Lucas+S.+-+POSITION+PAPER

Position Paper

===Stem cell consists of using undeveloped cells (cells which aren't mature) which act as blanks and can morph into the cells that are surrounding them. Certain Americans view stem cell research as a violation of privacy to the fetus, even though the fetus is no longer living, but Senator Byron Dorgan states that stem cell research " is about giving life, providing opportunity for those who are suffering from dread diseases."(CQ Researcher). Human emotion is interfering with scientists' abilities to harvest these cells and to proceed with further studying, which in the future could lead to cure for abnormalities such as different types of cancer, organ corroding diseases, and deficiencies.===

===Complications and disorders in human health had always been something that science has tried to come up with a cure for. Abnormalities such as cancers and heart diseases have always been thought of something that medicine would never come up with a cure for, but after the discovery of stem cell research there was a spark of hope; hope in which with the right studies, stem cells would be able to cure possibly everything. The issue with stem cells is that as the human body matures "less stem cells are present" and "mature stem cells have less of a chance to perform as well as embryonic stem cells do" (Wahlberg), but human emotion is getting in the way of such studies because people consider it violation of the human body when fetuses (which contain an extreme amount of stem cells) are used for studying purposes.=== ==="Scientists say embryonic stem cells have potential to become any one of more than 200 types of tissue in the human body, and research using them could lead to treatments or cures for a wide array of injuries and degenerative conditions that are disabling and even fatal" (Allen), but for that to happen, embryos and fetuses have to be studied first, and then their cells are harvested for further experiments which just sky rockets the debate and controversy of stem cell research.=== ===Embryonic stem cell research has been proven to have unimaginable results, even though right now they're slow, further studying will allow science to find faster ways to use stem cells and to allow them to get to the peak of their performance. In Wisconsin, stem cells"are morphing into retina-like balls in Dr. David Gamm's lab at UW-Madison" (Clemmitt) and eventually those balls could turn into actual eyes, since they portrait eye-like characteristics and genetic makeup, which could potentially become a "cure" for blindness. The research of stem cells "is controversial because embryos and fetuses are destroyed in the process of harvesting stem cells. President George W. Bush limited federal funding to research using the 60 already-existing lines in 2001" (Allen). President Obama reinstated the policy in 2009, calling the controversy a false choice between sound science and moral values.===

===For the past centuries scientists along with professionals in the medical field have been trying to find cures to many complications and diseases that have been increasing in the past centuries such as heart defects and cell growth abnormalities such as cancers. "The finding contradicts the common wisdom that nothing can be done to prevent disease unless the triggers that cause it are identified and removed. But individuals can tolerate trigger factors for many decades before developing the disease" (Science News) Dr. Fasano, director of the University of Maryland's Mucosal Biology Research Center. There is evidence that "disease has been increasingly in elderly, but it has been increasing in younger people as well" (Popular Issues), and a possible outcome for this factor would be a decrease in life expectancy in Americans, and studies show that "the rate of disease affecting younger individuals will increase throughout this century". Even though the rate of disease seems to be increasing, stem cell research has proven to substantially find a cure to most of the diseases which are growing.===

===During the 1800 hundreds, remarkable discoveries were made, including the discovery that every single living organism is made out of cells. After that discovery, scientists came to believe that if cells are the building blocks of life, then cells can be used to heal diseases and complications, and that's when stem cell research began. In the early 1900’s European researchers "realised that the various type of blood cells e.g white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets all came from a particular ‘stem cell’. However, it was not until 1963 that the first quantitative descriptions of the self-renewing activities of transplanted mouse bone marrow cells were documented by Canadian researchers Ernest A McCulloch and James E Till" (UKSCF). 1978: Stem cells were discovered in human cord blood. 1981: First in vitro stem cell line developed from mice. 1988: Embryonic stem cell lines created from a hamster. 1995: First embryonic stem cell line derived from a primate. 1997: Cloned lamb from stem cells. 1997: Leukaemia origin found as haematopoietic stem cell, indicating possible proof of cancer stem cells.=== ===In 1998, Thompson, from the University of Wisconsin, isolated cells from the inner cell mass of early embryos and developed the first embryonic stem cell lines. During that exact same year, Gearhart, from Johns Hopkins University, derived germ cells from cells in foetal gonad tissue; pluripotent stem cell lines were developed from both sources. Then, in 1999 and 2000, scientists discovered that manipulating adult mouse tissues could produce different cell types. This meant that cells from bone marrow could produce nerve or liver cells and cells in the brain could also yield other cell types. These discoveries "were exciting for the field of stem cell research, with the promise of greater scientific control over stem cell differentiation and proliferation"(Murnaghan).It was later discovered that stem cells "extracted from embryos and fetuses, because of their early cell cycle, could morph into nearby cells with greater ease than mature cells" (Popular Issues). Because of these ground breaking studies, that date back two centuries ago, stem cell research can be as advanced as it is now and it shows that future promises on disease curing and benefiting human health.===

