Topic Confirmation
The controversy on stem cell research provides an ideal research ground to understand the views of the society on scientific developments that adopt holistic approaches from the Wikipedia site. The selection of this topic was informed by the need to understand the society in terms of beliefs, norms, and views on scientific development. Thus, this analytical treatise attempts to explicitly review the controversies surrounding stem cell research to understand its current position in the society and its possible merits against demerits in the progress of humanity from a personal response point from the Wikipedia site.
The first edit I explored on the Wikipedia site was the moral, social and legal implications of stem cell research. Apparently, the author of this edit asserted that the moral implication concerning human cloning has been avoided, though has rarely been scrutinized with any strictness. This post illustrates possible benefits and malpractices of stem cell research and draws moral principles that should be adopted. The post defends principles of human reproductive rights.
The article also explains how stem cell research is incompatible with human dignity and rights. As I was reading the post, the most controversial aspect that arose was how to understand the legality of stem cell theory since it still remains as a concern to many. Even though stem cell research may provide a powerful method of treating medical disorders, the post concluded that there are still numerous immoral and unethical problems that need to be addressed. In my opinion, this post is critical in revealing the moral, ethical, legal issues that has catalyzed the controversy and stand between the protagonists and antagonists of stem cell research. Specifically, the post is comprehensive on the legal, moral, and ethical implication of stem cell research and offers an unbiased approach to the topic of discussion.
The second edit I explored from the Wikipedia was a video link on the developments in adult stem cell research over the years. The video claims that the practice is more useful due to the fact that it alleviates many diseases. I was surprised that the video suggests that misdirected cell may pose a very big health problem in the patient’s body, especially for cells destined for brain or spinal cord. Another major drawback to this therapy is that stem cells have one thing in common with the cancer cells, that is, their ability to multiply indefinitely.
The main fear exposed in the video was that the use of stem cells to treat a disease may result in the seeding of cancer throughout the body. Under the edit button, I posted a comment that seeding may also pose a much greater health risk to the patients. Besides, I inserted a short paragraph to the effect that stem cell therapy is an intensive way of treatment as the stem cells has to be extracted from the source, isolated, stimulated to differentiate into desired cells, grown in culture and finally injected into the patients’ body. In my opinion, the video offers a scientific approach to understanding the basics of stem cell research. It is important to review the developments of stem cell research so as to develop an independent, informed, and neutral explanation to the controversies surrounding adult stem cell research.
In the third section of the Wikipedia, I came across an audio link that is supported by some literature on the practical approach on how adult stem cells may be useful in treating heritable diseases. The blog stated that stem cells are majorly harvested from three to five day human embryos. Many cells can be used during culturing until desired outcome is attained in treatment of hereditary illnesses. Referring to several scientific research studies, the author noted that Stem cell therapy can be used to curb medical disorders affecting blood cells such as leukemia, ADA deficiency or damage to the spinal code (Waters and Ronald 39).
Functionally, Stem cells have capacity to self renew as well as to generate differentiate cells with different functions such as heart, skin, lung and nerve system: These differentiated cells are what make up an organism. The therapy of Stem cell is based on this concept. Patients with medical disorders would be injected with cultured stem cells directed to the affected areas. The cells are expected to proliferate and differentiate to correct the disorder. In my opinion, this audio recording provides firsthand information on how adult stem cells may be the next remedy towards treating hereditary illnesses such as leukemia. This information is vital in offering a protagonist view of benefits of adult stem cell research. In order to make the research paper complete, it is important to consider the protagonist and antagonist views.
In the fourth section of the Wikipedia document, the subtopic on human cloning as a malpractice activity that has moral implications to various religious faiths caught my attention. The blog illustrates different perceptions raised by various religious dominations such as Protestantism, Catholicism, Islamic religion, Hindu, and Jewish community. The blog describes how human cloning is unlawful act according to God’s decree.
Nevertheless, the blog also discussed different religious faiths that have divergent views concerning human cloning. Actually, the matter concerns diverse disciplines such as law, physic philosophy theology and biology (Voneky and Rudijer 32). As I was reading through the blog, I discovered that the position taken by the author is that stem cell research is unethical. In my opinion, this blog is vital in revealing the rationale from a supernatural point of view on why stem cell research defies human dignity. This source offers an antagonist view of the topic of research.
The last section I explored on the Wikipedia document was a subtopic on the fundamental questions associated to human cloning through reflections of religious, cultural and regional aspects that contradict biotechnology. This section discusses cross-cultural perspectives, challenges and benefits of bioethics. The blog is focused to debate about bioethical matters not only in domestic regions but also in international domain. In addition, the blog discusses uncertainty concerning damage of human embryo due to the process of human cloning and how the same has raised fundamental questions concerning moral implications. In my opinion, the blog is comprehensive in laying claims whether cloning embryos at early stage (in order to generate stem cells) might be morally right or not (Roetz 24).
As I was reading through this literature, I was convinced that the blog is scientific and provides important findings in interpreting the moral dilemma that has been associated with human cloning. In addition, the blog provides an insight to the moral obligations of those involved in stem cell research.
The last literature I checked on the Wikipedia a subtopic critical and holistic approach towards understanding the ethical issues surrounding stem cell research in order to relate the position taken by protagonists and antagonists of stem cell research. The blog argue that the idea of killing embryo has raised a lot of controversies over stem cell therapy research. It is also perceived to be very immoral and unethical (Kunich 13).
In addition, the blog present the views of opponents of embryonic stem cell research. I was tempted to edit this post since I felt a desire to expand on the topic. As I result, I posted a short paragraph which states that it is wrong to use human embryos for any kind of research or medical therapy and have characterized the practice as “high tech cannibalism”. Besides, I summarized the numerous ethical problems, from one country to another and the legislation to control the use and spread of this technology in my post.
My post presented the reasons why certain countries have not adopted therapeutic stem cell research such as worsening patient’s health when they are compelled to wait several days in order to get required tissues. Indeed, if therapeutic cloning is practiced, the authors argue that many casualties can easily obtain required body tissues. However, I was opposed to therapeutic cloning because the practice is perceived as murder case. Moreover, I proposed that the therapeutic cloning may lead to biological problems such as formation of Tumors or other health disorders and complications.
Generally, the experience was aware some as I explored one subtopic after another on the controversial topic. The site is ideal for any person interested in understanding different views on stem cell research. The site is user friendly, very interactive, and allows for open discussions through the edit button. I made observations and posted comments across the document.
Works Cited
Kunich, John. the Naked Clone: How Cloning Bans Threatens our Personal Rights. Westport: Praeger, 2003. Print.
Roetz, Heiner. Cross-Cultural Issues in Bioethics: the Example of Human Cloning. Amsterdam: Rodopi, 2006. Print.
Voneky, Silja, and Wolfrum Rudijer. Human Dignity and Human Cloning. Boston: Martinus Nijhoff, 2004. Print.
Waters, Brent, & Turner Ronald. God and the Embryo: Religious Voices on Stem Cells and Cloning. Georgetown University Press: Washington, DC, 2003. Print.