Stem Cell Research and a Ban on Human Cloning :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Stem Cell Research and a censor on Human Cloning Some biotechnology companies claim that a ban on producing human embryos through cloning would stall Copernican question in generating composition cells to cure a variety of diseases Cong. Record, 2/5/98, S425. To put this claim in perspective 1. Cloning is craved as a source of customized stem cell lines which would be an consume genetic match to each individual patient with a apt(p) disease. But this would require each individual patient to undergo corporate cell nuclear transfer to produce one or some(prenominal) sustentation human embryos who genetically atomic number 18 the patients identical twin sisters or brothers. These embryos would and so be destroyed to provide embryotic stem cells. devil methods of obtaining the cells have been described. In one, the embryo is allowed to develop universally for a week or two to the blastocyst stage, at or after the accustomed time of implantation in the mothers womb the n this embryo, consisting of hundreds of cells, is dissected for its stem cells. The other method is to introduce molecular signals into the embryos environment to trick its cells into departing from normal development and instead producing a mass of undifferentiated tissue, which can then be reprogrammed into various kinds of cells Lee Silver, Remaking Eden Cloning and Beyond in a Brave New World (Avon Books 1997), p. 128. In either case, the living embryo is destroyed. 2. This avenue for providing medical benefits has been described even by supporters as largely conjectural (J. Kassirer and N. Rosenthal, in New England Journal of Medicine, March 26, 1998, p. 905). chairperson Clintons National Bioethics Advisory electric charge called it a rather expensive and far-fetched scenario. The Commission observed Beca exercise of ethical and moral concerns raised by the use of embryos for research purposes it would be far more desirable to explore the direct use of human cells of adul t origin to produce specialized cells or tissues for transplant into patients. The Commission outlined three alternative avenues for promising research apply stem cells that do not involve human cloning, two of which do not use human embryos at all (Cloning Human Beings field of study and Recommendations of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission, June 1997, pp. 30-31). The Commissions Alternatives The alternatives outlined by President Clintons Commission are as follows 1. Generating a few, widely used and well characterized human embryonic stem cell lines, genetically altered to prevent graft rejection in all possible recipients.