Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Therapeutic perspectives of human embryonic stem cell research versus the moral status of a human embryo – does one have to be compromised for the other?

Hug, Kristina LU orcid (2006) In Medicina 42(2). p.107-114
Abstract
Stem cells are unspecialized cells able to divide and produce copies of themselves

and having the potential to differentiate, i.e. to produce other cell types in the body. Because of

the latter ability, the scientists investigate their possible use in regenerative medicine. Especially

embryonic stem cells have huge therapeutic potential because they can give rise to every cell

type in the body as compared to stem cells from certain adult tissues which can only differentiate

into a limited range of cell types. For this reason scientists stress the importance of embryonic

stem cell research. However, this research raises sensitive ethical and religious arguments, which

are... (More)
Stem cells are unspecialized cells able to divide and produce copies of themselves

and having the potential to differentiate, i.e. to produce other cell types in the body. Because of

the latter ability, the scientists investigate their possible use in regenerative medicine. Especially

embryonic stem cells have huge therapeutic potential because they can give rise to every cell

type in the body as compared to stem cells from certain adult tissues which can only differentiate

into a limited range of cell types. For this reason scientists stress the importance of embryonic

stem cell research. However, this research raises sensitive ethical and religious arguments, which

are balanced against possible great benefit of such research for the patients suffering from so far

incurable diseases. The objective of this literature review is to present the main arguments in

favor and against human embryonic stem cell research. Since the sensitivity of the latter issue to

a large extent stems from the position of predominant religions in a given society, the positions of

the main religions regarding embryo research are also presented.

Conclusion. There is no consensus regarding ethical aspects of human embryonic stem cell

research. The article presents both the arguments supporting human embryonic stem cell research

and the arguments opposing it. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
embryonic stem cells, embryo status, biomedical research, religion
in
Medicina
volume
42
issue
2
pages
107 - 114
publisher
MDPI AG
external identifiers
  • scopus:33646001078
ISSN
1648-9144
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
787716a0-bfd7-4e3f-935c-2a8eb61a5b43 (old id 1137174)
alternative location
http://medicina.kmu.lt/0602/0602-03e.pdf
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:52:49
date last changed
2022-01-26 19:37:10
@article{787716a0-bfd7-4e3f-935c-2a8eb61a5b43,
  abstract     = {{Stem cells are unspecialized cells able to divide and produce copies of themselves<br/><br>
and having the potential to differentiate, i.e. to produce other cell types in the body. Because of<br/><br>
the latter ability, the scientists investigate their possible use in regenerative medicine. Especially<br/><br>
embryonic stem cells have huge therapeutic potential because they can give rise to every cell<br/><br>
type in the body as compared to stem cells from certain adult tissues which can only differentiate<br/><br>
into a limited range of cell types. For this reason scientists stress the importance of embryonic<br/><br>
stem cell research. However, this research raises sensitive ethical and religious arguments, which<br/><br>
are balanced against possible great benefit of such research for the patients suffering from so far<br/><br>
incurable diseases. The objective of this literature review is to present the main arguments in<br/><br>
favor and against human embryonic stem cell research. Since the sensitivity of the latter issue to<br/><br>
a large extent stems from the position of predominant religions in a given society, the positions of<br/><br>
the main religions regarding embryo research are also presented.<br/><br>
Conclusion. There is no consensus regarding ethical aspects of human embryonic stem cell<br/><br>
research. The article presents both the arguments supporting human embryonic stem cell research<br/><br>
and the arguments opposing it.}},
  author       = {{Hug, Kristina}},
  issn         = {{1648-9144}},
  keywords     = {{embryonic stem cells; embryo status; biomedical research; religion}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{107--114}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  series       = {{Medicina}},
  title        = {{Therapeutic perspectives of human embryonic stem cell research versus the moral status of a human embryo – does one have to be compromised for the other?}},
  url          = {{http://medicina.kmu.lt/0602/0602-03e.pdf}},
  volume       = {{42}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}