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Tyler Rapp
Professor Malcolm Campbell
English 1103
September 30, 2015
Stem Cells: A Promising Future or a Recipe for Disaster?
Introduction/Overview
I will be delving into the unique and interesting realm of stem cells. Basically, stem cells
are a broad range of entities that possess many potentials regarding curing many diseases and

Eddie Angelbello 9/30/2015 12:27 AM

Comment [1]: Be more specific nevermind
you did

dilapidating illnesses because of their amazing ability to differentiate into almost any cell in the
human body. With stem cells, especially those of a special type called embryonic stem cells
(which are derived out of a petri dish from mixed sperm and egg), a lot of controversy rises. For
my topic in the Extended Inquiry Project, I will specifically focus on the science and ethics of
stem cells in the United States in relation to a more unheard of possibility stem cells may have:
the ability to stop or reverse the process of aging.
According to the National Institutes of Health, stem cells potentially have the ability to
replace cells from conditions such as macular degeneration, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns,
heart diseases, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Do you think that maybe some
people are opposed to stem cells because they would los money? Just a random thought.
Basically, anything that results from a loss of cells, stem cells could possibly be able to fix it
because of the simple capability to shift into other types of cells. Each year, millions upon
millions of people suffer or die from these issues, but there is immense controversy in either
continuing to research with stem cells or cease it altogether because of ethical concerns. The
conflict arises from the fact that stem cell scientists typically prefer embryonic stem cell lines

Eddie Angelbello 9/30/2015 12:28 AM

Comment [2]: Should you talk about the
Harvard mice at some point

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because of their increased ability to differentiate into any bodily cell (unlike somaticor
bodily/adultstem cells that have limited differentiation skills and are more difficult to obtain
because of their rarity throughout a humans body).
Moreover, in regards to aging, our bodiesas humanshave a finite age. Eventually,
even if one remains as healthy and ill-free as possible, ones production of stem cells will
differentiate into a specific type of cell that cannot sustain perpetual division forever. In addition,
every time cells divide, the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA encased within the cell grows
shorter and shorter with each division (according to the DNA Damaging Theory of Aging, which
is the predominant scientific theory that I will also be focusing on in this project). So, since this
occurs, DNA loses a little bit of genes each time that invokes illnesses, hair loss, and the
impending loss of life the older and older one gets. With this being said, stem cells scientists
believe that, with enough research and time, they can come up with a method to immortalize
cells in the body as well as cease the impending shortening of DNA with the implantation of
stem cells in humans. For example, in Japanaccording to sciencealert.comscientists have
successfully reversed the aging of a cell line. By using stem cell manipulation, the scientists
managed to make a 97-year-old cell line back to essentially new again. With experiments like so,
many stem cell scientists assert that further research would lead to the overall reversal/stoppage

Eddie Angelbello 9/30/2015 12:30 AM

Comment [3]: Maybe this is a better word

of aging in all human cells.

Furthermore, stem cells revolve around a few prime stakeholders: stem cell scientists,
religious advocates, and politicians. Each of these groups has a huge say-so in the advancement
of stem cells in society and how far they can go. (It is vital to note that the viewpoints discussed
in this project are stereotypical, predominant points of view that may not be the same for every
individual within a given group). Stem cell scientists are obviously for the progression, funding,

Eddie Angelbello 9/30/2015 12:31 AM

Comment [4]: Great job specifically naming
groups. Does anyone else have an impact?

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and use of stem cells in society. They, stereotypically, tend see the ways that stem cells could
benefit the world by curing many issues in the medical field and disregard the ethical side of

Eddie Angelbello 9/30/2015 12:32 AM

Comment [5]: Perhaps just saying typically
would be better

view. Many religious foundations, on the other hand, typically disagree with the idea of using
stem cells in medicine. Most of the core religions especially pose a problem with using
embryonic stem cells because the sperm and egg are viewed as a possible human life (with the
use of embryonic stem cells analogous to abortion, in a way). But, these religions often are
supportive of the research of somatic stem cells. For example, according to
americancaholic.com, The Catholic Church is against embryonic stem-cell research because it
involves the destruction of human embryos. Pope John Paul II said embryonic stem-cell research
is related to abortion, euthanasia, and other attacks on innocent life. Last, politicians are
typically divided depending on the party. Predominantly, Republicans are not for the use of stem
cells nor the funding of stem cell research by the government; on the contrary, Democrats are for
the opposite of conservatives in most cases. The heads of these two parties also roughly support
the constituents of each party in America.
For this topic, I have looked into several sources (including the National Institutes of
Health, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and other various science sources) for the scientific
component of this project. For religious and other activist groups, I have visited their respected
websites, such as americancatholic.org, for their posted views on stem cellsespecially that of
embryonic stem cells. Additionally, I plan to use government websites and the National Institutes
of Health page to understand the ways the law interprets the use of stem cells, and if it is liable to
fund such research.

Eddie Angelbello 9/30/2015 12:34 AM

Comment [6]: It might be a good idea to
take a look at the views on the ethics of stem
cells in other countries. By their general
populations

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Initial Inquiry Question(s)

During the duration of the Extended Inquiry Project, I will attempt to answer many
questions, including, how could stem cells be modified to stop the aging of humans?
Additionally, what are the ethics behind using stem cells for this manner, and would the general
public be for or against such a thing?

My Interest in this Topic

My interest in stem cells was ignited in eighth grade when I was assigned a topic on stem
cells for a research paper. Since then, my interest in them has grown significantly. In eleventh
grade, I did another research paper on stem cells that basically elaborated on my previous
research: those involved in stem cells and the basic science behind it. However, I would love to
continue this topic on aging, another interesting segment of stem cells that is a lot more complex
and involved. This particular interest of aging arose from a reading I did over the summer
Postmortalthat revolved around a futuristic society that had the opportunity to take the cure
that ceased ones aging. At whatever age you took the cure, you remained that age for eternity
(or until you got sick enough to pass away).
As a result of completing two papers beforehand, I know a good amount about the basics
of stem cells: what they can do, what diseases they are capable of helping, what groups of
people are for and against it, and more. However, I currently do not know enough about the
technical aspects of stem cells and their application to understand how they are involved with
aging, which is what I am hoping to learn during this project. In addition, I hope to formulate my
own educated opinion on the matter after concluding this essay. Currently, I am torn on the ways
I few the use of embryonic stem cells. In one respect, the embryos are grown in a petri dish and

Eddie Angelbello 9/30/2015 12:36 AM

Comment [7]: Assure us that you can
sustain this for an entire semester

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are incapable of producing a fetus because of the unlivable conditions. On the other hand,
however, I understand the viewpoint of growing humans and how many religious grounds are
not okay with this action.

Next Steps
Next in the process, I plan to visit various websites and other sourcessuch as the
National Institute of Health, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, The New York Times, and moreto
delve into the topic further to understand the ins-and-outs of the science behind stem cell
research, as well as the various opinions on the matter. In addition, I hope to understand how
ceasing aging in humans could be accomplished by the use of stem cells. Last, I plan to broaden
my horizons and examine the ways that finding the cure for aging would affect society and
how the mass public would react to such a scenario.

This is a great topic, and it is one that could go on endlessly. Make sure you narrow down
your research to what you are truly interested in. Stay curious and look at this in a way that
interests you. Make sure you talk a little about the ethics of potentially living without death
explored in postmortal. I think its awesome that you are doing the ethics of these concepts. As I
said earlier, make sure you examine the ethics from more perspectives than just our nation,
because it could reveal a trend.