Stem Cell Research

Stem Cell Research Bibliography

 

The following sources do not necessarily reflect the Center's position and, likewise, may or may not be consistent with a biblical worldview. These sources, however, are excellent resources for familiarizing oneself with the all sides of the issue.

 

An Overview of Stem Cell Research

In November of 1998, scientists reported that they had successfully isolated and cultured human embryonic stem cells—a feat which had eluded researchers for almost two decades. This announcement kicked off an intense and unrelenting debate between those who approve of embryonic stem cell research and those who are opposed to it.

 

Position Statement

Recent scientific advances in human stem cell research have brought into fresh focus the dignity and status of the human embryo. These developments require that the legal, ethical, and scientific issues associated with this research be critically addressed and articulated. Our careful consideration of these issues leads to the conclusion that human stem cell research requiring the destruction of human embryos is objectionable on legal, ethical, and scientific grounds.

 

Ligers, Tigons, and Splice: Human-Animal Hybrids

Post Date: 05/20/2011
Author: 
Paige Comstock Cunningham, JD

When the great naturalist Joseph Kolreuter painstakingly and methodically cross-pollinated hundreds of plants in the 18th century, he could not have foreseen the 21st century version of hybrids: human-animal (HA) hybrids. HA hybrids confront us with a technology which eludes a readymade ethical conclusion. In “doing bioethics,” particularly with emerging technologies, we find that it takes time to understand, consider and reach an ethical conclusion.

 

Cord Blood Stem Cells: An Overview

Post Date: 12/16/2009
Author: 
Kirsten Riggan, MA

What are they?

 

Fetal Stem Cells and Parkinson Disease—promises never to be kept?

Post Date: 06/19/2009
Author: 
Gregory W. Rutecki, MD

When fetal stem cells are publicly discussed, three diseases—often represented by their celebrity spokespersons—lead a list of potential therapeutic applications. They are Parkinson Disease (Michael J Fox), paralysis as a result of spinal cord injury (previously the late Christopher Reeve), and Diabetes Mellitus, type 1, (either Mary Tyler Moore or Ron Santo). The media packages the information as foregone conclusions: fetal stem cells are a veritable source of untapped, and then implied, “unlimited” therapeutic uses.


Length: 6:46
 

Stem Cell Research Annotated Bibliography

Post Date: 04/28/2009

The following sources do not necessarily reflect the Center's position and, likewise, may or may not be consistent with a biblical worldview. These sources, however, are excellent resources for familiarizing oneself with the all sides of the issue.

Cameron, Nigel M. de S., ed. Embryos and Ethics: The Warnock Report in Debate. Edinburgh: Rutherford House, 1987.

 

Stem Cells 101

Post Date: 10/06/2006
Author: 
Dennis Sullivan, MD, MA

 

This episode of The Bioethics Podcast is based on an article that appears at http://bioethics.com/?page_id=533 and is used with permission of the author.

 


Length: 5:48
 

The Stem-Cell Veto

Post Date: 07/20/2006
Author: 
David P. Gushee, PhD

President Bush’s veto on Wednesday of any change in his stem cell research policy was derided by many as a sop to his conservative base. But the price that the president and his party are sure to pay for this decision leads me to the conclusion that, whatever the politics of the move, the president actually has been persuaded by the moral argument against embryonic stem cell harvesting.


Length: 7:16