Ethical Issues Concerning Stem Cell Research

Although scientific research has come a long way since the beginning of time, it has not done so without some kind of controversy. From Biopsychiatry to the Tuskegee Experiments, it seems as though there cannot be any scientific breakthrough without some kind of ethical issue. Stem cells are another example of a controversial treatment that is taking the medical field by storm. Although it is very controversial, it’s results are truly amazing and beneficial to anyone who is willing to give it a try. Stem cells have the potential to divide into special cells through a process called “mitosis”. Mitosis is part of the cell cycle; it is a process where the cell nucleus is separated into two identical sets of chromosomes. Mitosis is an important …show more content…
These cells act by repairing parts of the body, regenerating cells in the process. Embryonic stem cells are developed from a fertilized egg, which occurs when a male sperm fertilizes the female egg in order to create and embryo. Scientists are able to collect these fertilized eggs in order to use them for research. There are two ways to collect these samples. One way is for a couple to go through the process of in vitro fertilization, which means that the egg and sperm are fertilized in a culture dish. More embryos that are required are created in this process, so any left over eggs are frozen. Many couples choose to donate any unused fertilized eggs to scientific research. The benefits of embryonic stem cells are the versatility of them. Since embryonic cells are younger than adult stem cells, they can be developed into almost every type of cell within the human body. There are a greater number of embryonic cells and they can be created outside of the body, so the patients does not have to use their own cells for repair or replenishment. Embryonic cells also contain less DNA than adult stem cells, so there is a smaller chance of an abnormality to occur. Embryonic cells also regenerate faster than adult stem cells, speeding up the repair process for any damaged body …show more content…
Stem cell therapy is used to control the growth of adult stem cells in a laboratory and use them to replace any dysfunctional cells within the body to prevent disease. An example of treatment would be replacing brain cells in order to treat Parkinson’s disease. Another goal is to develop insulin-producing cells for people suffering from diabetes. Scientists also hope to repair damage to the heart due to heart attacks. The public generally accepts adult stem cells because embryonic cells are not required, since the cells are taken from the