===I can remember that as a child, I was very close to my family, no only just my mom and my dad, but my whole family. Some of them I'd only see in occasions such as Christmas or my birthday, but I loved them regardless. When I was eight, one of my uncles was diagnosed with cancer, and as followed, the disease took his life away. It bothered me that along with many diseases, cancer didn't have a cure, and for that reason, many people that have impacted my life have passed away. A couple of years ago, I came across a webpage that suggested new "innovative" studies on cells referred to as "stem cells" which could provide a cure for most cellular abnormalities such as cancer. It was too good to be true, that one day, cancers and other abnormalities could be put to an end; unfortunately it might be too good to be true. Stem cell research relies on cells that have not matured yet, cells that act as blanks, morphing into the cellular structure of nearby cells. Most of those cells are found in embryos and fetuses due to the fact that they're still in a high phase of structural and cellular development. That's what made stem cell research too good to be true. People consider the human body "sacred" like a temple, and to use non living fetuses and embryos is considered a "violation" of the human body to about 30% of Americans, which is about 95 million people according to the United States Census Bureau.===

===[[#x--Stem cell research studies have proven that stem cells do have potential to, in the future, provide for a cure for many diseases. "In physiatry we evaluate and treat many patients with chronic, incurable diseases such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s, and motor neuron disease. Embryonic stem cell research is a potential cure for many of these diseases" (AAPM&R) states Ryan Enke, a physician for the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Reading such things gives me hope, not only for my generation but for many generations to come. Some argue that there are other types of stem cell treatment, such as adult stem cell use, and chord use (stem cells extracted from the umbilical chord) but "the problem is that embryonic cells are the best and most universally transferable form. Adult cells are only transferable to the body they were extracted from and cord cells can only be given to the immediate family. Embryonic stem cells, because they are collected at such an early stage of development, can adapt to any human body" (The Chimes). When non living fetuses are born due to complications or deformities, or when fetuses or embryos have to naturally aborted, they are simply "discarded' afterwards, but those organisms are what science needs to improve on their studies on stem cells, and unfortunately people view the use of non living human organisms for scientific studies is a violation of the human body. "Making research use of embryos that would otherwise be discarded is in keeping with our call to heal the afflicted.” (Clemmitt). Society isn't aware that the rate of complications in human health is constantly increasing due to pollution, unsafe eating habits, and other factors, which ,due to the way the world behaves right now, won't change. It would be ideal for people in the medical field along with scientists to make people aware that as time goes on, the rate of diseases will increase due to those factors and that stem cell research might be the answer to finally finding a cure to those diseases.]]Stem cell research studies have proven that stem cells do have potential to, in the future, provide for a cure for many diseases. "In physiatry we evaluate and treat many patients with chronic, incurable diseases such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s, and motor neuron disease. Embryonic stem cell research is a potential cure for many of these diseases" (AAPM&R) states Ryan Enke, a physician for the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Reading such things gives me hope, not only for my generation but for many generations to come. Some argue that there are other types of stem cell treatment, such as adult stem cell use, and chord use (stem cells extracted from the umbilical chord) but "the problem is that embryonic cells are the best and most universally transferable form. Adult cells are only transferable to the body they were extracted from and cord cells can only be given to the immediate family. Embryonic stem cells, because they are collected at such an early stage of development, can adapt to any human body" (The Chimes). When non living fetuses are born due to complications or deformities, or when fetuses or embryos have to naturally aborted, they are simply "discarded' afterwards, but those organisms are what science needs to improve on their studies on stem cells, and unfortunately people view the use of non living human organisms for scientific studies is a violation of the human body. "Making research use of embryos that would otherwise be discarded is in keeping with our call to heal the afflicted.” (Clemmitt). Society isn't aware that the rate of complications in human health is constantly increasing due to pollution, unsafe eating habits, and other factors, which ,due to the way the world behaves right now, won't change. It would be ideal for people in the medical field along with scientists to make people aware that as time goes on, the rate of diseases will increase due to those factors and that stem cell research might be the answer to finally finding a cure to those diseases.===

