Edexcel Level 3 Extended Project - Should Embyonic Stem Cell Research be applied to regular medical practice?

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Contents

ABSTRACT - Page 3

INTRODUCTION – Page 4

DISSERTATION

PUBLIC OPINION - Page 6

LAW AND POLITICS – page 7

RELIGION – Page 8

MORALITY AND ETHICS – Page 9

MEDICAL POTENTIAL – Page 10

ALTERNATIVES – Page 12

DISADVANTAGES – Page  13

CONCLUSION – Page 14

BIBLIOGRAPHY – Page 15

EVALUATION – Page 16

APPENDIX – Page 17

  • Activity log
  • Lit pro formas (for each source)
  • Presentation (eg. Slides from powerpoint) with notes


Abstract

Scientists have been experimenting with and studying stem cells for about a century now – the first adult stem cells were discovered in 1908 by a Russian histologist, Alexander Maksimov. However, embryonic stem cells were only derived from mice embryos in 1981 and from human embryos in 1998. Since then research has been progressing slowly, and this is because of pressure from pro-life and religious groups with arguments that using embryonic stem cells for the purpose of research is unethical and immoral because it involves extracting the stem cells from the embryo, which destroys the embryo.

The aims of my project are to investigate stem cell research and how it has developed over the last few decades. I want to find out if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, the success and failures of human trials and arguments for and against the morality of stem cell research. Finally, I will draw a conclusion as to whether I believe stem cells should be applied to regular medical practice.

I will mainly use the Internet to gather my research sources, but I will also use newspaper and magazine articles. I have a contact who is involved with stem cell research so I will gather statements from her.

So, my clear objectives are these:

  • Research the advantages of stem cells, such as successful trials
  • Research the disadvantages of stem cells such as unsuccessful trials
  • Learn the different arguments used by people who oppose stem cell research
  • Learn the different arguments used by people who support stem cell research
  • Summarize and make a conclusion as to whether stem cell research is ethical enough, safe enough and has enough potential in the medical field to be applied to regular medical practice ie. The NHS

Introduction

As long as there have been scientists researching embryonic stem cells, there has been controversy surrounding it. The viewpoints on stem cell research are strongly divided; there is very little middle ground. The opposition is often based on philosophical, ethical, moral or religious objections whereas the supporters of stem cell research base their arguments around scientific facts.

Embryonic Stem Cells are harvested from undeveloped human embryos. Most of these are acquired from embryos left over from fertility treatments or abortions. Embryonic stem cells are extracted during the blastocyst stage of development, which is the stage just after fertilization at which the embryo is only a few days old and about 50-150 cells in size. To culture these cells, the epiblast tissue from the inner blastocyst must be isolated. However, this results in the destruction of the fertilized human embryo, which is the main focus of this dissertation. The cells cultured are called embryonic stem cells. 

I chose to do my project on stem cell research for a few reasons. First, I have quite a bit of interest in the subject. Stem cell research fascinates me and I thought this would be a great opportunity to research it further, gain more knowledge. It is also because it is a subject I feel very passionate about, and I wanted a chance to see both sides of the argument so I could get to know the different views, arguments and counter-arguments. From what knowledge I have, I support stem cell research but I would like to broaden my knowledge so I can back up my side of the argument with facts in the future. Or, I might even have my mind changed because of what I have read from my research.

Dissertation:

Embryonic Stem Cells

Public Opinion

As far as embryonic stem cell research is concerned, the field on public opinion is extremely divided. The opposition is mainly religious groups while the support is mainly scientists, but of course there are exceptions. Some people may not have any religious beliefs but still have strong views on morality, and some people may not be scientists, or in fact have any scientific knowledge, but have different beliefs about the moral status of a human embryo. Some people may not have any opinion regarding stem cell research, although this group is insignificantly small compared to the support and opposition. According to an article on the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) website from 2005, 41% of the UK public believe stem cell research is ethical, but 34% believe it is unethical. In addition, 73% said they believed embryonic stem cell research would be beneficial to future generations. From these statistics it seems apparent there is more support for embryonic stem cell research that opposition. However, a percentage of 34% against the research is enough to have an influence on the progression of stem cell research, and it has. These groups put huge pressure on government authorities such as the HFEA to regulate and limit the extent of which scientists are able to experiment with human embryos. Public attitude studies also conducted by the HFEA show that the percentage of the public who support stem cell research is increasing slowly but steadily – 70% in 2003 and 79% in 2007.

As for public attention, which is a crucial contribution to public opinion, show an increase in media attention for stem cell research. In America, stem cell research only started appearing in the news in 2001. A year prior to this, a survey showed 20% of Americans were following the issue closely. A year later as stem cell research began gaining more media attention the figure increased to 38%. And a few months after that, after ex-President Bush’s televised public address on the issue, the figure was between 40% and 60% - a huge increase in just a few months. However, it is clear the reason for this was Bush’s televised address to the public.

At the peak of this ethical debate in the summer of 2001, more research showed over 60% of the American public said the issue was somewhat important to them. Also, over a third of Americans said they tuned in to watch Bush’s appearance on television.

Studies on public attention can be closely linked to studies on media coverage, since most issues gain public interest through the media. This is clear from the statistics previously mentioned; that in the year between 2001 and 2002 the percentage of people following the issue closely increased rapidly, when during this time was Bush’s televised address and an increase of coverage in the media. Just after Bush’s appearance, 25% of Americans said they has seen and heard a lot about stem cell research in the media. It increased to 27% a couple of months later, but fell again to a mere 13% in a year. This shows that, in America at least, levels of public interest and attention peaked when Bush televised his public address on stem cell research, and after that the media – and the people – lost interest.

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Finally, in the same 2005 article from the HFEA, one of the regulators, Suzi Leather spoke out to scientists, saying “There is a need for continued engagement between scientists and the public”. She stressed that there is a fine line between the support and opposition, and that it was not unconditional; the figures could shift. And in order to keep the majority of the public in favour of the research, scientists must keep the public informed and confident that they are doing their job appropriately, because lack of communication could cause a breakdown in support.

Law And Politics

When there ...

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