Cloning Embryonic Stem Cells

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that embryonic stem cells are self-renewing, undifferentiated cells that are extracted from the inner cell mass of a 5-6 day old embryo or blasto-cyst, which destroys the embryo in the process of extracting the stem cells. The author stresses that the basic problems in embryonic stem cell research are the very highly valued moral problems it presents: (1) The prevention or alleviation of suffering and (2) the respect of human life. The paper stresses that the argument for and against cloning embryonic stem cells is also an argument as to the meaning of life and the recognition of the loss, at any point in life, of inevitable death.

Table of Contents
Introduction
What is Embryonic Stem Cell?
The Basic Problem
Arguments Presented For and Against Cloning Embryonic Stem Cells
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"To endorse any use of the human embryo which was not consistent with a reverence for human life would be widely regarded as wrong. Those who believe that therapeutic research on embryos is ethically permissible, might argue that the creation and use of a human embryo outside the context of human reproduction does not necessarily undermine the attitude of respect for the human body and human dignity, provided that the purposes involved in such creation and use are purposes which we would recognize as beneficial ones. Medical uses fall into this category. In this view, it would appear to be quite consistent with an attitude of respect for human life to allow the use of human embryos at an early stage of development, well before the stage at which anything resembling a self can be said to come into existence. Such use promises to provide the possibility of the relief of a great deal of human suffering, a goal which in no sense calls into question respect for the human body."

More papers on Cloning Embryonic Stem Cells:

• Analytical Essay # 57514 : "Embryonic Stem Cell Research"
• Research Paper # 55766 : "Embryonic Stem Cell Research"
• Analytical Essay # 126443 : "Genes and Cloning"

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