===Stem cell research has become a controversial topic ever since the discovery of cells being the main structure of life in the 1800's. The 30% of Americans who oppose stem cell research are mostly part of the pro- life group. Those taking a "pro life stance generally believe that an embryo is a human being. Thus, the act of extracting stem cells from an embryo is a violation of human rights" (Religious Tolerance) bringing it back to the argument that the human body is sacred and that it shouldn't be violated, dead or alive. This is, in a way, selfish. To keep scientists from finding a cure to many diseases would be like keeping Einstein from doing math, and by not encouraging stem cell research, pro lifers aren't doing any good to themselves either, because people age, and with age comes complications and discomforts, which in the future could be avoided by stem cell research. Pro lifers also want to put an end to stem cell research, or at least "switch to adult stem cells instead of embryonic stem cells" (Religious Tolerance), but adult stem cells do not behave like embryonic stem cells and have a very limited capacity. Pro lifers also argue that it is useless to extract cells from a dead being, due to the fact that cells are "dead", which is a very inaccurate statement, because even someone passes, their cells stay in a dormant state, which can last for weeks, and if frozen, it can last for years.===

===Although I agree that living organisms shouldn't be violated, I still think science should be able to take advantage of organisms once they pass. Recent studies in California University have shown that "20-20% of embryos die on the process of being frozen for future fertilization", and that "30% of frozen embryos die due to mechanical and human errors" (California University). Embryos that die within the process of freezing, "are simply thrown away or discarded, because fertilization cannot occur" (California University), and personally "throwing away" embryos is a much greater "violation" than to use their cells for scientific and promising studies. Humans can avoid diseases and complications, but only to a certain extent. As people age their cells do not function as well and their immune system is constantly down, making it easy for abnormalities such as cancers to form. Treatments for those diseases aren't promising, and for the most part too risky for certain people. Stem cell research, can provide less health threatening treatments, and potentially a cure for those diseases. To me, pro life is to give someone the chance to live another day, even if it's by using non living embryos and fetuses in scientific studies.===

===The idea of cloning has been around for a long time. "Dolly" was a successfully cloned sheep, which was cloned using a technique called 'somatic cell nuclear transfer'. It was a rather complicated process, so scientists tried finding alternatives to this issue. Stem cell research has shown potential capability to clone organs and a full living organism. Ever since the idea of cloning was out, there were always people who were against it, and right now people are opposed to stem cell cloning. Those who oppose cloning do not want to "live in a world where people are no longer "unique" (Weekes). To many, the idea of cloning "takes away the human part of us, therefore making us nonhuman" (Weekes). Cloning is the idea of essentially duplicate a living organism, and to people who oppose the idea of cloning believe that if two exact same humans were to exist, it would take away the individual's unique traits and characteristics, and that someday people would just live in a world where every person is exactly the same.=== ===Cloning, has been mainly focused on organs as of today's studies. Scientists have a goal to one day be able to have many vital organs cloned to that people with heart complications and other diseases don't have to be put their lives on the line because of a shortage of donors. Most of the scientific community does not have any intentions in cloning humans, "complications with organ cloning are already too much to handle" says Weekes, "our technology is nowhere close to the point where human cloning would be successful" (Weekes).===

