Is Stem-Cell Research Moral? Essay Example

Stem cell research  in America has inspired passionate feelings in both supporters and opponents. Medical science is constantly seeking to expand its knowledge of the body,  in order to find cures for crippling and/or deadly diseases; to this end, regenerative medicine, which allows the body to generate missing components in order to heal, is pursued. Stem cell research is at the core of these efforts: “Alleviating human suffering is the promise of regenerative medicine and stem cell research in particular (Solo and Pressberg, 2007).”

A stem cell is a type of proto-cell that has the ability to turn into any other cell. There are two basic types: adult, and embryonic. Embryonic stem cells are those that form the human fetus. Adult stem cells, on the other hand, are stem cells stored in the human body from birth, and which stay within certain tissues throughout the body until death. Stem cells serve as a natural repair system, dividing to repair the tissue as it grows old or is damaged (NIH, 2009).  Over100 million Americans today live with debilitating diseases, and stem cells are strongly indicated as the best potential avenue to treating these diseases (Solo and Pressberg, 2007).

The controversy regarding the research lies almost exclusively in the embryonic variety of stem cells, as these must removed from a viable fetus. Unfortunately, “the more thoughtful, moral, scientific and medical discussions that have been taking place [regarding stem cell research] have been countered and periodically eclipsed by inflammatory rhetoric…” (Solo and Pressberg, 2007). In order to move forward with this potentially life saving research, the truth surrounding stem cell research must be understood, as the misconceptions that are clouding the issue must be dispelled. Only then may scientists move forward with this crucial medical research.

There are five specific types of stem cells that are formed throughout the life of a human: early embryonic, blastocyst embryonic, fetal, umbilical cord, and adult (University of Utah, 2010). Early embryonic stem cells possess a totipotent quality; these cells, formed right after fertilization of the egg by the sperm, have the potential to become any other type of cell in the body (University of Utah, 2010). Pluripotent embryonic stem cells, formed seven days after fertilization when the embryo forms into the hollow, ball-like structure of a blastocyst, have the same potential, as do the later-developing fetal stem cells. The early embryonic, blastocyst, and fetal stem cells may be obtained only from a fetus. Adult and umbilical cord stem cell extraction does not have this restriction.

However, umbilical and adult stem cells are multipotent, having the ability to turn into only a limited number of cell types. In order to get totipotent or pluripotent stem cells, those completely able to transform into any other kind of cell, embryos are created in-vitro in laboratories.  One popular misconception has all stem cells as harvested from in-vitro cultures; this is not the case. In fact, religious groups such as the Catholic Church condone stem cell research from adult and umbilical cord stem cells. “They (stem cells) can be extracted from adults or from an umbilical cord after a child is born. The Catholic Church has no objection to research using stem cells in those ways” (McCloskey, 2010).

The moral issue with embryonic stem cells arises from the belief that a human being is being harvested in order to obtain its stem cells. This is blatantly not the case. Viable embryonic stem cells are only present in a fertilized embryo that is less than 7 days old, and researchers only use eggs and sperm with the consent of the donors that they are to be used for embryonic stem cell research.  “Human embryonic stem cells (HESCs) are generated by transferring cells from a preimplantation-stage embryo into a plastic laboratory culture dish that contains a nutrient broth known as a culture medium. The cells divide and spread over the surface of the dish” (NIH, 2010).  Consequently, the moral argument  that embryonic stem cell research is done at the expense of a human life is without foundation.

Limiting the science of regenerative medicine to only those stem cells derived from umbilical or adult sources greatly limits the potentials of this vital research.  Only those stem cells created in the first days after an egg is fertilized possess the ability to become any other kind of cell. Medical research hinges on this, even as dictating these transformations still remains a challenge. “The heart of this science is finding the chemical signals that will send the embryonic stem cell into the desired direction… One of the research challenges is figuring out how to control this differentiation process and harness the results to treat some of the most deadly and costly diseases…” (Solo and Pressberg, 2007). Only the completely adaptable embryonic stem cells hold the promise for such discoveries.

There has already been documented success in treating disease with embryonic stem cells. In October of 2010, a grant of $3.9 million was awarded to Children’s Hospital Boston by the National Institute of Health. The money is to be used to develop a therapy using pluripotent stem cells in patients suffering from Fanconi anemia, a fatal genetic disease. “The researchers will investigate new ways to create induced pluripotent stem (IPS) cells from a patient’s skin or other tissue and transform them into genetically repaired hematopoietic stem cells that can make normal blood cells” (Medical News Today, 2010). Diabetes sufferers are also benefiting from this research. “Scientists have already successfully transplanted islet cells into several hundred adults with Type I Diabetes who are in medical danger from complications to their kidneys, eyesight or heart disease. The majority of these people are now either living on much lower doses of insulin or are living insulin free” (Solo and Pressberg, 2007).

In addition to curing disease, studying human embryonic stem cells aids scientists in understanding the complex and poorly understood events that occur throughout human development. Discovering how stem cells transform into tissues and organs will unlock an untold number of mysteries of development, health and disease. “Some of the most serious medical conditions, such as cancer and birth defects, are due to abnormal cell division and differentiation. A more complete understanding of the genetic and molecular controls of these processes may yield more information about how such diseases arise and suggest new strategies for therapy” (NIH, 2010). Additionally, stem cells are very useful in testing the effects of new drugs without using humans or animals; pluripotent stem cells are already employed to screen potential anti-tumor drugs for treating cancer (NIH, 2010).

One of the most promising areas of stem cell research today is in its use to treat cardiovascular disease, which is the number one cause of death for Americans today. Both embryonic and adult-derived stem cells can be used to repair damaged heart tissue caused by cardiovascular disease. “A few small studies have been carried out in humans, usually in patients who are undergoing open-heart surgery. Several of these have demonstrated that stem cells that are injected into the circulation or directly into the injured heart tissue appear to improve cardiac function and/or induce the formation of new capillaries” (NIH, 2010).

The life saving potential of embryonic stem cell research is limitless. Alzheimer’s, spinal cord injuries, stroke, burns, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and a host of illnesses and injuries – all may be helped, or even eliminated, through further research. A  public aware of the facts and free from dangerous misconceptions is essential for this vital work to carry on, to everyone’s benefit.

References

McCloskey, Patrick (2010) “Is Stem-Cell Research Moral?” American Catholic Web. Retrieved 23 October 2010 from http://www.americancatholic.org/news/stemcell/ask_stemcell.asp

Medical News Today (2010) “Combining Stem-Cell and Gene-Therapy Techniques to Tackle a Deadly Blood Disease Web. Retrieved 23 October 2010 from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/205612.php

National Institute of Health (NIH), Stem Cell Information (2009) “Stem Cell Basics” Web. Retrieved 23 October 2010 from http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/defaultpage.asp

Solo, Pam, Pressberg, Gail (2007) The Politics and Promise of Stem Cell Research, West Port, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers.

University of Utah Genetic Science Learning Center (2010) “What are Some Different Types of Stem Cells?” Web. Retrieved 23 October, 2010 from  http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/stemcells/sctypes/