2_mendoza_madalena

Madalena Mendoza

Rhetoric

9 April 2001

Support for Stem Cell Research

Stem cell research is currently a very controversial topic. The controversy over the issue surrounds the research use of aborted fetal tissue. Scientists feel this type of research, and its findings, can benefit all people at some point in their lives. Pro-life advocates, on the other hand, oppose support and funding of the research. They feel that by supporting the research, they are inadvertently supporting abortion. Researchers have already found that stem cell experiments have been able to restore diseased tissues to their normal, healthy state. This is exciting news for those with degenerative and progressive ailments because it suggests that their ailing parts can be regenerated using stem cells. Scientists have also discovered that adult tissue, other than that of aborted fetuses, can also be used successfully in their research experiments. Currently, stem cell research is not highly supported because of the ethical dilemma of harvesting fetal stem cells from aborted embryos. A mini-solution to gain much needed support would be to use only adult stem cells.

Regardless of a person's feelings concerning the right to life, most all would agree that medical experimentation has made possible all of the medical advances that are allowing people to have a longer life and a better quality of life. Since the beginning of time, medics have explored new and improved ways to help alleviate pain and to cure diseases. Starting with the use of penicillin, and moving forward to Band-Aid surgeries, stem cell research is just the newest medical breakthrough. Even if a limited few must perish to bring life to the rest, medical experimentation is beneficial to the population as a whole. As it is, enough fetuses have perished to bring about the knowledge of stem cell use and their healing properties. Because of that, it is now understood that stem cells from adult neural and blood tissues have the same remedial potential as fetal stem cells. Therefore, stem cell research should be supported only when the research is done using stem cells harvested from adult tissues.

Those who feel the fertilized egg and embryo hold no human rights take no offense in the trial use of aborted fetal stem cells. According to an article written by M. J. Friedrich, John A. Robertson, professor at the University of Texas School of Law, believes "the early embryo lacks the capacity to be born, lacks the capacity to have interests, and, therefore, destroying it to get cells does not harm it or wrong it in any way." Through its ambiguous language, the U. S. Constitution and legal system also do not recognize the embryo as a human subject with natural, unalienable rights (Friedrich). Hal E. Broxmeyer, Ph.D. of the Walther Cancer Institute, says that it has also been discovered that stem cells from umbilical cords have successfully been frozen for later uses (27). According to the article "Study Suggests Wider Use of Stem Cells," such findings "may eliminate the ethical dilemma now blocking stem cell studies that use human fetal tissues." Questions remain, though, as to the length of time that cord blood can be stored (Hass). Although the law and a number of people hold little regard for human embryonic life, others feel that growing embryos and mining them for their stem cells is immoral and unethical. Arthur Caplan, Ph.D. states that " refraining from creating embryos for research would also be a way of creating a 'zone of respect' for human procreation" (qtd. in Friedrich).

Jonas Frisen, a Swedish neuroscientist, feels that in a perfect world, no one would experiment with embryonic cells, but that stem cells are teaching us how to heal a human being (qtd. in Fischer). With the knowledge that stem cell research has provided, members of the medical field will be better equipped to treat several diseases. Even more importantly, Scott Gottlieb states that one benefit of using stem cells is that "these cells posses a specialized enzyme that lets them reproduce potentially forever." Doctors would be able to do as much testing as needed because the worry of depleting fetal tissue resources would be nonexistent.

Current guidelines for federal funding state that stem cell research may only be done on human embryos that were meant for in vitro fertilization and those that have not yet matured to form distinct organs. Until recently, it was believed that only embryonic stem cells had the potential to develop into other bodily tissues ("Study"). It is now understood that stem cells derived from existing tissue, specifically neural tissue, are also able to change into other cell types ("Study"). The problem of using fetal tissue has not yet been resolved, but studies already prove that adult tissues may be used. Fisher says that "some opponents of the embryonic research actually welcome the new study results as a step closer to researchers being able to transform body cells in the laboratory without the use of an embryo at all."

