person has a heart disease; it’s the muscle tissue in their heart. Wouldn’t you want every bit of help you could find to cure that person and make them healthy again? New studies with stem cell research show that this type of study may find cures for many diseases including transportation of healthy heart muscle cells. Recent reports on the isolation and successful culturing of the first human pluripotent stem cell lines have generated great excitement and have brought biomedical research to the edge of a new frontier. In order to understand the importance of this discovery as well as the related scientific, medical, and ethical issues, I need to first explain what stem cell research is and how it works. Stem cells can divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells. They are best described in the normal human development. Human development begins when a sperm fertilizes an egg and creates a single cell that has the potential to form an entire organism. This fertilized egg is totipotent, meaning that its potential is total. In the first hours after fertilization, this cell divides into identical totipotent cells. (show first picture) This means that either one of these cells, if placed into a woman's uterus, has the potential to develop into a fetus. In fact, identical twins develop when two totipotent cells separate and develop into two individual, genetically identical human beings. Approximately four days after fertilization and after several cycles of cell division, these totipotent cells begin to specialize, forming a hollow sphere of cells, called a blastocyst. The blastocyst has an outer layer of cells and inside the hollow sphere; there is a clu ster of cells called the inner cell mass. The outer layer of cells will go on to form the placenta and other supporting tissues needed for fetal development in the uterus. The inner cell mass ... Free Essays on Stem Cell Research Free Essays on Stem Cell Research Scientists have been disputing whether or not governmental funds should be assigned for Stem Cell Research, which goes against the Catholic Church’s teaching. Some people see this practice as revolutionary practice that may help our future generations in years to come, while others see it as an immoral and unethical practice. About 30 hours after a woman’s egg is fertilized, it begins to divide. There are 4 types of cells that are created after this division process; Totipotent, Blastocyst, Trophoblast, and Pluripotent make up the cells. What scientists see as a beneficial resource are the Pluripotent cells because when isolated, these cells unlimitedly divide, making them an abundant resource. Scientists say that if they can learn how to teach these cells to be part of certain tissues, they could be used for the treatment of disease or one day even regenerate organs for transplants. Also, scientists say that they may be used to test medical drugs, all for the benefit of humanity. Why does the Catholic Church view this as immoral if they can be used for the good of humanity? These cells are derived from human embryos, aborted fetuses, and even embryos of genetic clones, if possible. What’s wrong with taking these cell from these locations. In human embryos, they sometimes discard the unused ones, starting an issue of abortion. In aborted fetuses, there is not really an explanation. Scientists are taking cells from a dead baby. Cloning is just seen as an immoral practice itself, so to take cells from a cloned embryo is no better. So why can’t we just take cells from adults, and avoid all the fuss about this topic? Adult stem cells are seen as less versatile as embryonic ones. This means that because adult cells have been used and working for many years, we cannot change what happens in the human body. As for an embryo, they are still developing, allowing scientists to alter them in any way, shape, or form. Why ... Free Essays on Stem Cell Research Media Coverage â€Å"The mass media has played an integral, interactive role within scientific controversies generally and the stem cell debate specifically.† (Brossard 2003) â€Å"Not only does the media influence the attention of competing political actors, and the public but the media also powerfully shapes how policy issues related to science and technology controversy are identified, symbolized, and ultimately resolved.† (Brossard 2003) When the media controls the public opinion political decisions are decided keeping in mind the beliefs the media promotes. â€Å"Moreover, when a issue does appear in the media, it interests can define their stand as well as the alternatives available for discussion, then they have â€Å"framed† the situation in more winnable terms, delimitating the arguments the opposition can make and screening them off from participation.† (Brossard 2003) To frame an issue is to provide a storyline to the controversy, suggesting a particular stance. Who does the framing? There are many actors involved when an issue is framed. â€Å"United States media attention to biotechnology has been driven mostly by industrial and economic development of the technology, and coverage, has historically been overwhelmingly positive, emphasizing frames of scientific progress and economic prospect.† Other actors could include interest groups, politicians, doctors, lawyers, and celebrities, and more. Journalists too need to take the blame for framing because they tend to dramatize an issue to draw attention to the subject. They create protagonists and antagonist to further a storyline. Journalists pitted two groups against each other, scientists vs. religious leaders. â€Å"The first group is referenced as the advocates of scientific advancement and the second group is appointed moral guardians of society.† (Brossard 2003) Since this countries ideals arise from religion most people tend to side with the religious le... Free Essays on Stem Cell Research Imagine you have a family member or friend sick. That person has a heart disease; it’s the muscle tissue in their heart. Wouldn’t you want every bit of help you could find to cure that person and make them healthy again? New studies with stem cell research show that this type of study may find cures for many diseases including transportation of healthy heart muscle cells. Recent reports on the isolation and successful culturing of the first human pluripotent stem cell lines have generated great excitement and have brought biomedical research to the edge of a new frontier. In order to understand the importance of this discovery as well as the related scientific, medical, and ethical issues, I need to first explain what stem cell research is and how it works. Stem cells can divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells. They are best described in the normal human development. Human development begins when a sperm fertilizes an egg and creates a single cell that has the potential to form an entire organism. This fertilized egg is totipotent, meaning that its potential is total. In the first hours after fertilization, this cell divides into identical totipotent cells. (show first picture) This means that either one of these cells, if placed into a woman's uterus, has the potential to develop into a fetus. In fact, identical twins develop when two totipotent cells separate and develop into two individual, genetically identical human beings. Approximately four days after fertilization and after several cycles of cell division, these totipotent cells begin to specialize, forming a hollow sphere of cells, called a blastocyst. The blastocyst has an outer layer of cells and inside the hollow sphere; there is a clu ster of cells called the inner cell mass. The outer layer of cells will go on to form the placenta and other supporting tissues needed for fetal development in the uterus. The inner cell mass ...