What is the Controversy over Stem Cell Research?
The controversy over stem cell research is not so much about the research or methodology itself, but more about the continued federal funding of a program with significant moral and ethical issues attached to it. Private funding of stem cell research does continue, and researchers are still able to perform many of their experiments unabated. Because federal funding can be substantial for projects of this scope, however, the loss of this money does have a detrimental effect on the future of stem cell research. Broadly speaking, the controversy over stem cell research comes from the nature of the stem cells themselves. Stem cells are essentially like chemistry labs waiting for an order to create a specific type of cell. An eye cell has a different set of coding and chemicals than a muscle cell or a blood cell. Because these stem cells are such blank slates, they can be artificially manipulated into becoming almost any type of cell needed to replace defective or missing tissue. Stem cell
Research with pluripotent stem cell lines is controversial because some people feel, for religious and ethical reasons, that the blastocysts used to generate the cell lines are fully human and should not be used as the source of pluripotent cells. For now, the question of when personhood develops in an individual cannot be settled scientifically, and so it will remain the subject of controversy and debate.
Addresses the fact that stem cell research kills embryos. Details alternatives to stem cell research on embryos. First Nine Months – this simple and beautiful brochure shows and tells the amazing story of life before birth using full-color photography and written description.. Legislative Supplements – this 4-page newspaper inserts inform students about prolife laws that have been passed and others that are pending. Also provides a listing of prolife Congressmen to refer to. Euthanasia Assisted Suicide & Euthanasia newspaper insert – provides a basic question-answer segment and includes articles on true compassion and the Netherlands crisis. Food and Water: To Care or To Kill – this brochure discusses euthanasia by starvation and dehydration, including case studies and a painful description of the likely outcome of this sort of death. Pain Management: Rx for True Dignity – positive approaches to pain treatment which provide true dignity and compassion are outlined in this brochure. Phy
