Stem cell reasearch....is it legal or illegal?

Question

I am doing a science essay at school on stem cell research. The prize for the best essay is £1000 and i really need help on whether stem cell research is legal or illegal?

Thanks.

Answer 1

It depends on the country and state you mean. Different places have different regulations in place.

Even then, "illegal" and "legal" are just word-wrangling terms that obscure the real situation. For example, supporters of a bill can claim that it will "ban cloning", when in reality, it bans all forms of cloning *except* SCNT (somatic cell nuclear transfer). This does not ban cloning, because the primary method for cloning *IS* SCNT. So you see how they twisted the language around to hide the real purpose.

I recommend you research to find out what the legal issues are in your locale. Do not just find out "is it legal or illegal", find out what is allowed, what is not, and what sort of legislation is in place to regulate cloning or stem cell research. See if you can find a government website with info on the laws.

Even possibly more important than "is it legal?" is the question "is it right?". I am not going to put words in your mouth; however, your essay should really address this issue. Do some research on adult stem cells, too; as the person above mentioned, some researchers think that adult stem cells hold more potential (and are much more ethical) than embryonic stem cells. Whichever side you hold, you need to support it with facts and data in your essay, and make it both convincing and at the same time try to make it as practical as you can. Remember, this is a real problem that needs a practical solution... whoever judges the essays will be very impressed if you can give a practical, well-thought-out solution.

Answer 2

In the United States (I don't know about england) stem cell research is legal. The legality (and morality) that's debated is over embryonic stem cells in particular. Most people dont' have a problem with adult stem cells, but some people feel like using embryonic stem cells are like killing a baby's chance at life. Those are the same people who are against abortion. Adult stem cells are just as viable, but they are not as easily differentiated. For example, stem cells that come from bone marrow can make more bone marrow or a limited number of other things. Embryonic stem cells can be transformed into literally any kind of cell you would want, that's the advantage. The disadvantage is that people are against using embryos.

Still, embryonic stem cell research takes place, it just isn't funded by our federal government. It's funded by states or privately.

Answer 3

1000 pounds eh? that's like 50,000 dollars US. the legality of researching stem cells is not the question, as it's just research. what everyone is so up in arms about is how we get them. using aborted fetus' for science is a very taboo idea for very many people. I find it not so upsetting, and I think we should take every advantage to help people with degenerative diseases that can possibly be cured some day. most of the anti-stem cell research sentiment comes from people who are against abortion, like if you stopped doing stem cell research people will stop having abortions. which is totally self defeating logic as people have been having abortions long before we realized that we could extract stem cells from the fetus'. If stem cells grew on trees or something i'm sure all the people who are anti-stem cell would not remain that way.

Answer 4

Yes, Stem Cell Research is Legal, Infact There are Stem Cell Research going on all over the Place...

Answer 5

Legal. There was a big stink in the US when President Bush pushed for a ban on government funding for expanded stem-cell lines. That did not affect the lines already available and did not prevent funding from elsewhere.

Answer 6

at the moment it is controversial and probably legal to a limited degree. hey, once upon a time it was illegal to disect a dead human. New ideas in research will sometimes meet head on with religion. it's a religious matter just as desecration of the human body was at one time....now its at practice in the hospitals everyday...prolonging life from stroke, heart attack, cancer, etc. << hey, we're all going to die, if we dont die of this disease, we'll die of that disease. it's inevitable.

Answer 7

definitely NO! Stem cellular study is between the main promising aspects of study amazing now. Scientists are on a thank you to finding remedies, or greater valuable remedies, for many genetic illnesses which could ideally be greater severe. they are even finding that person stem cells are greater liable to becoming to be cancerous. a lot of folk who do no longer help it do no longer truthfully comprehend the info. i won't be in a position to declare to comprehend a lot of info, yet my chum's little sister heard, on the information, that stem cellular study grew to become into completed with aborted little ones. i won't be in a position to have self belief a superb information station would truthfully say something so of course untrue. i think of a lot of folk who oppose it would exchange their minds in the event that they actually found out approximately it and what it involves. As for terribly religious people who sense that we are mucking around in God's territory via doing stem cellular study, properly, in my view, i think that they are all hypocrites. working occasion (the 1st difficulty to pop into my ideas): Terry Schiavo. i'm specific all and sundry recollects what number human beings have been struggling with to maintain her on the existence help machines and as a effect alive. yet technically, Christians could have self belief that it incredibly is meddling with God's plan, via fact she does no longer have even nonetheless been residing without present day medical technologies. they say each individual has a amazing for existence. Stem cellular study will provide greater human beings the ultimate to stay, and to stay an better high quality of existence. Grrr edit (after examining different solutions): Stem cellular study in no way includes aborting little ones. first of all, there are a number of stem cellular lines that exist already which would be utilized for study. New fetal stem cellular lines would be taken from zygotes formed for the time of in vitro fertillization, which will in no way "grow to be little ones" in any respect. via fact human beings nonetheless oppose this, i've got heard that scientists are searching for a thank you to take stem cells from the placenta that are no longer area of the springing up fetus (this grew to become into how a prof defined it). it is likewise actual which you would be able to get stem cells from adults, like in bone marrow, yet those are no longer as sturdy as fetal stem cells. nonetheless, now and back, they may well be powerful.

Answer 8

If the cells are gotten from human embryos, which in the process are destroyed then it is immoral and illegal. If hoverer they are taken from the umbilical cord, and fluid, the process is legal!

Answer 9

I'm pretty sure that it's legal. Some political activists are trying to make it illegal(the republicans), but they have yet to succeed.