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Show Hinckley Journal of Politics 2006 The Science, Ethics, and Politics of Stem Cell Research Bradley Curtis Federal funding of stem cell research is a significant controversy, which has caught public attention from every part of society. The complex nature of the debate has led to divisions within religions and political parties, as well as forcing us to reconsider what it means to be "pro-life." When President George W. Bush used his first televised public address to announce his policy on the federal funding of stem cell research, it brought new exposure to an issue that encompasses moral, ethical, religious, scientific, and economic grounds. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have presented bills that would repeal the President's policy. This paper provides an explanation of what stem cell research is, and examines the ethical issues involved. With this background an assessment of the current debate involving the White House, Congress, and religious groups, as well as the public in general, is offered. Finally a recommendation is given that President Bush reconsider his position, and allow federal funding for embryonic stem cell research on excess embryos from in vitro fertilization. Introduction The current discussion regarding stem cell research reminds us that that the impact of technological advancements is not limited to the field in which they are achieved. The complex nature of the debate has led to divisions within religions, political parties, and it forces us to reconsider what it means to be "pro-life." The matter is further complicated because it requires some amount of scientific and ethical understanding to evaluate the claims made by both sides of the argument. President George W. Bush's policy on stem cell research set forth in August of 2001 served as a catalyst for an ongoing debate that encompasses moral, ethical, religious, scientific, and economic grounds. His policy, which bans federal funding for stem cell research that involves the destruction of embryos, has impacted the course °f stem cell research in significant ways. In 2005, House Resolution 810 and its corresponding Senate Bill 471 were presented by Congressmen from both sides of the aisle to repeal President Bush's policy. Thus the issue has once again been raised at a national level, and it must be addressed. To do so requires a background in the science of stem cell research, and an understanding of the ethical questions that nave been raised. Only then is it possible to discuss whether President Bush should stand by his policy, or accept the current proposals. Setting the Stage What Are Stem Cells, and Why Are They Important? Understanding why stem cell research is so controversial first requires an explanation of what stem cells are, how scientists harvest them, and what researchers hope to do with them. Stem cells are "blank cells" in the sense that their function has not yet been fully determined. The possibility exists that they can be programmed to become various types of human cells, because all human beings begin as one cell, known as a zygote. As division of the zygote occurs and one cell becomes two, then two become four, and four become eight, this mass of cells develops into an embryo. It is during this early stage that these cells contain the capability of developing into all types of cells in the body. Further along in this division process, cells begin to specialize. The result of this specialization is that these cells are no longer "blank," and can be specifically categorized into lung cells, or skin cells, etc. This process is known as differentiation. After differentiation, cells are no longer capable of transforming into other types of cells. Once a cell has differentiated into a lung cell, it is not capable of transforming into, for instance, a heart cell. Undifferentiated stem cells have two promising properties: first, undifferentiated cells can divide and multiply themselves for long periods of time, and scientists believe these cells could possibly do so for indefinite periods of time (Holm, 2002, pp. 493-507). Second, undifferentiated stem 15 |