===People who oppose stem research have come up with various arguments to bring stem cell to a minimum. One of those arguments is the use and destruction of embryos, which is not humane in pro lifers' opinions. They have argued that "from the moment of conception, the organism is a human"(NOVA), and therefore using embryos would be immoral. Studies have shown that even though some consider embryos human, the organism "does not develop any human characteristics until two to three weeks after conception" (Sohn). Pro lifers also disagree with the idea of embryonic donation clinics to a certain extent. They support the idea of clinics in which embryos are donated to be artificially grown and then put back into the donator's uterus, because of women who might have uterus walls that are too acidic for the embryo to live for the first couple of weeks. But pro lifers disagree with the idea of clinics that take embryo donation but for medical and scientific studies.=== ===Clinics that take in embryos for medical and scientific purposes should not be in any way stopped or shut down by pro lifers. Those clinics have been built so that medical and scientific studies can be performed so overall humans can deal with more health related complications. People who donate embryos to those clinics are "sent an informed-consent packet outlining the types of research that could be done with the embryos, such as creating embryonic stem cell lines or studying human development" (Conger), they are aware of what will happen to their donated embryos; they're not forced to donate against their will. These clinics are very beneficial, the studies being performed in any medical area can lead to new cures for diseases, new medications, antibiotics and they ultimately can help people live a "healthier" life.===

===Disease rate has been increasing over time and that is a factor we cannot stop. Although many treatments for those diseases have been provided for the public, they only treat the disease for so long before it becomes immune to the treatment. Stem cell research has been an alternative solution to that problem. Although stem cells aren't fully understood yet, people in the medical field have already come to the conclusion that stem cells could provide a cure for most diseases known to man. Although embryos are destroyed in the process of stem cell harvesting, the benefits outrun that factor. People who oppose stem cell research do so because they don't know the benefits it can brig, that why people in the medical field need to spread the word on stem cell and make the public ore aware of how promising these studies are. “He who conceals his disease cannot expect to be cured ”===


 * ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY **

Wahlberg, David. "Madison researchers making major breakthroughs in stem cell work." //Wisconsin State Journal// 2W63949633039 ser. (Apr. 2012): n. pag.//Infohio//. Web. 5 Apr. 2012. <[|http://web.ebscohost.com]>.

This journal article is a secondary source written by David Wahlberg, editor and write for the Wisconsin State Journal. In this article, Wahlberg addresses the significance of stem cells and how they can morph into over 200 different types of cells. This is important for my my project because it informs people who are not familiar with stem cell research about the importance of taking the time to study these cells and how beneficial it will be if doctors and scientists master the use of stem cells.

Clemmitt, M. (2006, September 1). Stem cell research. //CQ Researcher//, //16//, 697-720. Retrieved from []

This journal is a secondary source written by Marcia Clemmitt, although I'm focusing on the statement given by Senator Byron Dorgan. In his statement Senator Dorgan explains how stem cell research is about giving life to the ones who need it. This is very important to my project because it shows to people who disprove of stem cell research that there's a good cause behind all of this research, that fetuses aren't being "violated" as they say, for no reason, fetuses are being "studied" so that they can give the gift of life to others.

Allen, Bob. "Stem Cell Results Labeled Meager, Imoral." //Christian Century// 129.4 (2012): 2. //infohio//. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. <[|http://infohio.org]>.

This journal article is a secondary source written by Bob Allen, writer for the Christian Century (journal). In this article, Allen addresses how stem cells are beneficial and also how our presidents have reacted to this controversial research. I picked this out for my project because it states how two of our presidents reacted to the revolution of stem cell research.

University of Maryland Medical Center. "Celiac disease rate is growing, particularly among elderly, study reveals." //ScienceDaily//, 27 Sep. 2010. Web. 12 Apr. 2012.

This article is a secondary source from the University of Maryland Medical Center. In this article, the medical workers established that diseases have trigger factors that can stay in a dormant state for decades. I think this is important to my project because it explains how diseases can't really be prevented 100%, which is something that people who oppose stem cell research don't believe in.

"History of Stem Cell Research." //Popular Issues// (Jan. 2012): n. pag. Web. 27 Apr. 2012. <[|http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org]>.

This article is a secondary source from Popular Issues. In this article it is discussed the fact that diseases have been rapidly increasing and that trigger factors for those diseases can only be prevented for so long. I think it is important to add this article to my project because it establishes the issue of diseases increasing, which later on ties to the rest of my paragraph.

Lloyd, Gareth. "Stem Cell Research." //UK Stem Cell Foundation// (Nov. 2011): n. pag. Web. 27 Apr. 2012. <[|http://www.ukscf.org]>.

This article is a secondary source from the United Kingdom Stem Cell Foundation. In this article, Lloyd Garath, the main writer for the UKSCF, brings the point that all stem cells in blood originated from only one stem cell. That is very important to my project because it shows how if that one stem cell can be studied and manipulated, it could bring up cures for many blood related diseases such as leukemia.

