Running head: WHY ARE WE NOT RESEARCHING STEM CELLS 1

Are Stem Cells the Future of Medicine?

Joshua Eyraud

Arizona State University

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.

Keywords: stem cells, ethics, heredity, embryos

Are stem cells the future of medicine?

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

attention. People need to realize the potential of this revolutionary medicine.

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

scientists can change your babies features altogether.

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

and put the embryos to great medical use?

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
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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

back to hurt them.

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.

 Why is the United States pushing off such a medical revolution?

 What is the long-term effect of stem cells in a body?

 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
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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

of a non-stable medical field.

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

show their support for this.

References

Magill, G. (2002). THE ETHICS WEAVE IN HUMAN GENOMICS, EMBRYONIC

STEM CELL RESEARCH AND THERAPEUTIC CLONING: PROMOTING AND

PROTECTING SOCIETY'S INTERESTS. Albany Law Review, 65(3), 701.

LYSAGHT, T., & CAMPBELL, A. V. (2013). BROADENING THE SCOPE OF

DEBATES AROUND STEM CELL RESEARCH. Bioethics, 27(5), 251-256.

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,

2018, from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/us/politics/09text-obama.html