In an article released by CBS on their website they discuss the possible positive effects of stem cell research. Scientists have recently discovered a way to produce stem-cells without killing embryos. By doing so they're able to replace organs that may be infected with a disease to cure diseases including Parkinson's and Diabetes. The fear at first was that the body would reject the stem cells but because they're made with one's own skin, the body is able to recognize the new cells and adapt them into the body. This could be a great step for scientific research nation-wide, however the fear of cloning may always link in the back of our minds.
What are other countries doing and thinking internationally? Well according to the Herald Tribune in Vatican city they're doing the opposite of praising the advancement of science, and instead are slamming it due to its immoral stature. The Vatican thinks it's a step in the wrong direction. He is quoted by saying in conclusion, 'there will be "no stopping point" if humans are treated as mere objects of research,' (Vatican, 09).
In the past year Europe has advanced as far as doing stem cell surgery. In the BBC News they released a story about Surgeon's in Spain that performed a surgery on a woman's windpipe. They implanted an entirely new organ made with the woman's own stem cells. The woman had had a disease and thus had to replace it, thus they took a deceased trachea from a donor patient and combined it with chemicals that could clean it completely before transplanting it. Than applied the new stem cells onto the tissues and placed it into her body. As previously stated, by doing so the surgeon is able to trick your body to think that the new organ is a part of your body so that the body does not reject it.
It's in these ways that in our lifetime we will be able to see the advancement of stem cell research work in ways as to help cure diseases and create a new direction for science involvement in public policies. The more it is accepted internationally, I feel the more it will be accepted here in the U.S.
1 comment:
Stem cell research can propose great leaps in the scientific community. I can help provided cures to inhumane and incurable diseases that many suffer from. It also may provide avenues for other types of organisms that pose great importance to our society. Yes, the moral standards of stem cell research walk a tight line that can be pushed to either side very easily. But with the proper steps and limitations it can lead to the advancement of medicine and our society as a whole. People will always have their own beliefs and standards and nothing can be done nowadays without someone being offended. If stem cell research is going to be used for the greater good then I am all for it especially now that they have found a method without killing embryo’s. I guess if you were in a situation where you could use stem cells or face the agonizing wait of a donor list, then you probably would take advantage of the stem cell method. Of course, all people are different and that’s what makes this topic so controversial.
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