Stem Cell Research An issue in American Culture Essay Example

Stem Cell Research: An issue in American Culture Essay In 2004, following the death of former United States President Ronald Reagan from the degenerative Alzheimer’s disease, a campaign led by Nancy Reagan and her family was launched to persuade President Bush to alleviate the US government-imposed restrictions on stem cell research. While other countries such as Britain, Japan and Korea have embarked on, and are now engaged in stem cell research, harvesting of stem cells from embryos remains to be a debatable issue in the United States. The future of stem cell research in the American culture remains to be uncertain in that several sides and concerns are being considered foremost of which is the moral issue on the research.   Supporters of the research spearheaded by member of the scientific community and others, like the Reagan family, see the research as a means of finding ways to treat and cure human diseases. Religious groups, on the other hand, like the Roman Catholic Church and several other conservative protestant church es belong to the other side of the debate as they see stem cell research as a means of exploiting helpless lives of human embryos.What are Stem Cells?Stem cells are unspecialized type of human or animal cells that can produce mature specialized body cells such as blood cells, heart cells and brain cells, and at the same time replicate themselves (Stem Cells, 2004). Stem cells can repair or replace damaged body tissues because stem cells are less likely than other foreign cells to be rejected by the immune system when implanted in the body (Stem Cells, 2004). They are primarily categorized into embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells.Embryonic stem cells can be extracted from a blastocyst or a very young embryo, about four to five days old and comprised of 200 to 250 cells. Embryonic cells can develop to into any of the 220 cell types of the human body given the necessary stimuli. Otherwise, these embryonic cells continue to divide and the new cells retain the ability to develop in to any mature cell type.The abilities to replicate itself and to develop into any mature cell type make the embryonic cell a potential cure to a number of diseases and injuries.Adult stem cells can be extracted from the tissues of both adult and children without inflicting harm or death to the subject. Adult stem cells function to replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissues (Stem Cells, 2004).   Most researchers, however, agree that there are limited uses of adult stem cells such that unlike embryonic stem cells that can develop into any of the 220 types of cells, adult stem cells can only be used to produce some of these 220 human cells.Potentials of the Stem CellMedical researchers are interested in studying and pursuing their research on stem cell because of its potential to help improve human health including that of around 128 million Americans suffering from various diseases. While most of the studies are preliminary and privately funded, scientists believe stem cel ls have the potential to treat Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, and multiple sclerosis (Stevens, 2003). Medical researchers also view stem cells as a potential in creating entire new organs for transplant and they can potentially repair or replace damaged tissues because they are less likely to be rejected by the immune system when implanted in the human body. Stem cells can also help diabetic patients and those whose hearts were damaged by a heart attack (Stevens, 2003).The ControversyControversy in stem cell research was commenced by studies conducted by James A. Thomson and his colleagues at the University of Wisconsin who isolated the first human embryonic stem cells from human embryos. The findings of the study was published in the journal Science where Thomson and his group reported that they have created self- perpetuating colonies in culture by harvesting embryonic stem cells from leftover embryos (Hall, 2006).While Thomson’s fi ndings were viewed by the scientific community as a breakthrough because of the embryonic cells’ medical potentials, controversy also surfaced because of bio- ethical and moral issues on destroying human embryos to start embryonic cell cultures. It also appears to violate the Dickey amendment signed by President Bill Clinton in 1995 which declares as illegal the use of federal money to fund stem cell researches that destroy human embryos. Thus, Thomson’s experiment commenced a controversy that has become an object of a political and moral debate. On August 9, 2001, President George W. Bush announced that the National Institutes of Health could issue federal research grants only for embryonic stem cell lines that had been created by that date. In July 19, 2006, President George W. Bush vetoed the stem cell research bill passed by the Senate and the House which aimed to increase the current number of existing stem cell lines. The debate on stem cell research therefore co ntinues because President Bush’s decisions have had efforts to meet halfway both of the demands and views of the supporters and opponents of stem cell research.The IssueThe use and extraction of adult stem cells in research do not pose much controversy because harvesting them does not harm cause harm to the subject.   The use of embryonic stem cells, however, has sparked controversies and debates, and became the primary issue in stem cell research. This is largely due to the technique used in creating them. At present, there are two methods of developing embryonic cell lines that will be used for research: isolation of stem cells directly from an embryo, which necessitates the destruction of the embryo where the stem cells are harvested; and cell nuclear transfer, also known as embryo-cloning (Stevens, 2003). Cloning, the second method employed to develop embryonic stem cells is in itself already a controversial issue.Scientists and researchers, however, prefer using embryo nic stem cells than adult stem cells because the latter is less versatile and have limited uses than embryonic stem cells. President Bush’s decision in 2001 that federal funds can be issued to fund stem cell research provided only the embryonic cell lines that were already created by that date has posed limitations on the research. This mandate restricted researchers to use the then existing 72 lines of stem cells but by May 2003, most of these lines had become useless and by mid 2006, only 22 remained and many of them were of limited usefulness because of DNA damage (Robinson 2006). Nevertheless, President Bush’s decision neither made pro-lifers happy such that the National Conference of Catholic Bishops called the President’s decision as â€Å"morally unacceptable (Brookhiser, 2003).Considering the potentials of stem cell research in medical breakthroughs and the limitations of the remaining stem cell