Essay - Stem Cells: an Argumentative Discussion Stem Cell Research Has Quickly...

Stem Cells: An Argumentative Discussion

Stem cell research has quickly made its way into the media headlines and is among one of the most controversial subjects in America today. The debate on whether or not to use stem cells for ***** is a scientific one, but it has become a political question, as well.

In my opinion, the potential benefits far outweigh ***** moral costs ***** the research. For scient*****ts, the possibilities of research are awe-inspiring ***** bewildering. I cannot deny the moral dilemma of ***** stem cell debate. However, I agree with ********** that say "***** turn back now would be like ********** our backs on a bright, sustaining light because we are terrified of the shadows it creates" (Condic, 2002).

Recent studies show that stem cells may hold the key to discovering a cure ***** many mysterious diseases, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. But the moral issues remain intact despite the obvious positive consequences. The core ***** ***** stem cell debate is a b*****sically a battle over abortion, as stem cells come from embryos. (Reese, 2001)

Some pro-life advocates comp***** the use of stem cells for research to experiments performed by Nazi doctors during World War II. These ***** are zeroing in on a narrow subject and ignoring ***** ***** of stem ***** in ***** *****. These cells could truly benefit milli*****s of ailing patients ***** their families. Also, they are ignoring the fact that these cells would otherwise be useless and unceremoniously discarded.

This essay aims to show that since the embryos left over from infertility clinics ***** going to be w*****ted anyway, they should be put them ***** some use helping to save someone else.

Background

Stem ***** are basically any type ***** cell that is able to divide and generate two daughter cells. At different stages of development, there are ***** stem cell populations (Thompson:129-135). For instance, the brain's cells arise from a neural stem cell population in which each ***** produces one bra***** cell and another copy of itself every time it divides. The earliest stem cells are the embryonic stem cells ***** ***** give rise to all t***** in ********** body. This means ***** they are cap***** of generating all things.

Stem cells have *****en identified in placental tissue, fat tissue, and umbilical cords. Stem cells have also been extracted from human ***** that were fertilized with the possibility ***** their being implanted in the womb of a wom*****n subject ***** *****-vitro fertilization.

Fertility clinics often produce more ***** embryos than will be needed to achieve pregnancy. There ***** expenses associated with their storage and there is the likelihood ***** many may never be implanted even though ***** are adoption programs that have resulted in ***** births of children from these extra embryos.

***** ***** ***** are considered the most useful in research ********** they can become any type of cell, while adult stem cells are more limited. There is no contr*****sy revolving around the use ***** human adult ***** cells in research, s*****ce