Con: Conducting research on stem cells is unethical

Argument Points:

• Using stem cells to clone for necessary genes is both immoral and possibly detrimental to the recipient of a transplant

• Immoral:
• The act of altering humans goes against God because God made us in his image
• Hubris: We should not mess with human life and humans should not be trying to play God
• The process of extracting the stem cells kills the embryo:
• The ethical issues of scientific work on aborted fetuses did not justify the possible benefits
• "Use of embryonic stem cells for reasearch involves the destruction of blastocysts formed from laboratory-fertilized human eggs. For those who believe that life begins at conception, the blastocyst is a human life and to destroy it is unacceptable" (Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research by Theresa Phillips, About.com Guide http://biotech.about.com/od/bioethics/i/issuestemcells_2.htm)
• An embryo is a person, albeit a person at a very early stage of development, but a person none the less
• "Destroying human life in the hopes of saving human life is not ethical" Experiment Resources (2008). Stem Cell Research - Pros and Cons. Retrieved February 22,2010 from Experiment Resources: http://www.experiment-resources.com/stem-cell-pros-and-cons.html
• Same as murder

• Detrimental to the recipient:
• "Some argue that stem cell research in the far future can lead to knowledge on how to clone humans. It is hard to say whether this is true, but we have seen devastating consequences of other research-programs, even with good intentions, such as nuclear research" Experiment Resources (2008). Stem Cell Research - Pros and Cons. Retrieved February 22, 2010 from Experiment Resources: http://www.experiment-resources.com/stem-cell-pros-and-cons.html
• Too much value has been placed on stem cells because scientists are not actually know fore sure that stem cells can be used to clone organs to be transplanted (to oneself)
• Some painful destruction of the bone marrow results from this procedure
• "Mice treated for Parkinson's with embryonic stem cells have died from brain tumors in as much as 20% of cases" (The Real Promise of Stem Cell Research Dr. David Prentice, HealthNewsDigest.com)
• "Embryonic stem cells stored over time have been shown to create the type of chromosomal anomalies that create cancer cells" (Derivation of Human Stem-Cell Lines from Human Blastocysts, C. A. Cowan and others. March 25, 2004, New England Journal of Medicine, p.1355 with secondary reference to footnotes 13-17 p.1356.)
• The genetic difference between other individuals stem cells could result in complications when transplanting them, such as the body might reject them causing the transplant to fail

• Other Cons:
• Limited supply
• Short life span
• The cells may carry mutations for diseases or could be useless

Sources:

1. Experiment Resources (2008). Stem Cell Research - Pros and Cons. Retrieved February 22, 2010 from Experiment Resources: http://www.experiment-resources.com/stem-cell-pros-and-cons.html
2. Popular Issues: Pros and Cons of Stem Research http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/pros-and-cons-of-stem-cell-research.htm
3. Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research by Theresa Phillips, About.com Guide http://biotech.about.com/od/bioethics/i/issuestemcells_2.htm
4. Actionbioscience.org: Stem Cells for Cell-Based Therapies by Dr. Lauren Pecorino http://actionbioscience.org/biotech/pecorino2.html
5. Biology Book, Page 253, Technology & Society: Stem Cells: Promises and Problems

Debate Reflection

I debated against Mary Zielonka who's argument followed a clear order that explained what stem cells were and systematically went through each of the places where stems cells can be collected; adult cells, cord cells and embryonic stem cells. Along the way she listed the benefits to each method and the benefits of stem cells in general, such as their ability to replace damaged or dead cells. She also mentioned the benefits of donating, saying "if you don't donate you might as well be killing yourself", which I thought was a very powerful statement. Also, I though she did a very good job of attacking the core of my argument, the moral (religious) dilemma. For example, she posed the question asking me to prove that God did not want stem cell research to be conducted, possibly saving countless lives. She finished by saying who are we to decide that no one will have access to stem cells.

After Mary presented her argument I had to think on my toes and reorganize my argument to follow hers, breaking it down piece by piece and countering it. Because there aren't too many scientific reasons against stem cell use I played heavily on the moral reasons and suggested the idea that stem cells have been over hyped and funds from stem research should be redistributed into far less controversial projects. In the end I think I presented my argument well and hit on all the points I needed to hit on to make a strong argument.

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p- pink

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Genotype: ffssMmBbWWXYR