Lowell Reagan

ENG 101
Professor Bolton
1st November 2014
Topic Proposal: The application of embryonic stem cell research
Embryonic stem cell research continues to receive much backlash over its controversial
nature. Stem cells are a special kind of cell that has no specific job until it is introduced to a
specific tissue, may it be bone, nerve, muscle or any other cell. There are some problems with
this cell in terms effectiveness, but with the discovery of embryonic stem cells the effectiveness
in medicine is increased drastically. The controversial side of this cellular research lies in the
way it is obtained. These stem cells are extracted from a developing embryo around ten days
after fertilization. This leads to great opposition from pro-life groups that believe that human life
begins as soon as a sperm cell fertilizes an egg. They argue such research violates the sanctity of
life and equate such actions to murder.
This topic is of particular interest to me due to the ever expanding scientific
breakthroughs and applications being generated by this research on a regular basis. This research
holds the potential to cure diseases, illnesses, and bodily trauma that would wholly be considered
a lost cause in prior generations, or even a decade or so ago. Embryonic stem cells hold so much
promise yet faces so much opposition. The arguments against it generally come from individuals
or groups believing they hold a moral high ground against it. Academically, I find these
adversaries to the science generally to be ignorant either of the process itself and its applications.

Morally, I find people deluded into thinking that they have some upper hand in the argument to
protect a mish mosh of cells than to improving or possibly saving the lives of countless others.
In my up and coming paper I will bring to the fore both arguments against embryonic
stem cell research and those supporting the venture. The papers content will be supporting the
latter of the arguments. I will provide scientific data from credible sources to back up my
standpoint and will point out the fallacy of someone attempting to take a moral stance against the
subject.

Work Cited
Wert, Guido, and Christine Mummery. "Human Reproduction." Human Embryonic Stem Cells:
Research, Ethics and Policy. N.p., 18 Apr. 2003. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.