Script

Sociology Script Throughout medicinal history, there have been debates on how much doctors and scientists can control the bodies of people, and, in a sense, play God. Generally we see this in the realm of death, such as with Jack Kevorkian, but how do we deal with the ability to control our bodies? One of the more current debates relies on the issue of the research and use of stem cells, both adult and embryonic. Through careful research and evaluation, I believe that stem cells, regardless of their type, should not be limited. First, here is some background information on stem cells. According to the article “Stem Cells,” “stem cells are undifferentiated, multipotential somatic cells from which other, specialized cells arise by differentiation. [In other words, they] are cells that have the ability to divide infinitely and to develop into the huge variety of specialized cells required for the creation of an organism” (“Stem Cells”). The process of differentiation is when cells become assigned to a specific function, such as a heart, liver, or skin cell, stem cells, on the other hand, have not gone through this process, therefore they can be altered into whatever cell one needs. There are two types of specific stem cells, totipotent, which represent the cell created during the fusion of sperm and egg in conception, and the cells created in the next few cell division cycles and pluripotent, which have the potential to create many but not all of the types of tissue necessary for the development of the entire being. Stem cells and have many potential advantages. First, because they have no specified function, they can be transferred and used for cell therapy, which offer a renewable source of cells for someone in need of a transplanted organ. Also, stem cells can be used to treat diseases as they can be used to fight off Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Also, stem cells have even been used in several patients, after being approved by the FDA in cases such as their transplantation to assist with those suffering from type one diabetes. With the use of stem cells, they are able to survive without specific insulin shots. Stem cells have many far reaching benefits; all they need is approval, which is what the Obama administration is constantly moving toward. However, with all of their advantages, many groups are opposed to the use of stem cells. One issue is the Roman Catholic Church, because they reject embryonic stem cell research, “which it considers being on par with abortion, euthanasia, and other practices it believes to devalue and disrespect human life” (“Ethical Issues in Embryological Research”). Some people believe differently and believe that the fetus is not a human being until it is separated from the mother’s body. This debate mainly concerns when a fetus becomes a living organism. However, I believe that stem cell limitations should be banned because their benefits greatly outweigh the risks. If we have the ability to cure diseases with a simply cell transfusion, then we should do it. Before I conclude, I would like to note that all this research was easily gathered through the use of specific databases and portals, which can be found on this wiki. We should not be limited by beliefs that the entire majority of the population does not agree on. Therefore, stem cell research should not be limited.