Scientists claim to have "found the cell that acts as the mother of all life": the stem cell (Fischer). Stem cells are able to develop into any one of the two-hundred-ten tissues of the body (Fischer). Researchers are proposing that there may no longer be the need for blood transfusions for blood disorders, or organ donor transplants ("Study"). The successes of previous experiments have indicated that a time may come when organs will be regenerated using the tissues of those with the ailment. By using a person's own cells, there would be no need for an organ donor search, or the lifetime use of medication. The problem of transplanted organ rejections would be nonexistent. Immune cells derived from cord blood have the ability to support full immune system recovery (Broxmeyer 29). It has also been observed that children who received cord blood transplants had a lower incidence of rejection than those who received bone marrow transplants (68).

Stem cell experiments have been proven beneficial to patients suffering from incurable diseases such as leukemia and other degenerative diseases. Broxmeyer states that "marrow transplant studies have shown that a limited number of marrow stem cells can restore normal numbers of marrow and peripheral blood cells . . . which demonstrates self-renewal of the original hematopoietic stem cells" in animals (46). Susan Schindette and Meg Grant, authors of the article "Adam's Gift," found a set of parents who decided to give birth to a second child in order to save the life of their first child. The older child had a rare and deadly form of anemia called Fanconi anemia. The only hope of survival for the child would have been extensive chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant from a genetically matched donor. The experiment proved successful and both children are doing fine. Doctors are hopeful that the child's immune system will not reject her sibling's stem cells (48-53).

Stem cells have already proven successful in treating a few incurable diseases such as Fanconi anemia, different types of cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease. According to Janis Hass, "there are three sources of stem cells: umbilical cord, and adult peripheral blood, and bone marrow." In the article "Adam's Gift," "twenty-two days after treatment, a biopsy showed that Adam's immune system had indeed taken over" in his sister (53). In a diabetes experiment conducted by Ammon Peck, professor of pathology at the University of Florida, it was found that pancreatic stem cells were successful in reversing diabetes in mice (qtd. in Berger). Michael D. Lemonick discussed a trial surgery done on a group of Parkinson's patients that would "replenish their dying brain tissue with aborted fetal cells." The surgery helped to partially alleviate rigidity and slow movements (Lemonick). Scientists felt that even though the experiment didn't prove to eradicate the disease, "knowing that fetal cells can grow successfully in a patient's brain is a major step forward" (Lemonick).

Funding for stem cell research would be more abundant if the research is done exclusively on adult tissues. The government would have no problem funding the research because they would not suffer the backlash of the unintentional support of abortion. As it is, the U. S. government does not fund studies that are experimenting with stem cells derived from aborted fetuses. Because some researchers are using aborted fetal tissue, "continued research may be hampered by laws passed ten years ago by the U. S. Congress that forbid government health agencies [from] financing any research that involves experimenting with human embryos" (Gottlieb). More private funds would also be available to help continue the research. The private sector is more than willing to bring about advances that promote human life. Even pro-life advocates would help fund the research.

Stem cell research is a necessary science. There are many diseases and conditions that impose a death sentence on numerous people because they are thought to be incurable. Scientists and doctors are hoping that stem cell research is the miracle cure that may one day help rid the Earth and her people of such diseases. The approval of stem cell research would mean that people with failing organs wouldn't have to wait for donor organs, and that degenerative diseases would no longer be progressive. It is only with continued research and support that such a dream can come true.

There is much negativity surrounding gene therapy because of the abuse of power that is possible. Many fear that the next step in genetic research is the cloning of a human. It is a fear that is proving to be very possible, but there are strict regulations set up to prevent such a thing from happening. That fear, along with the controversy surrounding abortion, is causing the public to frown upon all kinds of gene therapy including stem cell research. That is discouraging because public support is needed to encourage federal and private funding of the research.

