Stem cells
Laura Wotherspoon
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are primitive cells. They have the potential to be used to create new organs and tissues, as well as repair damaged ones.
Ethical Issues:
Research and development of stem cells raises some serious ethical and moral questions. The primary source of stem cells is from aborted embryos (fertilised eggs), and blastocyts (laboratory fertilised eggs). Christian thinking believes that from the moment of conception, the embryo is a person and has rights. It believes that any interference of the life form is considered murder.
Advantages and disadvantages
Support
- Potential for discovering treatment of currently incurable diseases. The hope is that they will repair hearts, livers, spinal injuries etc, cure cancerous conditions and trauma victims, quadriplegics, ect
- By improving the general health and well being of the public, we are happier and the money currently being spent on medical services could be used elsewhere, EG education
Disagree
- Moral evil according to Christian views of thinking: destruction of an embryo is considered murder.
- Every person, and every living thing on this earth in has been created in God’s image. It is questionable then, as to why human kind feels the need to mess with this, and alter God’s creation of good.