lines, the senate and the congress approved the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act earlier in 2006. The bill was, however,   vetoed by President Bush   in July 19, 2006 contending that â€Å"the bill would support the taking of innocent human life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others†, and that it crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect† (Babington, 2006). The debate on stem cell research therefore continues with supporters led by medical researchers and policy makers; and opponents led by the Roman Catholic Church, several conservative protestant churches and pro- life groups.The Supporter’s ViewsCelebrities such as Nancy Reagan, Michael J. Fox, and the late Christopher Reeve, supported and campaigned for stem cell research because of the potential of the embryonic stem cells to treat many diseases and injuries. Some of theses diseases are cancer, diabetes, cancer,   heart disease and Alzheimers which are deadly and sometimes incurable; debilitating and often fatal autoimmu ne disorders like lupus, multiple sclerosis, and Crohns disease; and such others as are kidney disease, Parkinsons, spinal paralysis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrigs disease), and severe burns (Herold, 2003). It is contended by researchers that the potentials of stem cells may eradicate almost all cell based diseases. Stem cells can also give solution to age related diseases and can even alter the process of aging. According to Herold (2003), â€Å"when stem cell treatments become available to Americans, they could end up extending peoples life spans well beyond anything one could have dreamed possible a mere 10 years ago†.Aside from these, Herold relates that researchers believe that stem cell research will advance man’s knowledge on human biology in that it will enable scientists to understand what is going on in cells during, and after development which will have tremendous impact in the way genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, an d muscular dystrophy are treated and cured. Moreover, by observing what goes wrong at the very earliest stage of cell development through stem cell research, scientists will be able to get a genetic blueprint of a host of diseases and birth defects, then design interventions to cure them (Herold, 2003).As for the use of embryos used in stem cell research, supporters justify that these are surplus embryos that are taken with consent from in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics. Surplus embryos from IVF clinics, according to supporters, are either frozen, or unpreserved. Some of frozen embryos, however,   die during the freezing or thawing process or because of equipment malfunction; and only a few survived and are adopted because of certain issues such as couples that produced these embryos do not want unrelated persons to raise their biological child. Unpreserved embryos ultimately die and clinics simply discard them. These surplus embryos in IVF Clinics now numbering to 400,000 in t he United States alone may either be thrown away or preferably, for researchers and supporter of stem cell research, used for further experiments and studies (Robinson, 2006). Supporters therefore contend that that instead of being discarded for nothing, it would be best to utilize these embryos as using them to learn more about human cells may lead to medical knowledge that can cure and even save the lives of millions of sick people worldwide.Opposition to stem cell research mainly comes from pro-lifers, conservative religious groups which includes the Roman Catholic Church and several other protestant churches. Most of those who oppose legal abortion in the United States also oppose stem cell research because both involves destroying what they claim as human life in its early stage of development. The opposition argues that deriving stem cell culture entails killing human embryos and as such, scientists and researchers who use them become guilty of murder. In the eyes of the oppos ition, all stem cell research, though legal, is illicit and immoral according to Sacred Scripture (Spees, 2002, p. 11). Heinrich Bedford-Strohm (2002), a minister and member of the World Council of Churches working group on bio-ethics contends that the reason why most Christian churches oppose research with embryos is because they â€Å"see the dignity of the human person violated when embryos are sacrificed for reasons outside themselves, as good as those reasons might be†.The techniques used in embryonic stem cell research, for them, are in conflict with ethical norms, because these techniques use early human life as a means to achieve an external end (Bedford-Strohm 2002). Similar with an issue in abortion, questions on the beginning of life have also surfaced in the stem cell research debate. Religious groups opposing stem cell research have cited several verses in the Bible in support of their claim that destroying human embryos for research is in contrast with teachings and values in the Bible. One of these verses is in the Book of Psalms 139:13 where the psalmist said: â€Å"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb† (Psalms 139:13 New International Version).   For the opposition, God himself has created and given importance to life even in its early stage. It therefore follows that destroying this life, in the form of embryonic stem cell testing, is disrespect to God.Another issue raised by the opposition is with regards to the technique employed in stem cell research called cell nuclear transfer, also known as embryo-cloning. This is for reason that cloning, for conservative Christian groups, is a babylonic attempt to being equal with God, the ultimate Creator of life and all things on Earth. For them, man has no right to be like God by â€Å"creating† new life through cloning technology.ConclusionControversy in stem cell research emerged because medical researchers prefer using embryonic stem cell s over adult stem cell because of their versatility and many uses, and which entails destroying the embryos where these stem cells come from. Supporters of stem cell research, mostly scientists and researchers, and those who are inflicted with diseases that are deadly and remain incurable contend that the research is necessary to treat and even save those who are dying from incurable diseases and to advance man’s medical knowledge. Those who oppose the research, however, contend that the process employed in gathering stem cells for research constitutes murder because it entails destroying the embryos, and that it is a way of destroying life that God has given. They also see the technique of cell nuclear transfer employed in stem cell research as another babylonic attempt of man to be like God. These moral and religious contentions and the status quo of stem cell research in the American culture explain why the future of the research remains uncertain in the United States.

