Why should the federal government not , or fund stem cell research?

Answer 1

Stem cell research holds the promise of curing and/or treating numerous diseases. Given that most of the scientific research in America depends on government grants, the act of not funding it would essentially deprive Americans -and the world- of potential therapies and cures for debilitating and devastating diseases (ALS, MS, paralysis, etc.). In these diseases, the mind is spared from degeneration, and the patient is fully aware that they are physically degenerating and slowly dying. I think that awareness of one's slow but impending mortality is one of the worst imaginable sorrows a person and his or her family would ever endure. I know this because I have had 2 family members die of ALS.

The main reason religious conservatives protest stem cell research is that the best source for totipotent stem cells (ie: cells which are totally undifferentiated and thus have the most potential to be useful in disease intervention) is from an embryo. Some religions view a 2 celled embryo as being equivalent to a fully developed, thinking, breathing human being. Truthfully, at the 2-64 cell stage, am embryo is nothing more than just 2-64 cells. And equally truthful is that, at such an early stage, a human embryo is no different than a starfish or insect embryo. (Yes, our life begins exactly the same way as an invertebrate). At this point, these embryos are undifferentiated and could potentially become anything- a fly, a human, or a mass of neurons that could be implanted into a paralyzed man and make him walk again.

With the advent of fertility treatments, many embryos are produced but never implanted. Currently, the surpluses of embryos are stored in freezers indefinitely. Medical research would make use of these embryos, which would never be used otherwise, to aid the quality of current human life.

The question up for debate, therefore, is this: is the potential for human life (ie: a blastocyst) more valuable than an existing, fully developed / conscious human being. Which of the two is "more human" and deserves not to die?

As a scientist, I approach things objectively, and thus I feel that we should do all that is possible to augment the quality of existing human life and not be deterred by what something 'might hypothetically become.' I also feel that government, when making decisions, should not be swayed by a politicians' personal religious beliefs, but should have a broad, unbiased understanding of the topic at hand. This is something the Bush administration currently does not have, as it has suspended federal funding for all embryonic stem cell research.

I defy anyone who does not support government funding of stem cell research to consider the possibility of one day needing a therapy that might have been in development today if Bush had not cut funding. Would you still have the same feelings if you -or worse, your child- developed ALS or became paralyzed from the neck down in a freak accident? Think about your answer carefuly, because none of us knows for sure that we won't ever need the benefits of stem cell research.

Answer 2

Government should definitively fund stem cell research because by doing so they open a window of opportunity to people with all kinds of degenerative diseases like: diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig and others. Stem cells are cells that can origin any kind of cell the body needs under the right conditions. This is a breakthrough in therapy if used the right way, of course it needs to be regulated by rules and ethics so people won't use these discoveries in a way that affects our society's moral boundaries, but that applies to every new discovery. My grandfather is a patient of diabetes and I have seen how degenerative this disease is, it's my wish that he is given the opportunity to live the rest of his life healthier than he is now, this is why government should fund stem cell research.

Answer 3

absolutely - it has the flair for saving countless lives. i'm not in touch with accurate-wing objections. they don't have the right to shove their pretend Cristian beliefs down our throats. no individual who needs to provide straight forward get admission to to guns for criminals to homicide little ones and law enforcement officials has any accurate to communicate about rights, morality -- or saving lives, unborn or otherwise.