Technology

Does the end justify the means This is the question that reigns in the field of medical biotechnology especially at the mention of embryonic stem research. With human beings being faced by diseases that are increasingly hard to treat, scientists have unearthed the potential of the stem cells in treating some of these conditions. There has however been continued controversy of whether this is a justifiable means of reaching this end. Ethical, moral and legal questions have been raised by opponents of stem cell research. On the other hand, proponents of stem cell research are guided by the potential the technology hold in relieving human suffering and countering the limitations of adult stem cells (Oxford University Press, p 5). Should stem cell research therefore be allowed or should it be discouraged by all means.

This paper takes the position that embryonic stem cell research should be allowed because it can lead to cures for a number of diseases.

Positive aspects of embryonic stem cell research
Embryonic stem cell research utilizes embryonic stem cells which are more reliable than fetal or adult cells. Among the difficulties met by stem cell researchers while using adult stem cells is the difficulty of isolating and propagating the adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells save this situation. It is easy to isolate embryonic stem cells from the inner mass of the blastocyst which is currently the primary source of stem cell research, (Lindsay, p 1).

The ability to make embryonic stem cells produce in large numbers for about a year or more in laboratories before differentiating into new cells makes stem cells more reliable and readily available facilitating better research of human diseases. It is important to remember that embryonic stem cells are unspecialized making them fit for research as they make it easier to conduct research without inflicting any harm to human life (Lindsay, p 7).

Those who raise moral questions regarding to mistreatment of embryos need not worry since embryonic stem cells are donated and never taken out of the uterus (Guenin , para 2). Instead of discarding extra embryos resulting from vitro fertilization, couples are given the choice to donate the embryos for stem cell research which by no means contradicts morals.

Embryonic stem cell research should be allowed since embryos are not considered human beings thereby nullifying moral and ethical questions thereof. The cells are derived from blastocysts which are a group of cells that have not become actual organs therefore not qualified to be termed as human beings. After all, human life begins when heartbeat develops or when brain activity begins (Bookstrike, para 8). Having this in mind, it would be unwise to destroy approximately 18 percent of the zygotes that do not implant after conception (Bookstrike, para 6). These embryos are better off donated to stem cell research.

Allowing stem cell research helps in benefiting from these cells which create flexibility for current and potential treatments. The promise of stem cell research is high with bone marrow and umbilical blood stem cells being used to treat cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. Injecting human neural stem cells into cancerous areas has been shown to produce cytosine deaminase that helps enzymes turn into a chemotherapeutic agent. This helps in reducing tumor mass by 81 percent (Ellis, para 8). Other than developments in cancer treatment, scientists have since 2003 been able to use embryonic stem cells to create a thin sheet of totipotent stem cells in order to cover damaged retina and restore vision (Ellis, para 20).
The flexibility of stem cell research in current and future treatment has been demonstrated by researchers from the University of California who experimented with paralyzed mice and injected human embryonic stem cells. The mice regained the ability to move and walk four months later (Ellis, para 12). In June 2005, Dr. Sheraz Daya and his researchers used stem cells to restore sight in 40 patients at the Queen Victoria Hospital of Sussex in England (Ellis, para 17).

Negative aspect
Opponents of embryonic stem cell research have repeatedly argued that embryos are human beings and therefore destroying an embryo amounts to killing human life. This issue however requires clearing the point at which human life begins during embryonic development. As such, this argument is not valid since embryos are not considered human beings until they are two weeks old or they show signs of the first nervous system activity (Fox News, para 10). Embryonic stem cell research is carried using blastocysts which are only a few days old.

Conclusion
There is no doubt that allowing embryonic stem cell research holds promise to curing a number of diseases. Reliability of embryonic stem cells as opposed to fetal or adult cells is a great benefit to reap. Since blastocysts that are not yet human beings and are donated from in vitro fertilization, moral and ethical questions are resolved. We stand to get treatment for current conditions that pose threat to human beings. In view of this, embryonic stem cell research is a justifiable means towards the end of relieving human suffering.