The Government Has Not Funded Stem Cell Research - 1566 Words

The government has not funded stem cell research since 2001 for various reasons, some understandable, others I have to disagree on. I believe stem cell research should be funded by the government because it will advance our knowledge on how to treat and cure certain diseases. Many people, researchers and scientist included, strongly agree that we cannot continue our knowledge and technological advancement without the support of our own government. Stem cells are special cells that have the ability to regenerate and repair damaged tissue. Embryonic stem cells appear to possess the ability to become almost any tissue within the body. This, in theory, means that a cell could be taken from one section of an embryo that may have become a part†¦show more content†¦Robbie Norville, who has been researching cancer development in children, claims â€Å"Few risks are associated with donating bone marrow. The body usually replaces these cells within a few weeks. The doctor may suggest iron supplements until blood cell counts increase† (Norville). Of all the ways to retrieve stem cells, this method appears to be the safest. In 2009, President Obama ended the ban on stem cell research, stating â€Å"medical miracles do not happen simply by accident.† Scientists are very pleased with this decision made by the President, including Dr. Clive Svendsen, who stated: â€Å"Freeing up the embryonic stem cells through the lifting of this injunction will allow us to use federal support and money, and move clinical trials must faster to patients. So this is why it s an important day.† American citizens are as well. A poll was held in 2004, asking Americans if they support medical research using HESCs, to which only about 50% said they approved. The same question was asked in 2007, in which that percentage was raised to about 65% approving. These statistics clearly show that Americans want advances in medicine to be made with HESCs. The controversy about stem cell research is the concept that the research itself is â€Å"unethical† because it involves the development and usage, and possibly dest ruction of human embryos. This is not true for most methods of stem cell research. As stated