Stem Cell Better Future
English 111
November 13, 2013
Stem Cells A Better Future for Tomorrow The field of human genetics has been a “hot topic” since the 1950’s when James Watson and Francis Crick first discovered the basic structure of DNA (“Human Genetics”). Stem cells are found in humans and animals that have distinctive properties. They are the building blocks of life simply put. They have the ability to divide and reproduce themselves for a long period at a time. Stem cell research is a very controversial topic, and for a good reason. Many people think of the scientific community destroying human embryos, (pluripotent stem cells) when they think of stem cell research. This is why the FDA, Food and Drug administration need to patent the stem cell. This …show more content…
would give the public the scientific evidence they need to do the research for themselves. So many people navigate toward the stem cell research because they have incurable diseases. If stem cell research is patented it would allow for the proper funding to start, and help the public make educated decisions on the treatments and risk they think best for themselves. Stem cells are routinely classified into two categories multipotent stem cells, and pluripotent stem cells. Pluripotent come from donated embryos, and these stem cells have the ability to divide, and the ability to develop into all types of the body’s cells; organs, lungs, heart, and skin. Another stem cell research is multipotent; adult stem cells from skin, these have the ability to form many of the body’s cell types, but not all of them (US Food). The FDA should start making laws and regulations for the adult stem cell research. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have complied information on stem cells themselves, the areas in which they have used them, and protocols used for obtaining, growing, manipulating, and transplanting them (“Stem Cells”). This is exciting information, and a great starting point for the FDA to have an idea about what research would have the greatest potential.
Stem cells are the study of genetics. Where we came from and who we are. Science has been able to prove how some genetics are prone to diseases (Wexler). Without this vital research we will not have as much knowledge about the potentially life altering new cures. While it is here to stay the government should do something about what kind of research is under scientific study (“Human Genetics”). The kind of research is important because this is how the FDA will patent the stem cells. If there are no guidelines then scientist will not have a set of regulations to follow. There is this saying that, “science without humanity is cruelty”(unknown).
Therefore, this is something the food and drug administration needs to get a jump on.
If stem cell research goes on unchecked many more people will continue to go out of their ways for the promise of some new “cure all” (US Food). The “cure all” is like the placebo effect except it is wrapped up in one pill or shot. Many stem cell therapies offer potential to treat diseases or conditions for which few treatments exist (Wexler). Yes, stem cells show many promising procedures; many for children with muscle or skeleton disorders (“Human Genetics”). Again, without the scientific evidence or education on the topic then the public will continue to search for doctors willing to operate on them and their loved ones without the approval of the …show more content…
government.
Why would you want to extend human life? There are many other reasons why we should not play “God”. It is not ethical to many. Others are concentrating on what the FDA’s rules are for the testing and studying are. In another outrageous power-grab, FDA [US Food and Drug Administration] says your own stem cells are drugs—and stem cell therapy is interstate commerce because it affects the bottom line of FDA-approved drugs in other states (Young)! This Dr. Young’s point, but as science and technology continue to advance, so do ethical viewpoints surrounding these developments. It is important to educate and explore the issues, scientifically and ethically (Research).
On another note, embryonic stem cell research involves destroying human embryo, and for this reason it is a very controversial subject. One other type of research is adult stem cells, this is the type will have a better outcome from an ethical points of view. It will give the public the resources to go and read for themselves; alone with evidence to support the claim. Stem cell studies do not have to be embryonic stem cell research. There is another type the adult stem cell that has a wide potential for scientific study.
Stem cell research has the potential for so many possibilities. If you just focus on one part of the conversation; you would not be giving the decision enough attention. What if it was one of your family members that could benefit from the research? Would you change your mind then? There are so many possibilities, and this is not an open; closed case. The sooner the FDA starts to regulate stem cells the more educated the public will be, so they will have a clear direction to gravitate towards. Patenting the stem cell might stop all the doctors out there claiming they have a shot that will be a “cure all”. Stem cell is not a miracle shot, nor should it be taken lightly. The government should patent the adult stem cell, and humans should not play “God” we should be respectful of death and accept nature’s order. Stem cell research is not about test tube babies. It is about trying to cut back on diseases, and helping the suffering. Let’s use our minds on this subject like we have done with so many other debatable issues.
Works Cited
"Human Genetics." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2012. Opposing
Viewpoints In Context. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Research Ethics and Stem Cells.
In “Stem Cell Information” [World Wide Web site].
Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 2012 [cited Monday, November 25, 2013]
"Stem Cells: Scientific Progress and Future Research Directions." Medicine, Health, and
Bioethics: Essential Primary Sources. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 72-75. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.
US Food and Drug Administration. "The FDA Regulates Stem Cell Products to Protect the
Public." Embryonic and Adult Stem Cells. Ed. Susan C. Hunnicutt. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Rpt. from "FDA Warns About Stem Cell Claims." 2012. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Wexler, Barbara. Genetic and Genetic Engineering. Ed. Kathleen Edgar. 11 vols. USA: Gale
Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.
Young, Robert O. "The FDA Should Not Regulate Stem Cell Products." Embryonic and Adult Stem
Cells. Ed. Susan C. Hunnicutt. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Rpt. from "FDA 's New Claim: 'Your Body Is a Drug—and We Have the Authority to Regulate It! '." Articles of Health 31 Jan. 2012. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 30 Nov.
