The upcoming election is bringing up the issue of stem cell research and whether or not to allow federal funding for the process. Hilary Clinton, a 2008 democratic presidential candidate has included the issue of stem cell research to her topics of debate. Clinton is in favor of funding the research and proposes to double the budget of $28 billion over the next 10 years.http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/84818.php She is in favor of funding the stem cell research process as are many of the democratic presidential runners. Check this out for other democratic views: http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2007060800
President Bush recently vetoed the bill for lifting restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. He believes that embryo’s which have been developed for in vitro fertilization should not be destroyed and believes this is not ethical. However, using unused embryonic stem cells is beneficial to research because embryonic stem cells can be manipulated into any type of cell for example an embryonic stem cell can be developed into a heart, brain, lung, nervous cell etc.. In contrast, an adult human stem cell can only be used for what it is intended to be, for example a heart cell can only be used as a heart cell, whereas an embryonic stem cell can be developed into a heart, brain, lung, nervous cell etc.
This is a powerful quote from a supporter of stem cell research in response to Bush’s veto: "Those families who wake up every morning to face another day with a deadly disease or a disability will not forget this decision by the president to stand in the way of sound science and medical research," said Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/19/AR2006071900524.html
I totally agree with Sen. Durbin on this issue. If there is a way to gain knowledge about an issue and potentially find cures to diseases people are suffering with everyday, we should take every step to ensure the advancement of this research. So now it is your turn…do you agree with Bush’s veto on a bill to lift restrictions on embryonic stem cell research???
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
I believe that there is much to gain from Stem Cell research. In time I believe that there are many potential cures to many diseases and disorders that will come from this research.
I do not agree with the veto at all. If stem cell research will help to speed up the process of finding cures than we should do whatever we can to find them.
I believe that stem cell research should not be restricted. Bush's veto is not right in my eyes. If we are tryin to find cures for diseases then let it be done to the full extent. Do not put guidelines on something this major.
I do not agree with President Bush's veto. It seems to me that Bush is mixed with stem cell research. For example, he might have vetoed against embryonic stem cell research, but he has funded for the creation of more stem cell lines so research can become more efficient. Perhaps he's funding for stem cell research regarding adult cells. You mention in your post how embryonic stem cells are more reliable, which they are. They can manipulate/play the role of many different types of cells whereas adult stem cells cannot. This is very unfortunate to many scientists because they have limited stem cells to work with as it is.
My standpoint is very similar to yours. I'm an advocate of embryonic and adult stem cell research. You mention the quote of Senator Durbin, and he's totally right. People are dieing everyday when they can be saved. Isn't it worth it to save lives through the advance in stem cell research?
I think the success of stem cell research is going to be totally dependent on our upcoming presidential election. I've just finished researching standpoints of different political parties regarding stem cell research. According to my sources, democrats are in favor and over half of republicans are against it. Stem cell research requires a lot of money and it will be up to the president to go forward with funding. Obviously, he or she is going to use his or her morals, ethics, and political standpoints to make this decision.
I have also found the same information while researching the political party views. Democrats, such as presidential candidate Hilary Clinton, are for the funding of embryonic stem cell research, whereas most republicans, like our current president are against it. I am still wondering why the fate of whether or not there is going to be federal funding of stem cell research is so highly dependant upon on a single election. Maybe we should not be turning this issue into a political debate but keep it as an issue of searching for cures to diseases.
In response to anonymous:
There is much to gain from stem cell research. Possible cures to diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease are being researched. There is only one way to go from where we are and it is up, to gain as much knowledge as possible. Since success is resulting from the testing of animal cells, human testing is the next step for advancements in human research.
I'm all for funding as long as its private.
Post a Comment