Deregulation essays

Deregulation essays The article I chose has to with alternative energy sources and deregulation of the industry. The focus of the article is put on a company called PowerLight Corporation in Berkeley, California. This particular $10 million company designs and manufacturers solar electric products. PowerLight Corp. is a very fast growing company over past years and is expected to grow at an even faster rate in years to come. The government in California provides great aid to these alternative energy companies by just about splitting the cost 50/50 with the consumers when alternative energy products are purchased. Since PowerLight Corp. has been around for some time now they are currently offering 20-year warranties on their products. The article then brings up the issue of deregulation in the industry, leaving the reader to draw his or her own conclusions on the possible and somewhat unpredictable effects it may have when implemented. Undoubtedly, energy is a treacherous business. One can enter the market one year, and have tremendous success, and by the same time the year after they could possibly be bankrupt. Many believe deregulation is the answer to the industrys problem, while others believe it is only the answer to the alternative energy market. Alongside the article from Inc. Magazine discussing PowerLight Corp. and deregulation, I feel it is necessary to incorporate more information on deregulation to validify and clarify my assessment. I used very small clips of articles and industry news from the Electric Light The main goal of these regulatory commissions was to create a reasonable rate structure that would be appealing to both producers and consumers. While this system has worked for many years, it has recently come under heavy criticism, with many people pushing...

