Stem Cell Research
Saturday, January 9th, 2010Creation and characterization of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) is an important feature of recent research on stem cells. Since autumn 2007 there has been rapid progress in the iPS cells. But this new form of
pluripotent cells is qualitatively and quantitatively different from embryonic stem cells (ESCs). It is extremely important to continue the ESC, even if iPS cells turn out to be able to develop in appropriate therapy and tissue transplantation. Sources of ESCs is controversial and urgent issues.Many of them are opposed to the creation of embryos for research purposes. Embryos are destroyed in the process of obtaining ESCs, and such studies are violently opposed to those who believe that destroying embryos is murder. There are many counterarguments to this information. For example, human sexual reproduction usually involves a loss of anywhere from 40 to 70% of the embryos at an early stage. In other words, the embryos are destroyed consistently as a natural part of reproduction. Some embryos do not implant in the uterus, the other implant, but does not develop, while others may be rejected (or killed) by his mother’s body. Opponents of embryonic stem cell research is also an advocate of the cessation of human sexual reproduction, so their position in the embryo”murder”may be logical inconsistencies.We live in a pluralistic society and the need to respect the moral and ethical views of different minorities. So we can not decide on the creation of embryos for research purposes. Another likely source of a large number of embryos remaining after embryo in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. More than 100,000 in vitro fertilization procedures are performed annually in the United States. Typically, more embryos are created than implanted in the prospective mother’s womb.