Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/44575
Title: Stem cell research and cloning
Authors: Asciak, Michael
Keywords: Stem cells -- Moral and ethical aspects
Stem cells -- Research
Cloning -- Moral and ethical aspects
Issue Date: 2006-07
Publisher: Medical Portals Ltd.
Citation: Asciak, M. (2006). Stem cell research and cloning. The Synapse : the Medical Professionals' Network, 4, 23-26.
Abstract: The ethical problems with stem cell research are reserved for so-called embryonic stem cell research, There are sources of embryonic stem cells that are available from cord blood (collected from a cut umbilical cord just after delivery) which do not present any problems. The problem arises when researchers harvest stem cells by the destruction of the human embryo. Stem cells are naturally available as tissue found in the embryo in the fIrst few days of development. Unfortunately these cells may only be obtained by the destruction of the embryo itself or by inhibiting the normal development of totipotent cells into an embryo. Some justify this as a necessary price to pay for research to proceed, others argue that spare embryos left over from 'in vitro', fertilization would die anyway, so it would be better to get some positive benefit out of them, before they become worthless. Whichever way one looks at this, two facts are indisputable. The first is, that human life is being used for research purposes and destroyed in the process. The second is, that human beings are being commodified on an increased scale and being rendered an object of financial and economic gain, the demand will increase the supply!
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/44575
Appears in Collections:The Synapse, Issue 04/06
The Synapse, Issue 04/06

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