Table of Contents
- 1 Why do religious people oppose stem cell research?
- 2 Does religious thought regarding stem cell research matter?
- 3 Is God against stem cell research?
- 4 What are advantages and disadvantages of stem cells?
- 5 What are the ethical arguments for and against stem cell research?
- 6 Is it morally acceptable to use embryos for research why or why not?
- 7 How are embryos used for stem cell research?
- 8 What is a negative of a stem cell?
- 9 What does religion have to do with stem cells?
- 10 Why is stem cell research unethical?
Why do religious people oppose stem cell research?
Some religious communities believe that embryonic stem cell research destroys innocent life and should not be allowed. Others believe that while the embryo has moral worth, a group of a hundred cells no bigger than the head of a pin is not the same as a person.
Does religious thought regarding stem cell research matter?
As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops declared: “Clearly, the Church favors ethically acceptable stem cell research. It opposes destroying some human lives now, on the pretext that this may possibly help other lives in the future. We must respect life at all times, especially when our goal is to save lives.”
What is unethical about embryonic stem cell research?
However, human embryonic stem cell (HESC) research is unethical since it results in the destruction of human life for research purposes. HESC research is morally wrong since it is the direct destruction of innocent human life and does not benefit the individual embryo undergoing the research (3).
Is God against stem cell research?
The answer is No. The Catholic Church is only against some forms of Embryonic Stem Cell Research (ESCR) that entail the destruction of human embryos. Stem cells are cells that develop very early in the human embryo after fertilization.
What are advantages and disadvantages of stem cells?
Table 1
| Stem cell type | Limitations | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| Embryonic stem cells | (1) Ethical dilemmas (2) Possible immune rejection after implantation (3) Only a small number of differentiated cardiomyoctes can be generated (4) May lead to teratocarcinomas (5) Genetic instability | Can differentiate into cells of all three germ layers |
What society thinks about stem cell research?
Religious people oppose embryonic stem cell research. Some religious people are in opposition. Others believe that embryonic stem cell research is pro-life and that it is immoral not to pursue this research, because of its potential to reduce human suffering.
What are the ethical arguments for and against stem cell research?
Table 1
| Phase of research | Ethical issues |
|---|---|
| 1. Payment to oocyte donors | |
| 2. Medical risks of oocyte retrieval | |
| 3. Protecting reproductive interests of women in infertility treatment | |
| Use of stem cell lines derived at another institution | Conflicting legal and ethical standards |
Is it morally acceptable to use embryos for research why or why not?
Some argue that as long as the decision to donate embryos for research is made after the decision to discard them, it is morally permissible to use them in HESC research even if we assume that they have the moral status of persons. The claim takes two different forms.
What groups oppose stem cell research?
A number of religious groups support embryonic stem cell research, and many Protestant sects and most Islamic and Jewish theologians also do not consider a young embryo to be a human being. Some critics of an embryo research ban point out that funding is already permitted for research on more advanced, aborted fetuses.
How are embryos used for stem cell research?
The embryos being used in embryonic stem cell research come from eggs that were fertilized at in vitro fertilization clinics but never implanted in a woman’s uterus. The stem cells are donated with informed consent from donors.
What is a negative of a stem cell?
What Are the Disadvantages of Stem Cell Research? 1. Embryonic stem cells can have high rejection rates. Embryonic stem cell therapies have been known to create several future health problems. Rejection rates are high for these therapies.
What does the Catholic Church say about embryonic stem cell research?
The Catholic Church is only against some forms of Embryonic Stem Cell Research (ESCR) that entail the destruction of human embryos. Stem cells are cells that develop very early in the human embryo after fertilization. Stem cells “have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth.
What does religion have to do with stem cells?
Stem cells, through a religious lens. Panelists at the event, representing Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, each briefly presented their faith’s teachings about the beginnings of human life and then embarked on a lively discussion about embryonic stem cell research.
Why is stem cell research unethical?
Opponents argue that the research is unethical, because deriving the stem cells destroys the blastocyst, an unimplanted human embryo at the sixth to eighth day of development. As Bush declared when he vetoed last year’s stem cell bill, the federal government should not support “the taking of innocent human life.”
What does the Bible say about stem cell research?
It is biblical to support research performed on adult and umbilical stem cells. If researchers can come to a place where they understand and appreciate the difference, it’s possible that stem cell research will result in many ground-breaking therapies that will help millions of people.