On Stem Cell Legislation And The Related Legal Issues - Research Paper Example

The issue of stem cell research legislation came to the scene in late 1998 when researchers realized the isolation of human embryonic stem cells. This discovery was done by Dr. James Thomson and it gave an immense promise for new means of disease treatment. Today scientists are finding news ways of using these stem cells in repairing worn out tissues. The history of stem cells research involves human stem cells as well as animal stem cells. The stem cells are usually found in the embryos like in adult creatures.

In November, 1998, James Thomson who discovered the stem cells isolated cells from the internal cell mass of early embryos and went on to build up the initial stem cell lines. At the same time, germ cells were derived from cells in fetal gonadal tissue by John Hopkins. They were referred to as primordial germ cells. It is from both stem cells and the primordial germ cells that pluripotent cells were developed. In human cell research, a blastocyst which came from in vitro fertilization was used.

In 2000 funding of such research was allowed by President Clinton but only from cells of aborted human fetus. However later president Bush allowed it on existing human embryonic stem cell lines as noted by Furcht, Hoffman and Reeve (2011). How It Compare To Comparable Statutes in the Rest of the World The argument of using the embryo for stem cell research is becoming a worldwide concern, varying from country to country. However, some parts of the world seem to be on board in relation to stem cell research and its great role appears to be making a difference.

The research is also getting backed up with government financing and grants. In China, there is the StemCells China which connects people all around the Globe with active stem cell treatment centers in country. The stem cell therapy and umbilical cord stem cells are relatively unestablished in the west and have experienced a long history. Doctors treating patients in these centers have come across hundreds of cerebral palsy. Most of the genetic disorders react well to umbilical cord cells as well as cord blood cells.

In Australia there is the Australia Stem centre and the embryonic stem cells are acquired from embryos from eggs fertilized through the in vitro fertilization procedures in the clinics. From this the spare embryos not needed during implantation are used and donated for purpose of research only with consent from donors. However in Australia it is illegal to conduct research from naturally conceived embryos thus these cells are not derived from fertilized eggs within the woman’s body. This is because of the fact that embryos are not particularly created for research functions.

There has been a wide range of views on human embryonic stem cell research in world. The increasing case of those against embryonic stem cell research is based on the idea that it is destructive to human embryo according to Lanza (2004). For instance, for those who perceive a fertilized egg as alive consider the research pure misery. Other countries consider it as group of cells with the possibility of becoming a human but not an actual human and in this case stem cell research is encouraged.

However there seems to be global agreement to the issue of stem cell research particularly its significant contribution to the society thus making many countries support it according to Kelly (2007). As a result there is