OK, so this is VERY late.... >_<
http://stemcells.nih.gov/
This website offers the government's view on stem cell research. It contains useful info on the cells themselves, their uses, ethical issues, and the US government's policy on stem cell research. Being a government-run website means that it will be biased in the government's favor and promote adherance to the government's ideals and policies. http://www.religioustolerance.org/res_stem.htm This website offers the same general information as the NIH's site. This site, however, throws in the religious opinions, introducing faith-based bias, implying that those opinions are not based on concrete evidence. It's always fun to listen/read religious zealots though because I find them quite amusing.
http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/pros-and-cons-of-stem-cell-research.htm
I used this website when I was writing a research paper last year. It explains what stem cells are, where they come from, and the differences between the different types of stem cells. This website does seem to be against the use of embryonic stem cell research as "funds devoted to embryonic stem cell research are funds being taken away from the other two more promising and less controversial types of stem cell research," the other two types being adult stem cells and umbilical stem cells.
http://usliberals.about.com/od/stemcellresearch/i/StemCell1.htm
As the URL implies, this is a liberal website, and so favors stem cell research. The site gives some history of embryonic stem cell legislation, arguments for and against embryonic stem cell research, and an alternate method of harvesting stem cells that doesn't involve killing a fertilized embryo.
http://www.stemcellresearchfacts.com/index.html
This website contains the basic info on stem cells, both adult and embryonic. It is obvious that this site is against embryonic stem cell research as it sports an article entitled "How Embryonic Stem Cell Science Exploits Women." This bias has to be taken into account when analyzing information on the site.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
Friday, November 2, 2007
Purpose of this Web log
Since this blog is for my English class (unfortunately) I will be discussing a topic that is relevant to today. The topic I have chosen is the hot-button issue of stem cell research. Some of the questions I will be thinking about are:
1. What is the difference between adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells?
2. Does the harvesting stem cells fall into the realm of murder (harvesting stem cells from an embryo destroys it)?
3. Can an embryo be considered a human being?
4. Can an embryo be considered to be truly alive?
5. Do the benefits of harvesting embryonic stem cells outweigh the potential risks and losses?
The purpose of this blog is to eliminate bias from my argument. Before I begin to do this however, I would like to go on a short rant on how I feel about stem cell research:
I don't really see what the big deal is about stem cell research. Conservatives, in general, say that harvesting embryonic stem cells is comparable to abortion, and therefore murder, because the embryo is destroyed. Whether or not the embryo is alive or not is not important, a single cell is alive, the issue is whether or not the blastula from which the cells are harvested can vbe considered a human being. There are thousands of eggs frozen for invitro fertilization that will never be used and will eventually be thrown out. Are those potential humans being denied the prospect of life? When they are thrown away are they "murdered"? Those unused eggs should be donated for stem cell research and put to a good use. The potential benefits of embryonic stem cells are nearly limitless. They can be used to grow organs for transplant that are specific to the recipient, curing many illnesses such as diabetes. Stem cell research, for both adult and embryonic stem cells, should be well funded and regulated to prevent exploitation. This technology can be used to save many thousands of lives and should not be impeded due to moral qualms.
1. What is the difference between adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells?
2. Does the harvesting stem cells fall into the realm of murder (harvesting stem cells from an embryo destroys it)?
3. Can an embryo be considered a human being?
4. Can an embryo be considered to be truly alive?
5. Do the benefits of harvesting embryonic stem cells outweigh the potential risks and losses?
The purpose of this blog is to eliminate bias from my argument. Before I begin to do this however, I would like to go on a short rant on how I feel about stem cell research:
I don't really see what the big deal is about stem cell research. Conservatives, in general, say that harvesting embryonic stem cells is comparable to abortion, and therefore murder, because the embryo is destroyed. Whether or not the embryo is alive or not is not important, a single cell is alive, the issue is whether or not the blastula from which the cells are harvested can vbe considered a human being. There are thousands of eggs frozen for invitro fertilization that will never be used and will eventually be thrown out. Are those potential humans being denied the prospect of life? When they are thrown away are they "murdered"? Those unused eggs should be donated for stem cell research and put to a good use. The potential benefits of embryonic stem cells are nearly limitless. They can be used to grow organs for transplant that are specific to the recipient, curing many illnesses such as diabetes. Stem cell research, for both adult and embryonic stem cells, should be well funded and regulated to prevent exploitation. This technology can be used to save many thousands of lives and should not be impeded due to moral qualms.
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