THE GREAT DEBATE OVER STEM CELL RESEARCH

This paper discusses the debate of stem cell research from a Christian Perspective.

THE GREAT DEBATE OVER STEM CELL RESEARCH

 

What topic can spur a heated ethical debate more than any other can? That subject is stem cell research can. The whole crux of the debate has been surrounded by the use of embryos.   The debate began in 2001 when Dr. Michael West announced he had created the first human embryonic stem cell (Faloon, 2006). Moralist and the Religious sect took a major stand and declared that the federal government needed to step in and outlaw it. Seven years have since past and much progress has been made despite the numerous attempts to squash it.

The issue of contention for some is the harvesting of stem cells from embryos (Total Health, 2007).  I agree with this because it means that a potential human life is destroyed in order to save another.  Supporters for stem cell research “argue that an eight-cell embryo doesn’t count as a human life in the first place—not when compared with the life it could help save.” (Gibbs, 2006) 

The Word of God has something much different to say when he reveals that life begins at conception and goes even a step farther and proclaims He even knew us before we were born (Jeremiah 1:5).  God is heavily involved in our conception and it is beautifully revealed in (Psalms 139:13-16, The Message):

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb.    I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking!  Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.   Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.

Due to the moral and ethical implications President Bush passed a bill that would no longer finance stem cell research that involved embryos.  This forced some who counted on the funding to find other avenues to accomplish what they had started.  However this did not affect privately funded research clinics. 

“There are camps for adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells,” says Douglas Melton, a co-director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. “But these camps only exist in the political arena. There is no disagreement over the need to aggressively pursue both in order to solve important medical problems.” (Gibbs, 2006)

I am relieved stem cells are now being harvested in ways that do not affect embryos.  There is amazing potential to offer unprecedented benefits to human beings. “Adult stem cells have the potential to heal incurable degenerative diseases such as cancer or heart disease by regenerating cells that have failed or are about to fail. (Rodgerson, Rothenberg & Marasco, 2007, pp. 40-48).

The attempts to squash the research actually ended up driving it in a new direction.  The achievements completely reset the boundaries of the stem cell debate, because both groups generated cells that looked and acted like embryonic stem cells, but without the need for eggs, embryos or ethical quandaries about where the cells came from. Colleagues are confident that their current achievement brings stem-cell science one step closer to the original and ultimate goal: cures for diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer's and diabetes. (Park, 2008)

I was very excited to learn about the possibility of cures in the future for diseases such as Cancer, Diabetes and Blood Disorders.  Our family has a genetic linking to all of these diseases in fact my Grandfather just died from Adult Leukemia. I can’t help but wonder if this regenerative therapy could have helped him.  My Step Father suffered a stroke a little over a year ago and I learned that amazing strides are being made in this area as well. There was a study reported by Reuters that touted stem cells repaired stroke damage in rats. A team at Stanford University School of Medicine in California reported lost limb function in rats that had stroke-related brain damage. (Dunham, 2008).  I have to admit I was very torn after reading this article because the study involved the use of human embryos. I know that it is morally wrong to use embryos because it is the same as murder however when you have someone who has been debilitated due to such a horrendous disease it is very hard to not gleam hope.  What I hope will come out of this research is the ability to find a cure that will make it unnecessary to take any other lives. 

Before my Grandfather died he gave me a card that has the following saying on it.

 Hope

Of all the forces that make for a better world, none is so powerful as hope.  With hope, one can think, one can work, one can dream.  If you have hope, you have everything.

 

This is what I believe Stem cell therapy gives to those who are suffering with degenerative diseases and disorders.  The future is full of hope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

Baird, S. (2008, May). Regenerative medicine: A growing future. Technology Teacher, 67(8), 10-15. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from Education Research Complete database.

 

Dunham, W. (2008, February). Stem cell repair stroke damage in rats. Reuters. Retrieved September 4, 2008, from http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN1960584920080220

 

Faloon, W. (2006, December). Stem cell therapy in a pill? [Electronic version]. Life Extension, 7-10. Retrieved September 5, 2008, http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/dec2006_awsi_01.htm

 

Gibbs, N. (2006, July). Stem cells: The hope and the hype  [Electronic version]. Time,

Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1220538,00.html

 

Minkel, J. (2008, February). Potent alternative. Scientific American, 298(2), 12-13.

Retrieved  September 5, 2008, from MEDLINE database.

 

Park, A. (2008, July). Scientists reach stem cell milestone [Electronic version]. Time, Retrieved

September 5, 2008, from http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1828345,00.html

 

Rodgerson, D., Rothenberg, R., & Marasco, W. (2007, October). Adult stem cells. Life Extension, 13(10), 40-48. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from Alt HealthWatch database.

 

Stem cells-hope and reality. (2007, January). Total Health, Retrieved September 5, 2008, from Alt HealthWatch database.

Author's Note

This was written for a Human Development class my first semester of Grad School at Liberty University.