Stem cell research has potential to cure diseases but raises ethical concerns about human cloning and destruction of embryos. Stem cells can come from embryos or adult tissue, with embryonic stem cells having more uses. The ethical debate centers around the potential for human cloning and when life begins. Stem cell research is legal in the US and other countries have varying laws.
Stem cell research is a relatively new technology that takes primitive human cells and grows them into most of the 220 cell varieties in the human body, including blood cells and brain cells. Some scientists and researchers have high hopes for this research and its ability to discover treatments and perhaps even cures for some of the worst diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Along with these promising possibilities, stem cell research also raises fears of human cloning and serious concerns about the ethics of conducting scientific research, which includes the destruction of human embryos.
Stem cell types
Human stem cells mainly come from embryos or adult tissue. Embryonic stem cells can be created solely for the purpose of stem cell research or they can be left over from other processes, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). Fertility treatments usually result in the creation of multiple embryos and because only the most viable are selected for implantation, some embryos are not used. These extra embryos can be discarded, donated to others seeking fertility assistance, stored, or donated to research; most commonly, the remaining embryos are discarded.
Adult stem cells can be harvested from adult tissue with minor damage, if any, to the adult. Embryonic stem cells, however, are said to be generally easier to extract than adult stem cells, and embryonic stem cells are said to have more uses than their adult counterparts. Much of the debate around stem cell research centers around embryonic stem cells because of their potential uses and because of questions about when life begins.
Ethical issues
The general debate over the ethics of stem cell research involves two major ethical concerns: (1) the potential for human cloning and (2) whether these embryos, or pre-embryos as some call them, are human life. Perhaps the initial controversy is related to the possibility of human cloning. Especially when it first gained popularity, researchers were concerned about the potential use of stem cells to clone humans. Proponents make many arguments in support of human cloning, including the possibility of creating another “you” in case body parts or tissue are needed later in life as diseases and illnesses can develop. Opponents mainly argue that it is not in man’s judgment to manufacture, manipulate, or destroy human life.
The other major ethical issue surrounding stem cell research concerns the ongoing debate about when life begins. Some argue that life begins at conception and that using even immature humans for research purposes is unethical. Others argue that embryos are just small amounts of undifferentiated tissue and since they are already programmed for destruction and have great potential benefit, they should potentially be used to help others.
Legal differences
It is legal to conduct stem cell research in the United States, including for the purpose of human cloning. In 2001, President Bush authorized the issuance of federal funds for research into more than 60 existing stem cell lines. Funding was limited to these cell lines because the question of life and death was already settled; that is, the stem cell lines at that point were capable of independent and infinite regeneration. In 2009, President Obama reversed the policy and allowed federal funds to be used for more stem cell lines.
Other countries allow stem cell research to varying degrees. Countries like Japan, Sweden and the UK have made it legal, even for the purpose of human cloning. Countries such as Australia, Canada and France allow adult and advanced embryo research but not human cloning. Austria, Ireland and Poland have some of the most restrictive laws on this type of research.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
