Introduction - Is Stem Cell Research Ethical? Page 1
Cancer is cured. No more diabetes. Longevity of the human lifespan drastically increased. All desires for the future,
with the advancing technology of stem cell research. With this growing knowledge we are able to begin treatments
for diseases we thought were impossible such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and start on tough endeavours to
help the human race. With an ageing population these breakthroughs are highly valued and can be crucial.
An accomplishment from scientist Anthony Atala from Harvard University,
"In 1997, when he was thirty-eight and working at Harvard, Atala created the world's first tissue-engineered organ. He built it by hand. He took a stamp-sized biopsy of healthy cells from a little boy's broken bladder. He put them into a petri dish and fed the cells with proteins and nutrients until they mistook the petri dish for the human body and began multiplying and dividing as if still in the womb. He painted the new cells onto a biodegradable collagen balloon. A few weeks later, he sewed that cell-coated balloon -- which had grown to become a new bladder -- into the boy. Today that boy and many others who received the same operation are healthy college kids"
(Cabot, T., 2013).
The purpose of this paper is discover the ethical concerns involved with stem cell research. How does stem cell
research have a negative impact on society? What positive contributions does stem cell research make? This study
can benefit social change because it can change the society's perspective on stem cell research, and how using
stem cells is beneficial or is morally wrong. It can be an eye opener on how the stem cells are used, and the
precise steps that are involved. The study can bring to light the current initiatives scientists are trying to make to
improve the health of others and society. For instance, Cultural Evolution could occur due to stem cell research. This
states how cultures evolve according to the common patterns. If stem cell research causes significant change, and
proves to outweigh the negative accusations then it will become increasingly acceptable in our society. The
expected outcome of this study is that people will believe there are ethical concerns involved with stem cell
research. Although great advancements are being made in the health care industry, it is predicted that people will
hold some scepticism on stem cells and how they truly help our society. Other individuals will believe strongly in
further development of this research, believing it is essential for the health care industry. An anthropological
perspective can be focused on while examining stem cell research. It will involve religion and people's culture and
how that influences this social change, beliefs and morality; what is right and what is wrong, and finally the
healthcare institutions and government policies.
with the advancing technology of stem cell research. With this growing knowledge we are able to begin treatments
for diseases we thought were impossible such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and start on tough endeavours to
help the human race. With an ageing population these breakthroughs are highly valued and can be crucial.
An accomplishment from scientist Anthony Atala from Harvard University,
"In 1997, when he was thirty-eight and working at Harvard, Atala created the world's first tissue-engineered organ. He built it by hand. He took a stamp-sized biopsy of healthy cells from a little boy's broken bladder. He put them into a petri dish and fed the cells with proteins and nutrients until they mistook the petri dish for the human body and began multiplying and dividing as if still in the womb. He painted the new cells onto a biodegradable collagen balloon. A few weeks later, he sewed that cell-coated balloon -- which had grown to become a new bladder -- into the boy. Today that boy and many others who received the same operation are healthy college kids"
(Cabot, T., 2013).
The purpose of this paper is discover the ethical concerns involved with stem cell research. How does stem cell
research have a negative impact on society? What positive contributions does stem cell research make? This study
can benefit social change because it can change the society's perspective on stem cell research, and how using
stem cells is beneficial or is morally wrong. It can be an eye opener on how the stem cells are used, and the
precise steps that are involved. The study can bring to light the current initiatives scientists are trying to make to
improve the health of others and society. For instance, Cultural Evolution could occur due to stem cell research. This
states how cultures evolve according to the common patterns. If stem cell research causes significant change, and
proves to outweigh the negative accusations then it will become increasingly acceptable in our society. The
expected outcome of this study is that people will believe there are ethical concerns involved with stem cell
research. Although great advancements are being made in the health care industry, it is predicted that people will
hold some scepticism on stem cells and how they truly help our society. Other individuals will believe strongly in
further development of this research, believing it is essential for the health care industry. An anthropological
perspective can be focused on while examining stem cell research. It will involve religion and people's culture and
how that influences this social change, beliefs and morality; what is right and what is wrong, and finally the
healthcare institutions and government policies.