Stem Cell Research
Stem cell research is a highly debated issue in health, religious, and political news, almost on a daily basis. Some individuals are in favor of harvesting stem cell material from embryos. Many others, especially Christians and those individuals who are pro-life on the abortion issue, find harvesting to be terribly wrong. With the study of this genetic material, much like abortion, there must be a determination of when the life of the child starts. Should a child be considered a human life at conception or birth? This is a tough choice for many, but anyone can plainly see that conception is the point at which the child becomes human, making it clear there is a lack of ethics involved in this process. In order to deeper understand this process; individuals must review the history of both adult and embryonic research.
Most research, especially in the early years, has been performed on animals, including mice and sheep. The history of stem cell research is fairly short lived. The presence of the human stem cell has only been known for 30 years or so. Adult cells were discovered, but were only considered to be able to grow or produce a specific type of tissue. More recently, this material in many parts of the body has been shown to possess the ability to change into various types of cells, especially those that are needed in the heart, nerves, and muscles. Research in adults has taken place in many instances and has shown to make progress in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Extracting this from adults can be done with no loss of life for the individual involved. The only major concern is that these can be difficult to locate and retain their value outside the human body.
The use of embryos in studies has been a topic of debate and discussion since the late 1990s when the studies first began. Embryonic stem cell research involves the use of embryos that are left over from individuals that have used in vitro fertilization to have children. Many couples have several embryos remaining after they have had children. They can choose to discard the remaining material, provide them for research, or donate them to another couple to use for conception. Often, couples do not want to provide them to other couples because they will genetically be the parents of the conceived child or children. Also, discarding is difficult for individuals because this seems extreme. Donating the embryos for stem cell studies has become an option that many people are willing to choose. This research, however, is much like the idea of abortion. It is the process of taking a life, in the form of an embryo, for research with hope of creating a cure to some diseases. Very little success has been made from research conducted on embryonic material, making the process difficult to justify. Unlike studies with adult genetic material, there is loss of life because the embryo, which could have easily become a child, is sacrificed in order to attempt to find a way to cure diseases. For other similar topics, check out these Bible resources.
There is a major concern over the ethical issues surrounding this topic. The question of the ethics of these studies weighs heavily on the mind of individuals, especially Christians. Much like the debate over abortion, it is necessary to determine the point at which a fetus should be considered a living being. With the justification of abortion, many individuals have decided that birth is the point of life. If that is the case, there seems to be nothing wrong with this research or abortion. However, anyone can see that with embryonic studies, these embryos were created as a chance for the couple to have a child. If they are discarding or donating the embryos stem cell for use, they have probably already conceived at least one child, if not multiple children. Those embryos that are being used to find information and possibly cure or treatments for diseases were developed so children could be born. They were not created to die or be destroyed, but to live.
Christians must stand up against this type of study because it is wrong. It allows one life to be taken in the hopes that others may be saved because the life of a human begins at conception. "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5). The study of this matter is a very hot topic in many circles, especially where political or religious leaders are concerned. The use of stem cell studies has been shown to be affective in the treatment of some diseases. But, at what cost should these studies continue? The use of adult material has been just as effective, if not more so, than the use of embryonic material. Stem cell research can be done successfully with adult cells with absolutely no loss of life. Locating this genetic material is more difficult, but has been proven to be successful. Using embryonic cells guarantees the destruction of the embryo. There have been few, if any, proven cases where the use of studies with embryonic material has made any progress. The basic point of debate in this case is the discussion of the point where life begins. Much like the abortion debate, the debate over stem cell research has created rifts in political and religious organizations.
Most research, especially in the early years, has been performed on animals, including mice and sheep. The history of stem cell research is fairly short lived. The presence of the human stem cell has only been known for 30 years or so. Adult cells were discovered, but were only considered to be able to grow or produce a specific type of tissue. More recently, this material in many parts of the body has been shown to possess the ability to change into various types of cells, especially those that are needed in the heart, nerves, and muscles. Research in adults has taken place in many instances and has shown to make progress in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Extracting this from adults can be done with no loss of life for the individual involved. The only major concern is that these can be difficult to locate and retain their value outside the human body.
The use of embryos in studies has been a topic of debate and discussion since the late 1990s when the studies first began. Embryonic stem cell research involves the use of embryos that are left over from individuals that have used in vitro fertilization to have children. Many couples have several embryos remaining after they have had children. They can choose to discard the remaining material, provide them for research, or donate them to another couple to use for conception. Often, couples do not want to provide them to other couples because they will genetically be the parents of the conceived child or children. Also, discarding is difficult for individuals because this seems extreme. Donating the embryos for stem cell studies has become an option that many people are willing to choose. This research, however, is much like the idea of abortion. It is the process of taking a life, in the form of an embryo, for research with hope of creating a cure to some diseases. Very little success has been made from research conducted on embryonic material, making the process difficult to justify. Unlike studies with adult genetic material, there is loss of life because the embryo, which could have easily become a child, is sacrificed in order to attempt to find a way to cure diseases. For other similar topics, check out these Bible resources.
There is a major concern over the ethical issues surrounding this topic. The question of the ethics of these studies weighs heavily on the mind of individuals, especially Christians. Much like the debate over abortion, it is necessary to determine the point at which a fetus should be considered a living being. With the justification of abortion, many individuals have decided that birth is the point of life. If that is the case, there seems to be nothing wrong with this research or abortion. However, anyone can see that with embryonic studies, these embryos were created as a chance for the couple to have a child. If they are discarding or donating the embryos stem cell for use, they have probably already conceived at least one child, if not multiple children. Those embryos that are being used to find information and possibly cure or treatments for diseases were developed so children could be born. They were not created to die or be destroyed, but to live.
Christians must stand up against this type of study because it is wrong. It allows one life to be taken in the hopes that others may be saved because the life of a human begins at conception. "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5). The study of this matter is a very hot topic in many circles, especially where political or religious leaders are concerned. The use of stem cell studies has been shown to be affective in the treatment of some diseases. But, at what cost should these studies continue? The use of adult material has been just as effective, if not more so, than the use of embryonic material. Stem cell research can be done successfully with adult cells with absolutely no loss of life. Locating this genetic material is more difficult, but has been proven to be successful. Using embryonic cells guarantees the destruction of the embryo. There have been few, if any, proven cases where the use of studies with embryonic material has made any progress. The basic point of debate in this case is the discussion of the point where life begins. Much like the abortion debate, the debate over stem cell research has created rifts in political and religious organizations.
Stem Cell Research
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