Questionable medical experiments will forever continue to emerge, but they, just as those before them, will provide useful information that will benefit mankind. Stem cell research is a beneficial science that should be allowed further testing because of the many lives the research will benefit. Findings have proven that both fetal and adult stem cells have the ability to "turn into every tissue in the body" (Lemonick). That being known, why not focus the research exclusively on using stem cells derived from adult cells? Should that happen, the moral and ethical disputes surrounding stem cell research would be calmed, and further testing may even be embraced by both Pro-life and Pro-choice advocates.

Sources Cited

Berger, Abi. "Transplanted Pancreatic Stem Cells Can Reverse Diabetes in

Mice." British Medical Journal 320 (2000): 736. 24 Mar. 2001

<http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/320/7237/736/a>.

Broxmeyer, Hal E. Cellular Characteristics of Cord Blood Transplantation.

Bethesda: AABB, 1998.

Fischer, Joannie Schrof. "Tweaking Nature's Repair Kit." U. S. News 12 June

2000. 23 Mar. 2001

<http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/00612/neuron.htm>.

Friedrich, M. J. "Debating Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research." Journal of

the American Medical Association 284 (2000): 681. 21 Feb. 2001

<http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v284n6/ffull/jmn089-1.html>.

Hass, Janis. "Storage of Cord Blood Attracts Private-Sector Interest." Canadian

Medical Association Journal 160 (1999): 551-2. 24 Mar. 2001

<http://www.cma.ca/cmaj/vol%2D160/issue%2D4/0551.htm>.

Lemonick, Michael D. "The Parkinson's Experiment." Time 19 Mar. 2001. 23

Mar. 2001

<http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,102071,00.html>.

Schindehette, Susan, and Meg Grant. "Adam's Gift." People 12 Feb. 2001:

48-53.

"Study Suggests Wider Use of Stem Cells." USA Today 1 June 2000. 26 Feb.

2001 <http://www.usatoday.com/life/health/embryo1hemb012.htm>.









