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Are Stem Cells The Future of Medicine
Are Stem Cells The Future of Medicine
Joshua Eyraud
Abstract
In this paper, I will identify the different perspectives on stem cells and the attitudes towards this
controversial medical practice. I will also explain why this topic needs more attention.
Stem cells are a very controversial topic in modern society. Whether you’re a liberal or
conservative, everyone has skewed views about this topic. Current opposing viewpoints include
the ethical views when dealing with the destruction of embryos, the funding cost and outcome,
and religious reasons. Stem cells are the future of medicine, the key to a breakthrough drug that
will be found one day, people just don’t realize it yet. The purpose of my research is to enlighten
the future doctors of our world about this controversial medicine which needs more positive
There is a very vast background in the field of genetics. Gregor Mendel is known as the
father of genetics, discovering the laws of heredity in 1940. In 1953, Watson and Crick
discovered the structure of the DNA molecule was that of a double helix (Magill, 2002). Many
advancements were made in the medical field dealing with genetics up to the point where people
can now basically build their baby. Individuals can now put their embryo into a dish in a lab, and
In recent conversations of stem cells, a controversial issue has been whether the
government should fund the research for this potential breakthrough medicine. On one hand,
some argue that the process in which stem cells are acquired is unethical. From this perspective,
many people do not agree with the depletion and “misuse” of frozen human embryos. On the
other hand, however, others argue that the embryos are scattered across the United States, frozen
in random clinics, destined to be thawed and discarded; why not pull the stem cells from them
In the words of Barack Obama, one of the views main proponents, “We will vigorously
support scientists who pursue this research. And we will aim for America to lead the world in the
WHY ARE WE NOT RESEARCHING STEM CELLS 4
discoveries it one day may yield.” This was during his executive order he signed in 2009, lifting
the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research (NY Times, 2009).
After Obama lifted the ban on stem cell research and government funding, the United
States joined alongside many European countries which also allowed research to be done. I think
one reason of doing this was because the U.S. did not want to fall behind in the medical race. I
mean come on, the United States doesn’t want to be second place in anything.
I noticed another issue regarding stem cell research and why people are not advocating for
it is religion. Many individuals in today’s world follow a religious leader that may not agree with
the crushing of another “life form.” It’s hard to say you are actually crushing a life form when
the embryo is not past eight weeks old and hasn’t developed any organs yet. Another issue in this
field is the deception between patient and doctors. Many reports have come out describing how
doctors figured out how to pull multiple stem cells out of an embryo without harming it. The
study proved to be promising and looked good on paper but it was soon found out that plenty of
these reports were false. The labs used up more embryos than they had said they did and it came
Many questions come to mind when I was researching this topic and it took me awhile to
finally narrow it down to a couple. I tried picking questions that I could research thoroughly.
What country is already performing skin cell treatments in which we can learn from?
Many more questions are still twirling in my head but these just sounded the best. I think
these questions will offer the best data and research for my project. When I first started
WHY ARE WE NOT RESEARCHING STEM CELLS 5
researching this topic and looking for sources, I was overwhelmed with the number of articles I
received just from typing in two keywords. I only have looked on one site as well for this
research, so who knows what other juicy, detailed reports are out there. My research will
mostly just contain the ethics factor; why people support stem cell treatments or not, the
problem of government funding and possibly talking about a government hold on the drug due
to the fact it would interrupt a billion-dollar medicine industry, and how many scientists have
committed fraud in this industry and how that effects themselves and their country in the midst
Some people are blind to this issue in front of us today. Stem cells have the chance to offer
a better quality of life to people and could change everything. One main thing that comes to mind
is the opioid epidemic. People are addicted to pills across America at this current stage and it is a
major problem, that not really anyone has found a solution to. Stem cells could treat the pain of
certain individuals and they would not be hooked on pills anymore. People pop the pills because
they are in pain and they could so easily change that by getting a “new” and healthier part of
their body.
I know, my research will turn heads on this topic because it is already an upcoming topic in
today’s society but the general public is basically in a hole when it comes to stuff like this. No
one is willing to put in the research and bring out the real facts. I believe if people can look into
the future and see the promise this medicine has to offer, they will believe in it and hopefully
References
doi:10.1111/j.1467-8519.2012.01963.x
Allum, N., Allansdottir, A., Gaskell, G., Hampel, J., Jackson, J., Moldovan, A., & ...
Stoneman, P. (2017). Religion and the public ethics of stem-cell research: Attitudes in Europe,
Canada and the United States. Plos ONE, 12(4), 1-14. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0176274
Obama's Remarks on Stem Cell Research. (2009, March 09). Retrieved February 12,