Stem Cells
Revolutionizing Medicine
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) refers to therapeutic cloning and involves implanting a somatic cell’s nucleus into an egg that has had its chromosomes removed. It results in a one-celled embryo that is genetically identical to the donated somatic cell. Cloning embryos is a technique aimed at providing a source of stem cells that can be used for research and therapies. The social and ethical issues of stem cells are closely linked, and similarly, SCNT also raises the question: What is the moral status of an embryo?
The answer is subjective, and SCNT faces many opponents from religious and pro-life organizations, since it involves the creation of an embryo with the purpose of destroying it. On the other hand, supporters believe that the treatments that could potentially be developed outweigh its costs.
Ethical Issues
Social Issues
The ethical issues of stem cell research are closely tied to their social issues. Embryonic stem cell research causes many social dilemmas and raises the long-debated question of when life conception starts. To many, life conception starts immediately after fertilization, supporting the idea that the embryo is the equivalent of a human life. As a result, pro-life supporters and religious groups view ESC research as the equivalent of murder. On the contrary, some do not believe that embryos possess the same moral status as a living person. Supporters also argue that the blastula, where ESCs are derived from, are already commonly created and destroyed by fertility clinics. Therefore, instead of destroying surplus blastula, they could be put into better use in ESC labs, which could lead to more treatments. While ESCs hold a tremendous potential for developing advancements in human health, people continue to wonder if the benefits outweigh the costs. People have the duty of respecting human life, however to many, ESC research violates this principle, since it results in the destruction of a human embryo. Meanwhile, people also feel the moral responsibility of helping alleviate human suffering, which can potentially accomplished through ESC therapy and cures. Ultimately, ESC research continues to be a hot debate topic.
Legal Issues
In 2001, President George W. Bush restricted federal funding on ESC research, since it required the destruction of human embryos. Bush’s policy caused many negative ramifications for ESC research. For instance, the stem cell lines that were created before the policy and could still receive funding, were not genetically diverse, making it difficult to study diseases, such as Parkinson’s, in ESCs. Due to the lack of ethnically diverse lines, scientists also could not foresee possible complications in cellular processes in minority groups. In addition, collaboration between American and foreign scientists became more difficult, since the American pioneers in ESC research were no longer able to contribute as much. Experts believe that Bush’s ban hindered the progress of stem cell research by restricting its funding; however in 2009, President Barack overturned Bush’s policy and allowed scientists to use excess embryos from in vitro fertilization (IVF).
