Research ethics


Time to show the benefits
Since it looks like the stem cell controversy is going to be thrust on us one way or another, I thought I would jump in.

As an "armchair reader," I'd like to point out again that there are no practical uses for embryonic stem cells yet.

I'd also like to use this article from the Weekly Standard to point out another thing that isn't getting much play.

The principled objection to current methods of embryonic stem cell research is that they all require the destruction of human embryos. Human embryos, as a matter of scientific fact, are human beings at a very early stage of development. For one to deny this basic biological truth isn't simply to be wrong, but to be unreasonable. The science is clear. While sperm and egg are both genetically and functionally parts of the adult parents, when a sperm fertilizes an egg and the respective pronuclei fuse; a genetically and functionally new, distinct, and unique human organism comes into existence. This embryonic human being possesses all of the internal resources necessary to guide him through further stages of development. The term embryo is a way of classifying the early human being, just as the terms fetus, newborn, infant, child, adolescent, adult, and octogenarian all refer to human beings at other stages. And even if the embryo is brought into existence by a process of cloning (for the unspoken reality of embryonic stem cell research is the necessity of cloning human embryos from the patient in order to have a genetic match and avoid auto-immune rejection), it is still the same exact biological organism as an embryo created by fertilization (if it weren't, the cloning procedure wouldn't be considered successful).

I will point out that there are successful but still experimental methods of harvesting embryonic stem cells that do not sacrifice an embryo. None the less, there are moral considerations that are being glossed over. Why?

I think what bothers me most about this is that Federally funded embryonic stem cell research is being sold as a moral imperative, something that is absolutely necessary to cure all nasty disease.

I'm told I don't have all the evidence. Fine, I'd like to see some.

In addition to my armchair readings in science, I also follow investment trends. The "smart money" isn't on embryonic cell research, although adult stem cell research is a growing field.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Sat - October 28, 2006 at 04:57 AM  Tag


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