Cons of Stem Cell Research (Research Paper Sample)

Cons of Stem Cell Research
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Stem cells are undifferentiated cells. Therefore, they can multiply and hold the potential to specialize into any cell (Mandal, 2010). Owing to this capability, they have been a valuable. Important medical tool for the tissue regeneration. Mainly, they are sourced from adult tissue and embryos during the blastocyst phase. The last has been provocative. Stem cell research has given hope to humankind as some formerly unsolved medical mysteries have been explained; nonetheless, some methods of obtaining stem cells lack moral ground; hence, the venture has been controversial.
Since the extraction of embryonic stem cells involves the destruction of the embryo, religious groups have argued that the latter practice equates to murder. Destruction of human life for commercial purpose is clearly unethical and should be prohibited, especially since they are other sources of stem cells that are morally acceptable (Powell, 2007). Over time, a form of a cancerous tumor has caused the death of a number of rats injected with stem cells. The thought that the same could be the case with human life is disturbing. With such results, it is not safe to carry on with similar medical practices on humans. If done, the practice could expose the patient to cancerous agents.
Stem cells injected into the body are permanent. The impact does not exhaust with time as it is with medicine. Hence, side effects may take time to manifest; thus go unnoticed, only to become apparent later in the patient’s life causing adverse effects. Like any other experiment, these ventures have a significant risk of the unknown. Advancement in stem cell knowledge could lead to cloning of humans; which is risky as governments may form programmable armies ...