			Madalena Mendoza Rhetoric 9 April 2001 Support for Stem Cell Research Stem cell research is currently a very controversial topic. The controversy over the issue surrounds the research use of aborted fetal tissue. Scientists feel this type of research, and its findings, can benefit all people at some point in their lives. Pro-life advocates, on the other hand, oppose support and funding of the research. They feel that by supporting the research, they are inadvertently supporting abortion. Researchers have already found that stem cell experiments have been able to restore diseased tissues to their normal, healthy state. This is exciting news for those with degenerative and progressive ailments because it suggests that their ailing parts can be regenerated using stem cells. Scientists have also discovered that adult tissue, other than that of aborted fetuses, can also be used successfully in their research experiments. Currently, stem cell research is not highly supported because of the ethical dilemma of harvesting fetal stem cells from aborted embryos. A mini-solution to gain much needed support would be to use only adult stem cells. Regardless of a person's feelings concerning the right to life, most all would agree that medical experimentation has made possible all of the medical advances that are allowing people to have a longer life and a better quality of life. Since the beginning of time, medics have explored new and improved ways to help alleviate pain and to cure diseases. Starting with the use of penicillin, and moving forward to Band-Aid surgeries, stem cell research is just the newest medical breakthrough. Even if a limited few must perish to bring life to the rest, medical experimentation is beneficial to the population as a whole. As it is, enough fetuses have perished to bring about the knowledge of stem cell use and their healing properties. Because of that, it is now understood that stem cells from adult neural and blood tissues have the same remedial potential as fetal stem cells. Therefore, stem cell research should be supported only when the research is done using stem cells harvested from adult tissues. Those who feel the fertilized egg and embryo hold no human rights take no offense in the trial use of aborted fetal stem cells. According to an article written by M. J. Friedrich, John A. Robertson, professor at the University of Texas School of Law, believes "the early embryo lacks the capacity to be born, lacks the capacity to have interests, and, therefore, destroying it to get cells does not harm it or wrong it in any way." Through its ambiguous language, the U. S. Constitution and legal system also do not recognize the embryo as a human subject with natural, unalienable rights (Friedrich). Hal E. Broxmeyer, Ph.D. of the Walther Cancer Institute, says that it has also been discovered that stem cells from umbilical cords have successfully been frozen for later uses (27). According to the article "Study Suggests Wider Use of Stem Cells," such findings "may eliminate the ethical dilemma now blocking stem cell studies that use human fetal tissues." Questions remain, though, as to the length of time that cord blood can be stored (Hass). Although the law and a number of people hold little regard for human embryonic life, others feel that growing embryos and mining them for their stem cells is immoral and unethical. Arthur Caplan, Ph.D. states that " refraining from creating embryos for research would also be a way of creating a 'zone of respect' for human procreation" (qtd. in Friedrich). Jonas Frisen, a Swedish neuroscientist, feels that in a perfect world, no one would experiment with embryonic cells, but that stem cells are teaching us how to heal a human being (qtd. in Fischer). With the knowledge that stem cell research has provided, members of the medical field will be better equipped to treat several diseases. Even more importantly, Scott Gottlieb states that one benefit of using stem cells is that "these cells posses a specialized enzyme that lets them reproduce potentially forever." Doctors would be able to do as much testing as needed because the worry of depleting fetal tissue resources would be nonexistent. Current guidelines for federal funding state that stem cell research may only be done on human embryos that were meant for in vitro fertilization and those that have not yet matured to form distinct organs. Until recently, it was believed that only embryonic stem cells had the potential to develop into other bodily tissues ("Study"). It is now understood that stem cells derived from existing tissue, specifically neural tissue, are also able to change into other cell types ("Study"). The problem of using fetal tissue has not yet been resolved, but studies already prove that adult tissues may be used. Fisher says that "some opponents of the embryonic research actually welcome the new study results as a step closer to researchers being able to transform body cells in the laboratory without the use of an embryo at all." Scientists claim to have "found the cell that acts as the mother of all life": the stem cell (Fischer). Stem cells are able to develop into any one of the two-hundred-ten tissues of the body (Fischer). Researchers are proposing that there may no longer be the need for blood transfusions for blood disorders, or organ donor transplants ("Study"). The successes of previous experiments have indicated that a time may come when organs will be regenerated using the tissues of those with the ailment. By using a person's own cells, there would be no need for an organ donor search, or the lifetime use of medication. The problem of transplanted organ rejections would be nonexistent. Immune cells derived from cord blood have the ability to support full immune system recovery (Broxmeyer 29). It has also been observed that children who received cord blood transplants had a lower incidence of rejection than those who received bone marrow transplants (68). Stem cell experiments have been proven beneficial to patients