Choose one of the following topics and write a one page paper (approximately 500
ID: 3476042 • Letter: C
Question
Choose one of the following topics and write a one page paper (approximately 500 words). Use the online library to locate at least one resource. Provide complete website addresses, including the ‘http://’ (such as http://www.aapc.com/certification/index.aspx) if you use information from the web in your paper.
1.Genetic engineering
2.Stem cell research
3.DNA testing (for example, to determine if one has the breast cancer gene)
4.Gene enhancement
In your paper, address the following questions:
1. How/why is the subject of your topic done?
2. What are the ethical issues and implications related to your topic?
3. What are the arguments for and against implementation?
4 What is your personal point of view on this topic? Are you for it or against it?
5. How does the conscience clause apply to your chosen topic?
Explanation / Answer
STEM CELL RESEARCH
A stem cell that has the ability to continuously divide and differentiate (develop) into various other kind(s) of cells/tissues .
Possible Uses of Stem Cell Technology
Diseases and conditions where stem cell treatment is being investigated include:
· Diabetes
· Rheumatoid arthritis
· Parkinson's disease
· Alzheimer's disease
· Osteoarthritis
· Stroke and traumatic brain injury repair
· Learning disability due to congenital disorder
· Spinal cord injury repair
· Heart infarction
· Anti-cancer treatments
· Repair hearing
· Restore vision and repair damage to the cornea
· Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
· Crohn's disease
· Wound healing
· Male infertility due to absence of spermatogonial stem cells
Challenges to Stem Cell/Cloning Research
Moral and Ethical Considerations of Stem Cell and Cloning Research
Adult stem cells (obtained from adult tissues, cord blood, etc.) do not pose any ethical controversies, since they do not destroy complete human beings. However, embryonic stem cells are isolated by destroying human embryos - the form in which all of us began our lives.
Some say these embryos are not persons. Proponents of human embryonic research claim that frozen embryos from in vitro fertilization treatments are going to be destroyed, so they might as well be used for stem cell research.
My personal beliefs – not necessarily yours!
Science is already moving along in directions that should allow more mature adult stem cells to be de-differentiated into embryonic-like stem cells. But we will probably need some embryonic stem cell research to learn how to accomplish this feat.
Since there is little controversy about using adult stem cells (and these alternative methods will allow for each person to be his/her own stem cell donor), transplantation of appropriately modified adult stem cells will become the method of choice – and part of general medical practice.
At some point, society will start intervening to insist that children receive these therapies. Adults will be able to refuse such therapies for themselves on the basis of their religious views
What Should We Do?
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell
https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/