The Government Fund Stem Cell Research - 1952 Words

Our Medically Advancing Society: Should the Government Fund Stem Cell Research in Regard to Ethics? Jake Gilman Ms. Johnson A.P. Language and Composition Gilman 1 He was dying. 31-year-old Edgar Irastorza, a Miami property manager, had a heart attack on October 2008 due to excessive weight gain and a hereditary cholesterol problem. Although he survived the attack, it resulted in massive scar tissue damage in his heart. At this point in time, Edgar knew he had to get help, and fast. In Karen Weintraub’s article â€Å"The Trials of Stem Cell Therapy,† she claims that â€Å"Desperation motivated Mr. Irastorza to volunteer for a highly unusual medical research trial: getting stem cells injected directly into his heart.† She then†¦show more content†¦A perfect example of this is the previously mentioned Edgar Irastorza, who was given unspecified stem cells, which turned into heart tissue cells. According to Peter Bryant and Philip Schwartz in the book â€Å"Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate†, stem cells are: â€Å"recognized by their dual nature: they can expand their numbers while remaining undifferentiat ed or can differentiate and contribute to the development or repair of tissues of the body†¦ They are recognized by their expression of certain genes, their production of characteristic proteins and antigens, and their responsiveness to certain growth factors.† These characteristics show how stem cells are both complex in nature and are a perfect solution to many of the medical issues that are occurring today (See figure 1). Gilman 2 Christopher Reeves, the man who played Superman, was in a freak horseracing accident. It was not kryptonite that harmed him, but paralysis from the neck-down. As he wondered if he ever would walk again, Reeves knew he was in need of some form of treatment. After being exposed to many treatments, Reeves put all of his hope into stem cells. The Christopher and Diana Reeves foundation was then established to support not only Reeves, but also others that are in need of stem cell medical attention, even today. The Reeves foundation is very efficient with its work. For example, their â€Å"July 2009 journal articles follow-up on three