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Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research

The decision whether human embryonic stem cell research is moral or not is a highly debated

controversial topic. Many factors play in people’s decisions. Views on religion, science, and

moral standards are the key roles that play into people’s views on the topic. Many religions

shun the idea of using human embryonic stem cells to do medical and scientific research, while

other religions have no opinion concerning the topic. There are many articles and speeches

written about human embryonic stem cell research. They try to persuade their readers to be on

their side of the argument. The articles and speeches that will be used in this paper are:

Embryonic Stem Cell Research Does Too Much Good to Be Evil, Says Janet Rowley by Janet

Rowley, The Status of the Human Embryo by the University of London, If the Practice of In Vitro

Fertilization Is Not Unlawful, Then Why Should hESC Research Be? By J. Leslie Glick, and Plenary

and Welcoming Address by Carl B. Feldbaum, President, Biotechnology Industry Organization --

& Keeping the Faith by Carl B. Feldbaum. What they use to persuade their readers are people’s

religious views and the views made by religion, the roles of science and what human embryonic

stem cell research could do to expand medicine and technology, and the moral standards set by

people. Through their persuasion, human embryonic stem cell research should be considered in

medical research.

Human embryonic stem cell research has the potential to expand medicine and

technology greatly. By performing the research, we can find cures to many diseases such as

diabetes, Alzheimer’s, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s, Leukemia, even finding the cure to

cancer. We can use the stem cells to create organs and to perform xenotransplantation,

transferring of cells or organs such as hearts, livers, kidneys, or lungs. But many “would rather
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deal with the consequences of disease than try such therapies” (Feldbaum 2). Others did not

see an issue with the research. Studying the human stem cells “is a high purpose, one that

promotes both human health and understanding” (Rowley 1). In vitro fertilization is completely

legal. They implant embryos into a uterus as a fertility treatment. But, many of these embryos

that are created in IVF are discarded. “Only discarded embryos, created for the specific purpose

of fertility treatment but no longer of use for that purpose, and whose creation and disposal

were funded by a private sector, would be used for subsequent, federally funded stem cell

research” (Glick 1). Glick states that the embryos created in IVF that no longer fulfill the

purpose of fertility implantation, would be discarded. Instead of discarding them, they could be

used for the medical research, as long as it is funded to do so. Human embryonic stem cell

research will save millions of lives, create new treatments and cures for diseases, and can make

new organs for those who need them when there is a shortage.

Religion is a key factor that aids people’s judgement towards the debate concerning

human embryonic stem cell research. Many different religions have similar views. Catholicism

states “the moment of fertilization marks the beginning of a new human life” (University of

London 3). The moment of fertilization is when the sperm and egg meet to form the zygote.

According to science, a zygote is not to be considered alive. To be alive, you have to maintain

homeostasis, to be composed of multiple cells, undergo metabolism, to be able to grow, to

adapt to the environment, respond to stimuli, and to be able to reproduce. Also, Catholicism

believes that the zygote and/or embryo have all the rights we as people have, also have the

right to be able to grow. Christianity’s views on the subject are split. Judaism believes “that full
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human status is not obtained at the point of fertilization, but rather is acquired after a period of

development” (University of London 3). They also believe that when the embryo isn’t in the

uterus, it doesn’t have any rights. Islam believes that “’ensoulment’ of the embryo occurs at the

40th day after fertilization” (University of London 3). At day 40 of development, the embryo has

a heartbeat and brainwaves that can be detected.

Many religious people think that doctors and scientists are “playing God” and “portray

them as “godless”” (Feldbaum 2). Feldbaum stated that “science is a method, not a faith, and

the two are not mutually exclusive” (Feldbaum 1). This states that science and religion blend

together, and one cannot be without the other. Albert Einstein once said “science without

religion is lame, religion without science is blind” (Feldbaum 1). People who are religious and

don’t see the science side of life are blind to evolution and the expansion of science. People

who solely believe in science and cut out any and all religion from their lives are boring, and

have no opinions, they strictly use hard facts to prove their point. You should not let religion

consume your life where all your judgements are based solely on yours, or even anyone else’s,

religious views. Human embryonic stem cell research can save millions of lives, you shouldn’t

shun upon it because of the religious perspectives it may have. It is considered immoral to

many, but they live in a glasshouse, and their mind isn’t open to anyone else’s opinions, or

what others have to say. They shut out anything that is different from what they think. People

who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, because when people throw them back, their

house could break. Meaning that people shouldn’t criticize and judge people on their opinions

and not expect people to do the same.