The Difference Between a Phase and State of Matter

The Difference Between a Phase and State of Matter The matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. States of matter are the physical form taken by the phases of matter. Although the state and phase dont mean quite the same thing, youll often  hear the two terms used interchangeably. The States of Matter States of matter are solids, liquids, gases, and plasma. Under extreme conditions, other states exist, such as  s  Bose–Einstein condensates  and  neutron-degenerate matter.  The state is the form taken by matter at a given temperature and pressure. Phases of Matter A phase of matter is uniform with respect to its physical and chemical  properties. Matter undergoes phase transitions to change from one phase to another.  The primary phases of matter are solids, liquids, gases, and plasma.   Examples At room temperature and pressure, the state of a piece of dry ice (carbon dioxide) would be solid and gas phases. At 0  °C, the state of water can be the solid, liquid, and/or  gas phase. The state of water in a glass is the liquid phase. Learn More Diagram of Phase ChangesPhases of Matter and Phase Diagrams4 The Main States of Matter

Historical aspects in Last of the Mohicans Essay

Historical aspects in Last of the Mohicans - Essay Example As such, we will analyze how Native Americans were first perceived by the original settlers at Plymouth Rock, by the government with the Trail of Tears, and later on by politicians who bargained with and swindled the Lakhota Sioux. II. The Sorrow: Plymouth Rock When the settlers arrived at Plymouth Rock, Native Americans were considered quote â€Å"savages,† as evidenced in the following sentence found in James Fenimore Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans: The man had â€Å"†¦a look so dark and savage, that it might in itself excite fear† (Cooper 1859, 47). This stereotype of the Native American painted as some sort of inhuman creature was only reinforced by the idea that they made them feel that there was a definite threat to their women (white women). â€Å"Notwithstanding the fearful and menacing array of savages on every side of her, no apprehension on her own account could prevent the noble-minded maiden from keeping her eyes fastened on the pale and anx ious feaures of the trembling Alice† (Cooper 1859, 373). While this was not an unmitigated fear, as some white settlers’ wives were caught and captured to be made part of the Indian tribes, this fear was largely propagated by white people—and widely-circulated as rumor that Indians were always on the prowl for some fair, blond-headed maven that they might take in search of satisfying their savage lust. Of course, that is not to say that there was not favoritism displayed even among tribes, as Cooper notes. â€Å"[T]here is but little love between a Delaware and a Mingo†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Cooper 1859, 249). Nor, can it be said, was there the absence of nepotism either. â€Å"The Hurons love their friends the Delawares. . . . Why should they not? They are colored by the same sun, and their just men will hunt in the same grounds after death† (Cooper 1859, 365). Surely, by the same token, Cooper—being a white narrator—tries to preface a racist state ment by saying the equivalent of, â€Å"I’m not racist but†¦,† thus attempting to neutralize any shred of judgmental ideas coming after that statement as not being perceived racist. Cooper writes, â€Å"I am not a prejudiced man, nor one who vaunts himself on his natural privileges, though the worst enemy I have on earth, and he is an Iroquois, daren’t deny that I am genuine white† (Cooper 1859, 36). In essence, he is saying, â€Å"Not that this really has anything to do with him being Iroquois, but this guy is the most annoying chap I’ve ever met on the planet. Oh, and did I mention he’s Iroquois?† Well, if was a fact that didn’t matter, why was the fact mentioned? The mere fact that Cooper mentions that the other person being Iroquois didn’t matter, mattered. If he had just simply said, â€Å"Well, there was this annoying guy.† But, since he mentioned that the person also happened to be of a certain race, t hat sort of tempers the statement, tinging it and tainting it in a most unusual fashion—in essence coloring the way one sees the sentence. Indubiously, one is led to believe that perhaps if one Iroquois person is an enemy, then perhaps naturally should many or all Iroquois be one’s enemy—by nature of whatever unpalatable elements the Iroquois people may possess. Although Cooper does not expressly say it, he is (yes) being racist. Although he tries to paint a dapper picture with his writer’s quill, he is has unremarkably sullied the way he will forever be remembered in history—

