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Xandria Nilsson
Mrs. Griffin B3
Intro to Writing 1010
Why Is Embryonic Stem Cell Research Shunned Upon?
Whether embryonic stem cell research is moral or not has been argued over for more than
thirty years, as it was discovered in 1981. Many factors play into this debate: religion, science,
and morality beliefs. People of all ages have been interested in this argument at one time or
another. Todays generation, made up of young adults and adolescents, will be making the final
decision as health care technology expands. By conducting embryonic stem cell research, we can
find new cures and treatments for many disorders and diseases such as: diabetes, Alzheimers,
Parkinsons, heart disease, muscular dystrophy, and so much more. But, moral questions come
into play. At what point is an embryo considered to be living? Is it always to be considered to be
living? Many religions believe that when the gametes (sex cells; ovum and sperm) form the
zygote (joining of the two gametes), which is the first step on conception, the zygote is to be
considered living
The article The Status of the Human Embryo was written by the University of London. It
was not stated when or where it was published, or who actually wrote the article. The Status of
the Human Embryo is written about how the use of embryos for cloning, or any other related use
should not be allowed under any circumstances (University of London 1), the human embryo
is to be considered living after conception. By performing embryonic stem cell research
scientists are, as former President George Bush states, taking of innocent human life in the hope
of finding medical benefits for others (University of London 2). The embryos that would be

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used for this research would only be created for destruction (University of London 2). The
definition to be considered living is: to be able to maintain homeostasis (which is the balance of
the equilibrium), to be composed of multiple cells, to undergo metabolism (which is the chemical
processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life), to be able to grow and
reproduce, to adapt to the environment, and to react to stimuli. Under that definition made by
biologists, an embryo is not to be considered living for it does not perform these functions. Bush
also stated that the use of embryonic stem cells to medical treatments is unnatural (University
of London 3). Everything in todays society is unnatural. Religions all over the world have their
own views on this controversial topic. Catholicism believes that the sperm fertilizes the ovum, to
form the zygote, it is the beginning of a new life. That statement is not incorrect, but its not
correct either. The formation of a zygote is the first step of the creation of human life, not exactly
the beginning of life itself. They also believe that embryos have every right to live as we humans
do. Embryos, even zygotes, are to be considered sacred (University of London 3) and cannot
be ended by any human agent (University of London 3), meaning the carrier of the embryo is
not allowed to take a morning after pill, and cannot get an abortion. Christianitys views on the
subject are split. Judaism believes if the embryo is outside of the uterus, it has no rights. Islam
considers the embryo to be living of the 40th day after conception. Scientifically, by day forty, the
embryo has a detectable heart beat and brain waves.
The purpose of this article is to persuade the intended audience to become pro-life, and to
shun upon embryonic stem cell research. The article creates a sense of high morality, and to get
those who are questioning their beliefs about the topic, to be persuaded towards pro-life. The
intended audience of this article appears to be for those who are younger or ignorant, for it had
an extremely limited vocabulary, and had frequent repetition. Because of the limited vocabulary,

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it was easily comprehensible. It was written for the younger people of todays newer generation,
so they can comprehend what stem cell research is, but not using scientific terms that they
wouldnt be able to understand. The article is mostly stating opinions, and could not be used as
an educational assignment, it does not have any research or evidence to support their claims. The
author of the article frequently used quotations from President George W. Bush, who was
someone with high importance, he was in charge of the U.S. government after all, and own
opinion related to the topic. By doing this, the audience, if they even knew who George W. Bush
was, would be more persuaded towards the authors own opinion and views on stem cell research.
The author inserted religious views of this topic, since religion has a high role whether if people
are pro-life or pro-science.
Another article about this controversial topic, Embryonic Stem Cell Research Does Too
Much Good to Be Evil, Says Janet Rowley, was written by Janet Rowley, a professor of medicine
at the University of Chicago, herself on March 23, 2009. There she states her opinion, embryonic
stem cell research does too much good to be evil, as it is stated in the title of her article.
According to Rowley, "there are about 400,000 human embryos in the freezers of in vitro
fertilization clinics (Rowley 1). Many of those embryos are thrown out and die. With the
permission of the parents of these embryos, they could be donated to research before they are
wasted. These embryos could create cures that benefit those who have incurable diseases and
disorders. This is a high purpose, says Rowley one that promotes both human health and
understanding (Rowley 1)
. In order to perform research on these cells, ethical guidelines, rules, and limits are to be set
based on morality. Californias Institute for Regenerative Medicine, founded in 2004, made sure
that these ethical boundaries are to be well-defined.

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Embryonic Stem Cell Research Does Too Much Good to Be Evil, Says Janet Rowleys
purpose is to persuade and inform the readers about stem cell research and persuade them that it
is right, because it is a highly controversial topic that is being argued over debating whether it is
moral or not. Rowley also tries to persuade and inform her audience about stem cell research and
to persuade them that it is a good thing to do. It creates a sense of contemplation. Rowley and the
others that she mentions in her article, they set moral standards, rules and guidelines. By doing
this, it persuades the audience who are against the research, for moral reasons, to be pro-science.
The intended audience is college students or those with a broader vocabulary since it uses the
scientific technical terms. She chose this as the intended audience because the newer generations
will be facing this controversy in the near feature as technology and healthcare expands and
improves. Rowley did not use any dialogue or quotations in her article. Instead, she stated facts
about the research.
The more successful article of the two was Embryonic Stem Cell Research Does Too
Much Good to Be Evil, Says Janet Rowley. Rowley has more background knowledge and more
research done to support her claim. The use of the more technical terms shows that she clearly
knows what she is stating when trying to persuade her audience to be pro-science. She takes the
morality values into consideration, which will persuade those who are against it, for moral
reasons, to be pro-research.
The Status of the Human Embryo and Embryonic Stem Cell Research Does Too Much
Good to Be Evil, Says Janet Rowley are two articles about whether or not embryonic stem cell
research is moral or not. Embryonic stem cell research is a highly controversial topic in todays
society. The Status of the Human Embryo is taking the pro-life side, stating that stem cell
research is immoral, unnatural, and should be shunned upon. While Embryonic Stem Cell

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Research Does Too Much Good to Be Evil, Says Janet Rowley takes the pro-science side of the
argument. It states all the benefits the research can do. Todays youth, and newer generations will
soon face this controversy in the near future. Every day, healthcare and technology expands and
new things can be done using the technology.