Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ethical Issues in Stem Cell - Research Paper Example In body organs such as the gut, bone marrow, stem cells can regularly divide to repair and replace worn out cells (Moore 12). In contemporary biology, Stem cell research is one of the intriguing areas due to the expanding scientific discoveries. This has raised many scientific questions as well as ethical questions (Ethical issues 23). The first ethical issue is that regarding Human embryonic stem research. Human embryonic stem cell research is one field that has generated much concern and public debates. Cells that have the capability of developing into many different cells, also known as pluripotent stem cell lines, are usually isolated from few days old human embryos. The research offers a promise and hopes for new treatments for diseases such as Parkinson’s, diabetes and spinal injury. As new technologies and science advance, so do the ethical viewpoints and political controversies regarding these developments (Report on bioethics 17). This paper will discuss the ethical i ssues associated with Stem cell research as portrayed by various individuals and groups of people. Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research Human cell research is connected to human cloning which is a subject of much debate currently. There is confusion in the public discourse about what an embryo is. This issue has been very critical in defining when human life starts. There are several attitudes arising from different religious groups and varying interpretations of philosophical philosophies. There are arguments in determining the rights and privileges that an embryo in early human life has. According to some people, an embryo is a living being whether it has developed human features or not. These people are therefore against destruction of embryos while retrieving stem cells. This is ethically unacceptable to their faith, but to other people, it is no big deal (Guinn 154). Those that are against human stem cell research believe that life begins after conception, at the zygote stage w hile those in favor of this kind of research acknowledge that life does not begin until a later stage of embryo development. The people supporting this research argue that the benefits to the community outweigh the apprehension for the young embryos. The Roman Catholic is one of the religions that raise questions about the destruction of the embryos. It declared that human life begins after fertilization and ends in natural death. The Greek Orthodox also follows this view and agrees that embryos are human beings. To them, taking the embryo and removing the inner cell mass is regarded as murder (Guinn 158). Protestants, Jews and Muslims support the view that life starts between fourteen and forty weeks after conception. The UK Human Fertilization and Embryology Act define this as the streak stage where further research on the embryo is not permitted. This issue is often debated on as some regard is as immoral while others think it is alright. There is a third group of paper that beli eve that the embryo deserves respect as a human being, but it is acceptable to use them in research if it is justifiable with the consent from the couple donating the embryo (Caplan 156). The opposition of stem cell research is associated with the opposition to abortion by the pro-life movement. However, not all members are against this research.