Follow the materials Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Follow the materials - Essay Example The two targeted audiences are the board of the school and the students. These audiences are different in several aspects (Longaker, 2011). The board is an official body that deals with the school management. This board is in charge of making decisions on matters concerning the school and student welfare. This board has the power to change laws within the school and should be approached with care, using all the writing ethics that are applied in official communication. The second audience consists of students. They are the ones affected by the school policies and laws. As mentioned in the letter to the board, the change in the fee structure will have a huge impact on the way the students function. This audience has no direct effect on the setting of school laws and policies. The final decisions do not lie in their hands, and they have to depend on the board to make important school decisions for them. The two audiences affect the way in which the communication decisions were made. The board implies the need of being official in the communication, bringing up the need to write an official letter. The message is effective because the board can be addressed as a single entity. This means that a single letter can be sent to the entire board instead of writing individual letters to Board members. It is also difficult to get the board to an interactive meeting as most of its members are difficult to reach. Hence, it is easier to write them a letter, which can be read to the entire board whenever they meet. The students, on the other hand, are available during school days and getting them into one sitting is easy. It is easier to communicate to them through mass presentations such as PowerPoint and website presentations. Thus, the decision to use a site presentation was driven by the fact that the students could be addressed quickly and informally. Using letters with them would require that multiple letters be written, one for each student. The letters are also

Critical Thinking Essay Example for Free

Critical Thinking Essay 1. Is it wrong to kill someone in self-defense? I think that ultimately it’s wrong to kill anyone no matter the situation. Do I understand killing someone in self- defense? Yes I do, if you are at your home and someone breaks and enters into your home and your safety and family’s safety is jeopardized I feel that a person should protect themselves at all costs no matter what. It’s not against the law for an individual to bear arms, unless they are a felon. But I believe that no person should not react if there life is at risk. 2. Should people be given equal opportunities, regardless of race, religion, or gender? Yes I do believe that no matter race, gender, or religion, everyone deserves a fair chance at success. Whether it’s applying for school, jobs, etc. I don’t think that these things can affect the way and individual works! I do believe in equal opportunity! 3. Is it wrong to ridicule someone, even if you believe it’s in good fun? Yes I do believe it’s wrong to ridicule someone even if it’s fun to you, it may not be fun to the person you ridicule. What’s funny to you can be very hurtful to the next person; you don’t know what the person your ridiculing has been through or what they are going through. I have seen and heard of people being ridiculed by someone and they have actually taken drastic measures as far as committing suicide or have gone on a killing spree. Killing the ones that have ridiculed them or put them through a lot allowing people to ridicule them. It’s easy for one to look at someone’s misfortunes and tease them and make fun of them. Just because you want to make yourself feel better. I think that people that do this are unhappy with their life, that they have to make other’s feel bad about there’s. It’s not right and it’s not fair.

religion :: essays research papers

St. Therese of Lisieux There are some people that find the great St. Teresa of Avila, the namesake of my Therese Martin, rather terrifying. When you get to know a little about her, she seems very charming and you begin to like her. Little Therese, on the other hand, has never been disliked and has never made anybody in the least afraid. She was characterized by a complete ordinariness and if it wasn’t for her being an exceptional person, she would be a â€Å"normal† woman. Nevertheless, her main significance lies in her spiritual doctrine, the method which she herself described as the â€Å"Little Way†. A large part of her appeal is that she made the astounding promise just before her death that she would spend her heaven doing good on earth, a promise which has been carried out by the performance of countless miracles, a good number of them miracles of grace. There are certain things about her that have to be overcome. One of these, which was not her fault, is her upbringing. The â€Å"saint of antimacassars† or â€Å"of the lace curtains† is one of the most astonishing of all the great saints. Therese’s â€Å"Little Way† of spirituality did not once permit her to have any ecstasies or visions. She made no prophecies. â€Å"She had nothing in the nature of a stigmata, nor did she wear any invisible ring, such as was put on the finger of St. Catherine of Siena." (Maynard, 290) Her life was so ordinary that when she lay dying, she heard two Sisters talking in the kitchen, saying that they wondered what the Reverend Mother would find to say about Therese went she sent out her obituary notices. Therese did experience the phenomenon of what is called second sight, but that is a known psychic symptom and has no necessary connection with holiness. If she was a mystic at all she belonged to that class which enjoys nothing more than union with God. The Martin family is known mainly for one thing: they all aimed at holiness. Therese’s father, Louis Martin, in 1847, when he was twenty-four traveled to the monastery of St. Bernard and applied for admission as a beginner. He was told that he did not know enough Latin, and was advised to return home and learn more before applying again. He went back to Alencon, his home town, and did study for a while, meanwhile carrying on his trade as a watchmaker.