Stem Cell Research

Should we use perform stem cells for research? Here is a break down of the arguments for each side:

Yes: Stem cells can replace or repair permanently damaged tissues providing cures to diseases which were or currently are incurable. This sort of disease affects millions world wide. Some try to put forward that the medical possibilities are small and virtually impossible to achieve but scientists from London’s Imperial College have sparked the fact it can be achieved. They successfully repaired a patients’ livers using bone marrow adult stem cells collected from their own blood. Therefore preventing cirrhosis from occurring.#

Both avenues, adult and embryonic stem cells, need to be researched as they have slightly different properties. For example adult stem cells cannot differentiate into any cell (stem cells found in bone marrow can only become blood cells) where as embryonic stem cells can differentiate into literally any cell in the body. Thus we may find cures for a wider range of illnesses if we research both types.

It could, in time, allow limbs or organs to be grown in laboratorys reducing deaths from lack of organs and stress on waiting lists. If adult stem cells were used it would also permanently prevent rejection meaning no need for the continued use of immunosupressant drugs or replacement after approximately 15 years.

Finally, it would all human tissue to be grown which could then be used to test new drugs for potency and toxicity. Thus saving money on clinical trials if the drug is found to be too harmful or accelerating its approval if the contrary.

If only aborted embryos are used then the potential benefits could outweight the drawbacks, especially as the embryos would be destroyed anyway.

No: For those who believe life begins at conception the destruction of a blastocyst (where embryonic stem cells are found) is destruction of life and therefore immoral.

In addition, long term side effects cannot be know such as their ability to replicate and whether they would degrade, cause cancer etc. Linking to this according to a new research, stem cell therapy was used on heart disease patients. It was found that it can make their coronary arteries narrower.

Adult stem cells are already pre-specialise meaning those in bone marrow could only differentiate into blood cells as mentioned above. Meaning their usage is limited to specific diseases.

Lastly, if cures are not found patients will feel they have being given false hope as medical institutions and research facilities have continued to tell the public about the possibilities to cure all sort of disease although we are very far away from many of these claims, if we will ever reach them at all.

I personally believe research should be carried out as I have no real belief true life starts at conception only when hearts start to beat and nerve connections are made. In addition all adult stem cells are taken with consent. But most importantly if a break through is made and vast numbers of lives are saved fewer and fewer people will care how the scientists managed to save their mum, sister, son etc.