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Marissa Swadener
Davis
Government 4
14 October 2015
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Imagine a world where any illness or injury can be healed with ease. The only way to die
would be old age. To many this seems like a far off dream, however, it is closer to reality than
many realize. Stem cell research is capable of solving all of these problems. As a species, we
believe in what is deemed morally right and wrong. Stem cell research tip toes the line in the
morally grey area. Stem cells possess the key to unlocking the secrets of the human race. Organ
transplants would have no risk of rejection and finding a suitable donor wouldn't be a problem.
However, these miracle cures have a downfall. To obtain stem cells, embryonic specifically, it
has to come from a fetus. Many, predominantly republicans, dislike this because they feel that
the fetus deserves the right to life, like us all. At what point is a fetus a human and deserve life?
Although stem cells can be obtained from adults, they are often already partially specialized and
are much harder to find. The war between morals is preventing cure research from occurring.
This moral grey area is invalid because most embryonic stem cells are obtained from vitro
fertilization, numerous of our allies have permitted stem cell research as long as it benefits the
people, and due to the first amendment, religious beliefs cannot interfere with government.
Vitro fertilization is a process to assist in fertilization of an egg. "Each cycle of IVF can
produce many blastocysts, some of which are implanted into the woman. The rest are stored in
the IVF clinic freezer. After a successful implantation, they must decide what to do with any
remaining embryos." (California's Stem Cell). The majority of embryonic stem cells come from

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leftover ovum--egg cells-- donated after donors decide they do not want to hold them anymore. If
these ovum were not donated, they would simple be tossed out. The hypothetical life lost would
have been lost either way. What would be discarded is given the opportunity to help save others'
lives. "The final decisions on the donation of embryos to hESC or other research should occur
after the patients' infertility needs are met or the patients discontinue therapy." (Donating
Embryos for). The quote above is a quote from one organizations guidelines for obtaining
donations. Much of the issue of embryonic stem cell research is due to the debate over abortion.
The majority of stem cells are obtained in the way stated in this quote, vitro fertilization, after the
patient has no need for the ovum. Obtaining these ovum is regulated carefully and to ensure that
no one is losing ovum prematurely. "All participants must provide informed consent, in writing.
Moreover, steps must be taken to ensure to consent is in fact informed. This may involve an
independent assessment of the individual's ability to understand the language on the consent
form." (Panno, Joseph 124-125). To even be able to donate ovum, donors have to jump through
legal hoops to ensure there will be no liability issues for the institution at a later date. Denying
researchers the ability to advance the medical field due to personal beliefs on abortion should not
be a valid argument against it. Abortion does not have to be directly linked to embryonic stem
cell research.
America has always wanted to maintain the idea of being "a city upon a hill" and be a
shining example to the rest of the world. When the rest of the world is surpassing us in the race
to cure major diseases, we look bad. "This is only permissible if the proposed research increases
knowledge about the development of embryos or serious disease or enables such knowledge to
be applied in developing treatments for serious disease. " (Dhar, Deepali, and John Hsi-en Ho).
Dhar and Ho are talking about the United Kingdom's policies on embryonic research. The are

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putting the well being of the fully formed over the well being of a clump of cells. Isn't time
America does the same? The U.K. is not the only other country doing this, Japan, Mexico, South
Africa, Switzerland, China, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, as well as many other prominent
nations have very liberal regulations(Dhar, Deepali, and John Hsi-en Ho). The one regulation
that they all have in common is it must help the people of the nation. In United States, California
funds stem cell research the most and is by far the most liberal of the states in the
matter(Hoffman, William). More than half the world population lives in nations with flexible or
permissive policies regarding stem cell research (Hoffman, William). The United States is
bordering the line between flexible and restrictive. Isn't it time we join our fellow nations and
help cure cancer, diabetes, AIDS, and numerous other disease as well as allow organ transplants
that have no risk(Stem Cell Quick)?
When the United States was formed, the founding fathers took precautions to avoid the
government becoming too strong and, more importantly, certain individuals or groups from
becoming too strong. One part of the first amendment required the separation of church and
state. The reason many believe abortion, and by default stem cell research, is wrong is because
their religion tells them that all living things have a soul. The following excerpt is taken from the
Center for Jewish Ethics regarding obtaining embryonic stem cells. "The only ethical danger
here is the somewhat hard to imagine possibility that a woman might become convinced to
become pregnant so that her fetus could be aborted for the sake of harvesting stem cells."
(Teutsch, A. David). The only fear the Jewish community has concerning obtaining stem cells is
that people will purposely become pregnant just to abort. Many facilities aren't even permitted to
allow payment for donated stem cells so not to sway potential donors or risk it being done
repeatedly for money (Right to Research). The fears of stem cell research stem from a fear of the

