Embryonic Stem Cell Research essays

Embryonic Stem Cell Research essays In 1998, scientists discovered that they could isolate embryonic stem cells. They believed that these cells could be more beneficial than adult stem-cells in curing afflictions. Many people and researchers are pushing to get federal grants and the go-ahead to do embryonic stem-cell research for cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, or spinal cord injuries. Nancy Reagan has also accused President Bush of not caring enough for human life to do what is necessary to find cures for American's most feared illnesses. The problems with using these cells are that embryonic stem-cells are not easily controlled, and adult stem cells have already proven effective in treating some of these diseases without killing anyone. Embryonic stem-cell research is not the answer to diseases or injuries, and these unborn babies should be protected. "Embryonic stem cells are harder to control in their effects, sometimes generating tumors and other less-tha n-welcome surprises" (leaderu.com/science/senseless_on_stemcell.html). Regardless, scientists continue to speculate that the versatility of these embryonic stem cells may be coaxed into becoming any number of cell types, thereby holding great promise for healing the human body. However, to date scientists attempting to use embryonic stem cells in such research have failed. The Christian Medical Association (CMA), in a letter to Congress and the president, emphasized, "scientific evidence demonstrating that human embryonic stem cells have proven difficult to develop and maintain unstable and mutate in culture, often act abnormally, and tend to form cancerous tumors" (catholicexchange.com/vm/index.asp?art_id=24896). According to the Executive of CMA, Director David Stevens, M.D., "Problems of tumor formation, uncontrollability, and genetic instability are now cited among the reasons why embryonic stem cells cannot safely be used in huma...