Should Stem cell research be federally funded Essay

Should Stem cell research be federally funded - Essay Example The potential contributions to treatment justify the claim for federal funding in order for stem cell research to achieve this potential. Funding for various specialized areas of stem cell research are required, including embryonic research, since development in one area affects progress in other areas. The difficulty in asserting this position is the lack of tangible treatment results to convince policymakers, legislators and the public to allocate federal funds for research advancement. On the other hand, those who oppose federal funding for stem cell research gravitate towards the argument that stem cell research involves the destruction of embryos, which have the potential for human life. Those who oppose federal funding for stem cell research do not denounce stem cell research in general but only stem cell research on human embryos. In effect, the federal government is participating in the destruction of life by funding stem cell research. With the two arguments grounded on very different belief systems, there appears to be no point of reconciliation for the two sides of the debate. The discussion describes stem cell research, the debate, the quest for federal funding, and political and legal trends, public opinion trends, and recommended solutions to support the response to the question: should stem cell research be federally funded? 2. ... These stem cells can be found in embryos at the early stage of development, fetal tissue and adult organs. Of these three sources, stem cells are more abundant and easier to isolate from embryos than from other sources, especially adult tissue. Moreover, reengineering stem cell is less feasible if these came from adult organs and more likely in stem cell from embryos. Stem cell research involves isolating and replicating stem cells from embryos and then reengineering stem cells to become any cell type. (â€Å"New Limits† 29) As such, progress in stem cell research for the purpose reengineering stem cells to become specific cell types would progress when working with embryonic samples. There are different kinds of stem cells depending on the degree of plasticity or variability in creating cell types. A totipotent stem cell is considered to have the greatest plasticity. A fertilized egg is a totipotent stem cell because it can create all human organs of a living organism. Totipo tent stem cells are used in fertility laboratories. During the initial stage of embryonic development, cell divisions lead to totipotent cells. Latter cell divisions give rise to more stem cells that are beginning to give rise to more specific cell types. (Biven 95; Wagner 8) A pluripotent stem cell emerges from the latter stages of cell division. An embryo has two layers, an outer layer that will form into the placenta and an inner layer called embryoblast that will form the human organism. The inner layer needs the outer layer to give rise to an organism. Pluripotent stem cell comprises of the inner layer of the embryo. By isolating the embryoblast, the potential to create an organism is eliminated, which comprises the foundation of ethical opposition to stem cell research.