Should stem cell research continue
Although most people are now familiar with claims about the diverse medical benefits stem cell research might deliver, they are less familiar with the diverse ethical issues relevant to the research. Despite this, the U. There would continue to be incremental gains in mortality and morbidity, the fruits of improved social, economic, and educational conditions, and improvements in the evaluation and use of present therapies.
Obtaining adult stem cells, such as from bone marrow, can be painful. Many women opt for an amniocentesis test that checks for congenital disabilities before the child is born.
Subsequent research led to the ability to maintain undifferentiated stem cell lines pluripotent cells and techniques for differentiating them into cells specific to various tissues and organs.
Investments in stem cell research will reduce the funds available for other types of biomedical research. Scientists can grow differentiated cells from these pluripotent stem cells to resemble, for instance, cancer cells.
Researchers, patient advocates, and politicians promise stem cell remedies for nearly every major health problem in the United States. In many cases, however, the breakthroughs fall short of initial expectations. Ethical issues Historically, the use of stem cells in medical research has been controversial.
It was a gaffe only because the Bush policy does not follow that logic. Institute of Medicine.