If you asked me about
my opinion on stem cells six months ago I would have given you a luke warm
politically correct answer that would have hinted on my thoughts, but would
have done so in a way that would certainly not have stimulated a firey debate. Why?
Because I really did not prioritise it as one of my most important
issues.
However, since stem
cells have become a hot topic for me personally, the issue has stepped up in my
view. Now the hot topic that everyone is talking about is embryonic stem
cell research. Just to clarify, the procedure I am having is an adult
autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Hematopoietic meaning
from the blood, adult meaning from an adult donor and autologous meaning
donating to myself. The reason I tell you this is so you know that I do
not stand to benefit directly from an embryonic stem cell transplant.
I'll start by making
two statements. First, incase you haven't guessed, I am an supporter of
embryonic stem cell research. Second, I really hope to get your opinions
on the subject, especially if you are anti embryonic stem cell research,
because it is only through debate that we can move forward with the issue.
As always, this post
is becoming much larger than I suspected so I am just going to give you one
argument. Is the source of an embryonic stem cell part of a life form?
There are many definitions of life, from the theological to the
biological. Depending on what you believe will influence on your
definition.
Embryonic stem cells
are extracted from blastocysts which is a structure formed in the early stages
of embryogenesis. The blastocysts we would use are formed in vitro (outside of
the womb) and therefore cannot grow into a foetus in their current environment.
As the cells involved are yet to grow into their final tissue, there is
no brain or nerves. Therefore they cannot think or feel. So they
are not life, just the potential to be life.
Every ovum is the the
potential be life, so is every sperm. Does that mean that every unused
sperm and ovum is destruction of life? I guess it all comes down to where
you draw the line of where life begins. For me, it is when one can think
or feel.
As I stated earlier,
I will welcome your arguments on both sides of the debate. All I
ask is that you keep it civil. Until next time, stay well:)
