on Comment Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Luis A. La Luz 08/15/06
During the past few centuries, science and technology have grown at an astonishing pace. What once was the realm of science ction is now a reality. We travel vast distances over land, air, and sea quickly and easily. Humans have even managed to conquer space. However, it is always in mankind's nature to fear the unknown. We resist change, because it threatens what we believe to be true. Scientic knowledge however, is constantly changing and rening itself. Because of this, science has often been at odds with social factors such as culture, religion and politics. Many of the ideas we now believe and hold to be true were at one time met with erce resistance, even being labeled as "blasphemous" or "heretic" ideals (for example Copernican Theory). Perhaps then, it is only natural that elds such as stem cell research be met with similar resistance and fanatism. But what exactly are stem cells, and why does so much controversy surround them? Unlike most cells, which are highly specialized (or dierentiated) and serve a specic function, stem cells are relatively undierentiated and can thus develop into any of the other types of cells in the human body. In addition, they have the capacity to self-renew, theoretically allowing them to be cultured indenitely. Because of their exibility, researchers believe stem cells hold great promise for medical therapies and even cures for ailments such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, burns, diabetes, and spinal cord injuries. They could potentially be used to grow replacement cells or even whole replacement organs. Stem cells can be found in human embryos, umbilical cords and adult cells. The former may dierentiate into any other type of cell, while the latter is, for the most part, limited in its development to cells belonging to a specic organ system. For example, 90% of umbilical cord stem cells are precursors to blood and immune cells. Although stem cells harvested from embryos oer the greatest variety in the number of dierent cell types that can be produced, they are also the most controversial, since the embryo is destroyed during the harvesting process. Because of this, opponents argue that human embryonic-stem-cell research 1
(ESC) is immoral, akin to murder and unnecessary. Meanwhile supporters claim that an eight cell embryo is not a human life, and that ESC research is necessary in order fully realize the potential of stem cell treatments. The dabate is both heated and politically charged. In 2001 President George W. Bush announced that federal funding could go to researchers working on ESC lines previously developed, but that the federal government would not fund the development of new cell lines. This has resulted in a whole new set of problems, since scientists who rely on federal funding have been forced to work with older, outdated and possibly abnormal cells, thus limiting the reliability of their ndings. Meanwhile, private rms and research institutes are free to create and destroy as many embryos as they like, since they don't rely on federal funds to operate. The entire situation is skewed and disparate. It is ironic then, that the U.S. Government will not provide funding for ESC research, on account of so called "ethical" reasons and yet spends billions of dollars on the military. Why deny aid to scientic research that could potentially lead to cures for so many crippling, and often fatal diseases? How exactly is waging war on a foreign nation more acceptable than performing ESC reseach? How is it that killing in war ...