Stem Cell Research: Are we creating more Frankenstein monsters?.
Stem cell research has been a very controversial issue. Why? Most of the research has been done with the usage of embryonic stem cells. This is where the controversy begins. There are two types of cloning embryo splitting and nuclear transfer. According to the article, "Blood Vessels Made from Stem Cells," the extracting of the cells kills a living human embryo. However, President Bush decided that there would be federal funding for stem cell cultures that already exist. This would prevent any further killing for research purposes of other human embryos. .
Researchers argue that the use of embryonic stem cells would them the opportunity to develop embryo into cells that make up the organs, bone, skin and other tissues. In this research they hope to direct the transformation of such cells to treat ailing hearts, livers, brains, and other organs, according to the article, "Blood Vessels Made from Stem Cells." .
Nuclear Transfer on the other hand is a simple procedure. The nuclear material is removed from an egg via microinjection or electrofusion, and resulting reconstituted zygote is activated. The reconstituted zygote has the potential to divide into blastocyst, and if implanted, develop into a child genetically identical to the nuclear donor. There are two types of human cloning by nuclear transfer: reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning. The objective of the reproductive cloning is to produce a child genetically identical to an individual. The objective of therapeutic cloning is to produce embryonic stem cells that are genetically identical to a patient.# .
Many agree that this morally wrong and inhumane. Many of the mammals that have been cloned have abnormalities. Abnormalities such as disproportionately large internal organs, born oversized, and have respiratory, circulatory problems. Scientist then argue that defects were from poor culture conditions and since then they have improved the culture conditions for human cells.