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unknown. Denying others the chance at life just to avoid angering ones deities, that may or may
not exist, is not grounds to create laws. "Just as California has led the way with stem cell
research, so too can we pioneer the new field of precision medicine..." (Brown, Edmund).
Californian governor, Edmund "Jerry" Brown, is a devout Catholic and previously was
previously a Jesuit, one of the most devoted, conservative religions(Jerry Brown Biograghy).
Brown was so devoted he originally considered priesthood as a career path. Such a devoted and
religious man has spoken in favor of embryonic stem cell research time and time again. If he can
push his religion to the side and put the people first, why can't others? Why must families suffer
loses that we can prevent over religious beliefs? The possibility that one religion may be right
and these fetuses, although very little stem cells are obtained this way, may have a soul is not
worth the risk of the millions of potential lives that could be saved and prolonged. Religion and
politics should never mix.
Many opponents feel that the uses of embryonic stem cells is nothing more than over
hyped "black magic" and experimenting with potential "lives"make us no better than the nazis
(Prentice, David A., and William Saunders 46). Although we do not know exactly the full extent
of what stem cells can do, restricting research on it will never allow us to find out. In 2013,
scientists managed to grow an ear on the back of a rat to use as a transplant for a veteran. "Tissue
engineering is a growing field in medical science, where substitute organs are made in the
laboratory in the hope of using them to replace damaged ones." (Briggs, Helen). We know we are
capable of growing parts, as proven by this ear and other cases prior and proceeding this case,
and this is only the tip of the ice berg. Funding embryonic stem cell research can possibly lead to
so much more. Imagine amputees being able to have a fully functioning, human limbs again. We
are not that far off. As well, if someone has a faulty organ or has a disease affect a part of the

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body, we can simply replace said organ and save their life. Understanding the human genetic
code is the first step to solving the medical issues the human race faces. Firstly, comparing stem
cell research to the holocaust is a cheap and disgusting accusation. The horrors those imprisoned
faced solely based on who they are as a person, things they could not control and even if they did
they had every right to, could never be compared to taking a few cells from an already aborted
fetus. Nazi experimentation had no willing participants and very few even survived. The fetuses
used for stem cell research, although vey few are, are willing donated from those who have full
extent of knowledge on what they are consenting to(Caulfield, Timothy, Ubaka Ogbogu, and
Rosario M. Isasi). Consent being a key word. No one is being forced to donate their fetus, the
fetus must be removed before it even develops a brain, and the procedure is done with
anesthetics and in a hygienic fashion. None of that sounds like the conditions those forced to be a
part of the Nazis' experimentation. Arguments against embryonic stem cell research are poor
attempts at slowing the progress that can save the human race.
Embryonic stem cell research should receive more funding as well as be given less but
more refined restrictions. No argument against embryonic stem cell research has any traction.
Not all embryos come from aborted fetuses, the majority are leftover ovum a from vitro
fertilization clinics. Religion is supposed to be separated from government so the religious
beliefs of the few should not interfere with the continuation of progress. Many other countries
have surpassed us on the race to unlock the potential of stem cells. If we continue on the path
that we are on, our once great nation will surely fall from power. We must work to regain our
place as the "city upon a hill" and be the shining example for the world.

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Works Cited
Books:
Panno, Joseph. "Future Prospects for Adult Stem Cells." Stem Cell Research: Medical
Applications and Ethical Controversy. New York, NY: Facts On File, 2005. 30.
Print.

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Prentice, David A., and William Saunders. "Therapeutic Cloning to Obtain Stem Cells Is
Immoral." Stem Cells: Opposing Viewpoints. By Jacqueline Langwith. Detroit:
Greenhaven, 2007. N. pag. Print.

Web:
Briggs, Helen. "Artificial Human Ear Grown in Lab - BBC News." BBC News. Bbc, 31 July
2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2015. <http://www.bbc.com/news/health-23508688>.
Brown, Edmund G., JR. "Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. - Newsroom." Office of
Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. - Newsroom. N.p., 22 Jan. 2012. Web. 01 Nov.
2015.

<https://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=18373>.

"California's Stem Cell Agency." Myths and Misconceptions About Stem Cell Research.
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Jan. 2015. Web. 17 Sept. 2015.
<https://www.cirm.ca.gov/patients/myths-and-misconceptions-about-stem-cellresearch>.
Caulfield, Timothy, Ubaka Ogbogu, and Rosario M. Isasi. "Informed Consent in
Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Are We following Basic Principles?" CMAJ :
Canadian Medical Association Journal. Canadian Medical Association, n.d. Web.
24 Sept. 2015. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1877848/>.
Dhar, Deepali, and John Hsi-en Ho. "Stem Cell Research Policies around the World." The Yale
Journal of Biology and Medicine. YJBM, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2015. <http://
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2744936/>.
"Donating Embryos for Human Embryonic Stem Cell (hESC) Research: A Committee
Opinion." Fertility and Sterility 100.4 (2013): 935-39. Elsevier Inc., 20 Aug. 2013.

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Web. 24 Sept. 2015. <http://www.sart.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/
News_and_Publications/Ethics_Committee_Reports_and_Statements/
donatingspare.pdf>.
Hoffman, William. "Stem Cell Policy: World Stem Cell Map." Stem Cell Policy: World Stem
Cell Map. Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.mbbnet.umn.edu/

qscmap.html>.

"Jerry Brown Biography." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2015. <http://www.imdb.com/
name/nm0113831/bio>.
"Rights to Research and the Stem Cell Debate." Course Projects. Macalester College,
2015. Web. 17 Sept. 2015. <http://www.macalester.edu/academics/
environmentalstudies/students/projects/stemcellwebsite/science.html>.
"Stem Cell Quick Reference." Learn Genetics. University of Utah, 2015. Web. 17 Sept.
2015. <http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/stemcells/quickref/>.
Teutsch, David A. "Stem Cell Research: A New Ethical Challenge." RRC. Center for
Jewish Ethics, n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2015. <http://www.rrc.edu/ethics-center/
publications/articles/stem-cell-research-a-new-ethical-challenge>.