A Research On Stem Cells - 1560 Words

Rose Hercilla Mr. Hoffman Biology Viewpoint: Political Stem Cells Stem cells are cells that are undifferentiated and can develop into any kind of cell needed in the body. The most common stem cells used for research and referred to are human embryonic stem cells. They are formed in embryos to help establish the body and organs for the fetus. Scientists can now fertilize eggs in a lab, which is a process frequently used for people who have difficulties becoming pregnant naturally, also known as infertility treatment (Coghlan par. 2). The leftover fertilized eggs will go to waste or be donated by will of the patient. Often the eggs sent to go to waste will be used by scientists for their stem cells, which can infinitely multiply to the†¦show more content†¦As the modern world enters an era of new ideas and more freedoms, conservative notions are being left behind rapidly. Embryonic stem cells are found in three to five day old fertilized eggs (Vestal par. 1). The method of using stem cells from embryos is the most commonly used example to fight against stem cell research, however there are various other methods. Stem cells can also be taken from adults, found in â€Å"small numbers in most adult tissues, such as bone marrow or fat† (Mayo Clinic Staff par. 14). Another new technique, which has of late only been tested on animals, is removing one of the eight cells (blastomeres) from the embryo which developed into usable stem cells. The embryos continued the pregnancy to term at a survival rate of 49%, reportedly the same rate for other subjects who had not been tampered with (Coghlan par. 6). The credibility may appear questionable, especially because it has only been performed on mice, but scientist Bob Lanza, who has conducted this experiment, is very sure of his work: â€Å"This procedure has been done hundreds of thousands of times, so we know it has a minimal or negligible effect on the embryo† (Coghlan par. 8). However, not everyone agrees with Lanza: â€Å" ‘It is politically naive to talk about alternatives, and this terminology undermines the moral stance of scientists pursuing the other techniques,† says Arthur Caplan of the Center for Bioethics at the