Murnaghan, Ian. "History Of Stem Cell Research." //Explore Stem Cells// (Nov. 2010): n. pag. Web. 27 Apr. 2012. <[|http://www.explorestemcells.co.uk]>.

This article is a secondary source from Explore Stem Cells, which is a website with many stem cell related articles and arguments. Ian Murnaghan, scientist and writer, described one lab experiment in which mice bone marrow cells were used to produce liver cells and nerve cells, which are cells that cannot be replaced. This is important to my paper and project because, bone marrow is a type of stem cell, and it is showing how effective it is (on mice, which have a similar DNA to humans).

Northway, Jennifer, and Gavin Kirkwood. "Opposing Viewpoints: Is Stem Cell Research Justifiable." //The Chimes// (Nov. 2009): n. pag. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <[|http://chimes.biola.edu]>.

This is a secondary article from the Chimes, which is a scientific magazine.Jennifer Northway, the main writer for the Chimes, adresses thr problem with adult stem cells and why embryonic stem cells are more effective. This is very important to my project because it addresses to the controversy of embryonic stem cell research and why embryonic stem cells should be used instead of just using adult stem cells.

Enke, Ryan C. "Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research." //American Academy of Physical// //Medicine and Rehabilitation// (July 2010): n. pag. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <[|http://www.aapmr.org]>.

This is a primary article from the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Ryan Enke, one of the association's physicians, states that they have trouble dealing with patients dealing with diseases such as Parkinson's disease, and how stem cell research is an outlet to that problem. That is important for my project because it adds on to the benefits of embryonic stem cell research and why it should be supported instead of restricted.

//University Library//. California University, 22 Apr. 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <[|http://www.csulb.edu]>.

This is a primary article stored in the University of California's archives. This article compares the number of embryos destroyed in stem cell research and in clinical freezings and artificial conception. This is very important to my project because it shows that while people are opposing embryonic stem cell research, more embryos are bring destroyed in other processes which are completely legal and not restricted.

Robinson, B. A. "Stem cell research: All viewpoints." //Religious Tolerance// (Jan. 2010): n. pag. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <[|http://www.religioustolerance.org]>.

This is a primary article from Religious Tolerance. This article brings up the first argument to my topic, which is the violation of human rights in the destruction of an embryo. Robinson specifies who the people that oppose stem cell research are and why they oppose it. This is important to my project because it gives the reader knowledge on why people are opposing this topic and why it is so controversial.

Weekes, Rob. "Stem Cell Research / Therapeutic Cloning." //International Debate// //Education Association// (Dec. 2009): n. pag. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <[|http://www.idebate.org]>.

This is a secondary article from the International Debate Education Association. Rob Weekes was awarded after his speech on cloning. His view on it is that it takes the human part away from us when things are cloned. That is the second argument to my topic, that if stem cell is one day successful enough to clone humans, that some day we might live in a world where everyone looks the same.

Green, Ronald M. "The Stem-Cell Debate." //NOVA// (Nov. 2011): n. pag. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <[|http://www.pbs.org]>.

This is a primary article from NOVA magazine. Ronald Green, one of NOVA's writers, describes the view pro lifers have on life, which is that life begins at conception, therefore even though human characteristics don't start developing on an embryo after 14 days, the embryo is still a human being.. This is important to my paper because it leads my project into a transition and into the third opponent's argument.

Conger, Krista. "New approach to IVF embryo donations lets people weigh decision." //Stanford School of Medicine// (Apr. 2011): n. pag. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <[|http://med.stanford.edu]>.

This is a primary article from the University of Stanford's archives. In this article, Krista Conger, transitions into my third argument, which is that people don't have the right to limit things that are donated for the study of science, and what i mean by this is that people try to limit stem cell research on embryos being donated for that specific type of study.

Sohn, Emily. "Do Fetuses Feel Pain?" //Discovery News// (Apr. 2010): n. pag. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. <[|http://news.discovery.com]>.

This is a primary article from Discovery News. Emily Sohn, a writer for Discovery, establishes the fact that embryos wont feel any pain to a certain extent of their lives "after conception". Although this isn't important to my project, it adds on information to people who don't know whether to support or oppose stem cell research.