2013.
November 13, 2013
Stem Cells A Better Future for Tomorrow The field of human genetics has been a “hot topic” since the 1950’s when James Watson and Francis Crick first discovered the basic structure of DNA (“Human Genetics”). Stem cells are found in humans and animals that have distinctive properties. They are the building blocks of life simply put. They have the ability to divide and reproduce themselves for a long period at a time. Stem cell research is a very controversial topic, and for a good reason. Many people think of the scientific community destroying human embryos, (pluripotent stem cells) when they think of stem cell research. This is why the FDA, Food and Drug administration need to patent the stem cell. This …show more content…
would give the public the scientific evidence they need to do the research for themselves. So many people navigate toward the stem cell research because they have incurable diseases. If stem cell research is patented it would allow for the proper funding to start, and help the public make educated decisions on the treatments and risk they think best for themselves. Stem cells are routinely classified into two categories multipotent stem cells, and pluripotent stem cells. Pluripotent come from donated embryos, and these stem cells have the ability to divide, and the ability to develop into all types of the body’s cells; organs, lungs, heart, and skin. Another stem cell research is multipotent; adult stem cells from skin, these have the ability to form many of the body’s cell types, but not all of them (US Food). The FDA should start making laws and regulations for the adult stem cell research. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have complied information on stem cells themselves, the areas in which they have used them, and protocols used for obtaining, growing, manipulating, and transplanting them (“Stem Cells”). This is exciting information, and a great starting point for the FDA to have an idea about what research would have the greatest potential.
Stem cells are the study of genetics. Where we came from and who we are. Science has been able to prove how some genetics are prone to diseases (Wexler). Without this vital research we will not have as much knowledge about the potentially life altering new cures. While it is here to stay the government should do something about what kind of research is under scientific study (“Human Genetics”). The kind of research is important because this is how the FDA will patent the stem cells. If there are no guidelines then scientist will not have a set of regulations to follow. There is this saying that, “science without humanity is cruelty”(unknown).
Therefore, this is something the food and drug administration needs to get a jump on.
If stem cell research goes on unchecked many more people will continue to go out of their ways for the promise of some new “cure all” (US Food). The “cure all” is like the placebo effect except it is wrapped up in one pill or shot. Many stem cell therapies offer potential to treat diseases or conditions for which few treatments exist (Wexler). Yes, stem cells show many promising procedures; many for children with muscle or skeleton disorders (“Human Genetics”). Again, without the scientific evidence or education on the topic then the public will continue to search for doctors willing to operate on them and their loved ones without the approval of the …show more content…
government.
Why would you want to extend human life? There are many other reasons why we should not play “God”. It is not ethical to many. Others are concentrating on what the FDA’s rules are for the testing and studying are. In another outrageous power-grab, FDA [US Food and Drug Administration] says your own stem cells are drugs—and stem cell therapy is interstate commerce because it affects the bottom line of FDA-approved drugs in other states (Young)! This Dr. Young’s point, but as science and technology continue to advance, so do ethical viewpoints surrounding these developments. It is important to educate and explore the issues, scientifically and ethically (Research).
On another note, embryonic stem cell research involves destroying human embryo, and for this reason it is a very controversial subject. One other type of research is adult stem cells, this is the type will have a better outcome from an ethical points of view. It will give the public the resources to go and read for themselves; alone with evidence to support the claim. Stem cell studies do not have to be embryonic stem cell research. There is another type the adult stem cell that has a wide potential for scientific study.
Stem cell research has the potential for so many possibilities. If you just focus on one part of the conversation; you would not be giving the decision enough attention. What if it was one of your family members that could benefit from the research? Would you change your mind then? There are so many possibilities, and this is not an open; closed case. The sooner the FDA starts to regulate stem cells the more educated the public will be, so they will have a clear direction to gravitate towards. Patenting the stem cell might stop all the doctors out there claiming they have a shot that will be a “cure all”. Stem cell is not a miracle shot, nor should it be taken lightly. The government should patent the adult stem cell, and humans should not play “God” we should be respectful of death and accept nature’s order. Stem cell research is not about test tube babies. It is about trying to cut back on diseases, and helping the suffering. Let’s use our minds on this subject like we have done with so many other debatable issues.
Works Cited
"Human Genetics." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2012. Opposing
Viewpoints In Context. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Research Ethics and Stem Cells.
In “Stem Cell Information” [World Wide Web site].
Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 2012 [cited Monday, November 25, 2013]
"Stem Cells: Scientific Progress and Future Research Directions." Medicine, Health, and
Bioethics: Essential Primary Sources. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 72-75. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.
US Food and Drug Administration. "The FDA Regulates Stem Cell Products to Protect the
Public." Embryonic and Adult Stem Cells. Ed. Susan C. Hunnicutt. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Rpt. from "FDA Warns About Stem Cell Claims." 2012. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Wexler, Barbara. Genetic and Genetic Engineering. Ed. Kathleen Edgar. 11 vols. USA: Gale
Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.
Young, Robert O. "The FDA Should Not Regulate Stem Cell Products." Embryonic and Adult Stem
Cells. Ed. Susan C. Hunnicutt. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Rpt. from "FDA 's New Claim: 'Your Body Is a Drug—and We Have the Authority to Regulate It! '." Articles of Health 31 Jan. 2012. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 30 Nov.
2013.