Stem Cell Research
An Overview of Stem Cell Research
In November of 1998, scientists reported that they had successfully isolated and cultured human embryonic stem cells—a feat which had eluded researchers for almost two decades. This announcement kicked off an intense and unrelenting debate between those who approve of embryonic stem cell research and those who are opposed to it.
Stem Cell Research Bibliography
The following sources do not necessarily reflect the Center's position and, likewise, may or may not be consistent with a biblical worldview. These sources, however, are excellent resources for familiarizing oneself with the all sides of the issue.
Position Statement
Recent scientific advances in human stem cell research have brought into fresh focus the dignity and status of the human embryo. These developments require that the legal, ethical, and scientific issues associated with this research be critically addressed and articulated. Our careful consideration of these issues leads to the conclusion that human stem cell research requiring the destruction of human embryos is objectionable on legal, ethical, and scientific grounds.
Using Stem Cells from Embryos Will Make Human Flesh Profitable
Unless there is a scientific discovery that removes the perceived need for
embryonic stem cells, the debate over their use in research is not going away
any time soon. Even though the Bush administration is poised to make a
decision on federal funding of this research, it stands to reason that embryo
research will, like abortion, be the next interminable controversy, albeit
along very different battle lines--lines where economics is the unifying force
for immoral policy.
"Ethical" Embryonic Stem Cell Research?
Despite ongoing successes with adult stem cell research, recent months have seen the debate over embryonic stem cell research continue unabated.1 This is especially true in state legislatures across the country where dueling proposals to ban such research or to allow and fund it continue with fascinating political drama.
Fetal Stem Cells and Parkinson Disease—promises never to be kept?
When fetal stem cells are publicly discussed, three diseases—often represented by their celebrity spokespersons—lead a list of potential therapeutic applications. They are Parkinson Disease (Michael J Fox), paralysis as a result of spinal cord injury (previously the late Christopher Reeve), and Diabetes Mellitus, type 1, (either Mary Tyler Moore or Ron Santo). The media packages the information as foregone conclusions: fetal stem cells are a veritable source of untapped, and then implied, “unlimited” therapeutic uses.
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Stem Cell Research Annotated Bibliography
The following sources do not necessarily reflect the Center's position and, likewise, may or may not be consistent with a biblical worldview. These sources, however, are excellent resources for familiarizing oneself with the all sides of the issue.
Cameron, Nigel M. de S., ed. Embryos and Ethics: The Warnock Report in Debate. Edinburgh: Rutherford House, 1987.
The Stem Cell Debate: Are Parthenogenic Human Embryos a Solution?
Under the "techno-jargon" title "Multilineage potential of homozygous stem cells derived from metaphase II oocytes," a group of researchers from the Stemron Corporation and Reproductive Biology Association have just reported on their creation--via a technique known as parthenogenesis--of human embryos for the purpose of obtaining stem cells (Stem Cells 2003:21:152-161).
The Interface Between Science and Ethics: Probing the Deeper Questions
Debates over bioethical issues necessarily involve people from diverse circles. Scientists, health care professionals, lawyers, clergy, and representatives from other disciplines join formerly-trained bioethicists in assessing the appropriateness of various forays within medicine and biotechnology. It is my hypothesis that the way scientists think is often so fundamentally different that the "answers" to bioethical issues offered by the non-scientific community are perceived as (at best) only minimally relevant by those who are actually pursuing the research in question.
Stem Cells & Our Moral Culture
In the midst of the debate over using embryonic stem cells in research, a more fundamental issue has often been overlooked. It is a reality that will not only affect the outcome of this debate, but of numerous moral quandaries in the days ahead. It is the issue of our moral culture--that is, how we think about and seek to resolve moral issues. Our moral culture is ultimately more significant than is a given moral issue because it directly influences the decisions that are made regarding all such issues.
