Neocytophilism Verses Neocytophobia (Stem Cell)
Neocytophilism verses Neocytophobia
The human body begins life as a single cell, known as a zygote. This zygote will divide into two cells, then, those two cells will divide into four, then eight, and so forth. Within three days, this zygote will consist of 16 cells. By the fifth day, it will start to form an embryo. The stem cells from this embryo, it is suspected, through genetic engineering, can be manipulated to create any part of the entire human body. Unlocking the secret to this embryo’s human potential will be the biggest medical breakthrough in the history of mankind. Scientists have discovered the production of certain stem cells may be stimulated to form any type of the body’s two hundred plus cells. Theoretically, these cells could and would eventually form any type of human biological mass, including but not limed to, cardiac tissue, smooth muscle tissue, skeletal tissue, bone tissue, and nerve tissue. Unfortunately, because some stem cells can be taken from human embryos, this elicits much controversy. The controversy is between religion and science. Religionists fear “embryo farms” (Hudson 14), and the use of embryonic stem cells as being a form of abortion. Scientists argue that there are more embryos being thrown away than what will ever be needed for research, and that this is too big of a medical breakthrough to be ignored. This could be the cure of all cures, maybe even a cure for death.
Can religion and science find a compromise on stem cell research?
There are two types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. The adult stem cells (these cells are considered adult about a month after live birth) can be found in several places in the human body: brain, blood, cornea, retina, heart, fat, skin, dental pulp, bone marrow, blood vessels, skeletal muscles, and intestines. The disadvantage to this is they are limited to what they can be manipulated to become. For instance, an adult stem cell in the...
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