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Also, many people think that embryos should have all the rights and moral statuses as

we do. If all embryos have the same rights and the moral status as the living do, then discarding

the spare embryos that aren’t used in IVF is to be considered murder, and the ones who discard

them should be charged and imprisoned. The embryos in IVF are placed in small containers

then placed in a freezer. Doing this, the creators of them would be charged with unlawful

imprisonment. When the creators decide to discard or freeze the embryos, they “eliminate the

potential for the embryos to develop into people” (Glick 1). There are over 400,000 embryos in

IVF clinic freezers. “Many are destined to be thawed and discarded and thus die” (Rowley 1). If

the embryos have that rights and morality as we do, then IVF clinics would be shut down for

multiple charges of murder, and unlawful imprisonment. If IVF clinics are shut down, then

those who cannot get pregnant from having sex, then those families would never have a chance

of having children. Who would want to take away anyone’s chance of starting a family?

Embryos are not living by definition, and law does not consider embryos to be people. Many

scientists and those in health care have put ethical restrictions, guidelines, and rules into place

to make sure that moral standards are being followed, and that the embryos are being

respected, not misused. These guidelines, restrictions, and rules were put in place by

California’s Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which was founded in 2004. The human

embryo is, according to science, is not a living being, so the employees at IFV clinics are not

committing any crime or sinful doing.

Along with all the arguments supporting human embryonic stem cell research, there are

many who oppose. In 2006, George W. Bush vetoed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act

since it was “unnatural”. Bush said, “strongly oppose(s) human cloning, as do most Americans.
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We recoil at the idea of growing human beings for spare body parts, or creating life for our

convenience” (University of London 1). But, mostly everything in today’s society is unnatural:

people get breast enlargements, nose jobs, facial reconstruction, and other body modifications.

People even dye their hair, wear colored contacts, get hair extensions, even spray tans. It is

common and popular for Japanese, Korean, and even Chinese people to undergo

Blepharoplasty, double eyelid surgery. It gives the effect of having larger eyes and eyelids.

Many people believe that “an embryo from its very moment of creation is to be viewed as a

unique human entity” (University of London 1) and “all cloning and embryos research are

wrong” (Feldbaum 2). People with medical conditions such as diabetes, muscular dystrophy,

etc. “would rather deal with the consequences of disease than try such therapies” (Feldbaum

2). The proponents of human embryonic stem cell research and IFV firmly believe the embryos

are specifically “created for destruction” (University of London 2). Embryos are made every day

in IVF, and for those who need the embryos make spare ones in case if the implant fails. The

spare embryos would be destroyed when they no longer fulfil their purpose, or they would be

donated for research. To say that the embryos used for stem cell research would be created for

destruction is a false statement. They are donated, and being used for something meaningful,

instead of being destroyed.

There are many different opinions towards the highly controversial topic human

embryonic stem cell research. There are those who support it for all the benefits, and there are

those who oppose it for religious, and moral reasons. There are people who totally reject any

opinion and idea besides their own, then criticize others who think differently. People who live

in glass houses should not throw stones. Religion and science work together as one. “Science is
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a method, not a faith, and the two are not mutually exclusive” (Feldbaum 1). One cannot be

without the other. As Albert Einstein once said, “science without religion is lame, religion

without science is blind”

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Embryonic Stem Cell Research Does Too Much Good to Be Evil, Says Janet Rowley.

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2009/03/23/embryonic-stem-

cell-research-does-too-much-good-to-be-evil-says-janet-rowley

The Status of the Human Embryo. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://embryo-

ethics.smd.qmul.ac.uk/

Glick, J. L. (2018, October 29). Arguments in Support of Embryonic Stem Cell Funding.

Retrieved from https://www.genengnews.com/magazine/153/arguments-in-support-of-

embryonic-stem-cell-funding/

Plenary and Welcoming Address by Carl B. Feldbaum, President, Biotechnology Industry

Organization -- Keeping the Faith. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.bio.org/media/press-

release/plenary-and-welcoming-address-carl-b-feldbaum-president-biotechnology-industry-o