suffering from incurable diseases such as leukemia and other degenerative diseases. Broxmeyer states that "marrow transplant studies have shown that a limited number of marrow stem cells can restore normal numbers of marrow and peripheral blood cells . . . which demonstrates self-renewal of the original hematopoietic stem cells" in animals (46). Susan Schindette and Meg Grant, authors of the article "Adam's Gift," found a set of parents who decided to give birth to a second child in order to save the life of their first child. The older child had a rare and deadly form of anemia called Fanconi anemia. The only hope of survival for the child would have been extensive chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant from a genetically matched donor. The experiment proved successful and both children are doing fine. Doctors are hopeful that the child's immune system will not reject her sibling's stem cells (48-53). Stem cells have already proven successful in treating a few incurable diseases such as Fanconi anemia, different types of cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease. According to Janis Hass, "there are three sources of stem cells: umbilical cord, and adult peripheral blood, and bone marrow." In the article "Adam's Gift," "twenty-two days after treatment, a biopsy showed that Adam's immune system had indeed taken over" in his sister (53). In a diabetes experiment conducted by Ammon Peck, professor of pathology at the University of Florida, it was found that pancreatic stem cells were successful in reversing diabetes in mice (qtd. in Berger). Michael D. Lemonick discussed a trial surgery done on a group of Parkinson's patients that would "replenish their dying brain tissue with aborted fetal cells." The surgery helped to partially alleviate rigidity and slow movements (Lemonick). Scientists felt that even though the experiment didn't prove to eradicate the disease, "knowing that fetal cells can grow successfully in a patient's brain is a major step forward" (Lemonick). Funding for stem cell research would be more abundant if the research is done exclusively on adult tissues. The government would have no problem funding the research because they would not suffer the backlash of the unintentional support of abortion. As it is, the U. S. government does not fund studies that are experimenting with stem cells derived from aborted fetuses. Because some researchers are using aborted fetal tissue, "continued research may be hampered by laws passed ten years ago by the U. S. Congress that forbid government health agencies [from] financing any research that involves experimenting with human embryos" (Gottlieb). More private funds would also be available to help continue the research. The private sector is more than willing to bring about advances that promote human life. Even pro-life advocates would help fund the research. Stem cell research is a necessary science. There are many diseases and conditions that impose a death sentence on numerous people because they are thought to be incurable. Scientists and doctors are hoping that stem cell research is the miracle cure that may one day help rid the Earth and her people of such diseases. The approval of stem cell research would mean that people with failing organs wouldn't have to wait for donor organs, and that degenerative diseases would no longer be progressive. It is only with continued research and support that such a dream can come true. There is much negativity surrounding gene therapy because of the abuse of power that is possible. Many fear that the next step in genetic research is the cloning of a human. It is a fear that is proving to be very possible, but there are strict regulations set up to prevent such a thing from happening. That fear, along with the controversy surrounding abortion, is causing the public to frown upon all kinds of gene therapy including stem cell research. That is discouraging because public support is needed to encourage federal and private funding of the research. Questionable medical experiments will forever continue to emerge, but they, just as those before them, will provide useful information that will benefit mankind. Stem cell research is a beneficial science that should be allowed further testing because of the many lives the research will benefit. Findings have proven that both fetal and adult stem cells have the ability to "turn into every tissue in the body" (Lemonick). That being known, why not focus the research exclusively on using stem cells derived from adult cells? Should that happen, the moral and ethical disputes surrounding stem cell research would be calmed, and further testing may even be embraced by both Pro-life and Pro-choice advocates. Sources Cited Berger, Abi. "Transplanted Pancreatic Stem Cells Can Reverse Diabetes in Mice." British Medical Journal 320 (2000): 736. 24 Mar. 2001 <http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/320/7237/736/a>. Broxmeyer, Hal E. Cellular Characteristics of Cord Blood Transplantation. Bethesda: AABB, 1998. Fischer, Joannie Schrof. "Tweaking Nature's Repair Kit." U. S. News 12 June 2000. 23 Mar. 2001 <http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/00612/neuron.htm>. Friedrich, M. J. "Debating Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research." Journal of the American Medical Association 284 (2000): 681. 21 Feb. 2001 <http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v284n6/ffull/jmn089-1.html>. Hass, Janis. "Storage of Cord Blood Attracts Private-Sector Interest." Canadian Medical Association Journal 160 (1999): 551-2. 24 Mar. 2001 <http://www.cma.ca/cmaj/vol%2D160/issue%2D4/0551.htm>. Lemonick, Michael D. "The Parkinson's Experiment." Time 19 Mar. 2001. 23 Mar. 2001 <http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,102071,00.html>. Schindehette, Susan, and Meg Grant. "Adam's Gift." People 12 Feb. 2001: 48-53. "Study Suggests Wider Use of Stem Cells." USA Today 1 June 2000. 26 Feb. 2001 <http://www.usatoday.com/life/health/embryo1hemb012.htm>.