JEAN+-+Stem+cells

=Knowledge Issues: Are there Scientific Discoveries where it is Morally Injustifiable to use New Technology?=

The Topic: Stem Cell Research
New scientific discoveries are being made every day: dark matter, 3D technology and stem cells. Some of these discoveries, like 3D technology, is straightforward and excites us. It furthers our hold on technological prowess and entertains us in the form of new top grossing blockbuster movies and most technology is like this - we use new discoveries to our advantage. We build robots and machines to increase productivity and efficiency, becoming more and more efficient as we become increasingly adept at discovering new ways of furthering our options. Proof of this can be seen by the rapid expansion of computers in the last few decades. Since the first computer was invented in the 1940s, technology has become increasingly available to the general public and it is generally assumed that all new discoveries are information we should all use to our advantage.

However, is this really the case? Are there scientific discoveries where it is not morally justifiable to use new found knowledge or technology?

What are stem cells?
Stem cells are a recent scientific discovery. There are two kinds: adult and embryonic stem cells. What sets stem cells apart from other cells is their ability to differentiate - that is, to become a different kind of cell. Emybronic stem cells in particular are totipotent, so they are able to differentiate into anything, leaving their possibilities completely open. Adult stem cells, however, are multipotent so that their ability to differentiate is limited. They can only become cells related to their origin.

The Scientist:
The Scientist sees the use of stem cells as morally justifiable and a solution to current issues such as cancer and organ transplants. To the scientist, stem cells are an amazing discovery that can save millions of lives. Not only this, but they can earn lots of money from it. The scientist is easily carried away with their experiment, sometimes not pausing to think about the moral implications of their discoveries. Most of the time, the scientist is for the use of new technology and discoveries. The Scientist would be more analytical than the Skeptic, focusing on the results of their experiment to see only the positive points. They live in the future, wondering how to bypass the barriers that are preventing further progress. Because of this, the Scientist is more biased and not so reliable.

Stem cells were a huge scientific discovery because of their ability to differentiate. The cells can become anything - solving all sorts of medical issues that occur everyday. With stem cells, blood disorders like leukemia can be treated, as well as the possibility of growing new organs. Some of these, like growing new organs (therapeutic cloning) can be conducted using adult stem cells which can come directly from the sufferer. This means that the organ will not be rejected because the genetic makeup is identical. This means that the black market for organs can decrease or even collapse, and that less organs are wasted because of rejection.

The Skeptic:
The Skeptic is a normal person who was otherwise not involved with the discovery of stem cells - specifically embryonic stem cells. The Skeptic may be a mother who has recently lost a child. The destruction of an embryo brings ethical issues to light. Wouldn't that be considered murder? To the skeptic, the use of embryonic stem cells is killing one life to save another and is morally injustifiable. At the same time, the Skeptic may view this as science going too far and a way for scientists and researchers to make lots of money.

Supporting Quotes:
//"In 2007, Japanese and American scientists announced that they had developed a technique to transform human skin cells into stem cells. The technique is experimental, but scientists believe it will eventually mean they would no longer need to use embryonic stem cells for research. "// - Meri T. Firpo, Ph.D., Research Geneticist, University of California, San Francisco.
 * Scientist:**

Notice that this supporting quote is written by a Research Geneticist and may be biased.

//"Many people consider embryonic stem cell research wrong because they believe embryos have moral status that should be protected. Others argue that the research is justified because of the potential medical benefits of embryonic stem cells."// - Jeffrey P. Kahn, Ph.D., Director, Center for Bioethics, University of Minnesota.
 * Skeptic:**

Written by the Director of a Center for Bioethics, is likely to be less biased.

However, the fact that there is a controversy at all about the morals of using embryonic stem cells and research indicates that it is not entirely accepted as ethically correct by a fair amount of the population. In the case of stem cells, the new discovery of stem cells can be considered as morally unjustifiable.

In 2004, British and South Korean scientists began to clone stem cells. Cloning itself has ethical issues and has been banned by several countries. However, in the case of stem cells, could cloning be morally justified? What was once considered taboo and unethical is now being seen in a new light. This shows that moral issues can be seen in new ways to make them moral rather than immoral and that scientific discoveries can make previously immoral issues ethically justifiable. It could be said that at the time being, there are scientific discoveries that are ethically injustifiable, but this may change with whatever new discoveries science may bring.



Bibliography:
code Firpo, Meri T. "Stem Cell ." //World Book Advanced//. World Book, 16 Aug. 2009. Web. 1 Feb. 2010. . code

code Kahn, Jeffrey P. "Bioethics." //World Book Advanced//. World Book, 18 May 2009. Web. 1 Feb. 2010. . code