Review of the Island: Hacking the Human Life Span

According to many men, woman, and children of all ages, we are creatures that were created by the hands of God. God has created each individual with the right to pursue happiness, and the right to live life for a certain period of time. But who decides if someone should live longer, or if someone shouldn't live at all? Is science really erasing the line that has been drawn between scientific improvements, and playing role of God? As I continue to conduct my research on this profound topic I have concluded that different types of media have been apart of taking on the role of God, and making it seem normal, and a possibility. For instance, the movie "The Island" (2005) is a futuristic film that blatantly shows how a person can create life, just to take it away again. Lincoln Six Echo (McGregor) is a clone in the movie that is realizing that his so called community of survivors is a complete lie. Lincoln Six Echo is part of a community of clones that are being grown and developed so that their buyers (genetic parent/sponsor) can harvest their organs in order to extend their life or replace anything that is damaged. Extend life? What I've always heard was that, "when it is time, it is time," I could assume that I missed the part that said, "buy another heart for one hundred million dollars and live another eighty years." Playing the role of God isn't just in the movies, it is now.

What has really stirred up the media and that relates to this topic is stem cell research. A collection of small individual cells lay in the reproductory organs of the male and female bodies awaiting their destiny. Whether or not the sperm or egg will be used or ever fused together lies in the hands of its beholder. When can we draw the line to where life starts and when it should end, and who is the person that is given that gift of choice? The sperm and the egg were created to come together and form life [Document 1]. "Embryos are in a morally unique relationship with the persons who deliberately used their gametes to bring them into existence (Nelson)." If these two cells were created and have a destiny to complete, why should someone and someone includes scientists too because they are human beings, too take that chance away? What if that embryo is the boy or girl that will find the cure for cancer or most importantly any groundbreaking cure that will change the life of another person? The chances of that are very slim, but these are chances that we have acknowledged and are willing to take.

In the film "The Island" , you can see the similarities in the ideas of life. In the film, the clones are being made to fulfill one organ or part of the body that their genetic parent/sponsor needs in order to live, live a healthier life, replace a failing organ, or extend their own life and after that the clones are killed. The clones are created and are given an education, social life, and a healthy life only so that they can be killed just for their heart, liver, lung or whatever is needed of them. The clones must be bred with a personality because the scientists found out that if they just breed the clones their organs will fail. These clones are made to be actual living human beings that are living for the sole purpose of their healthy organs. In real life the clones can be seen as tiny stem cells- embryo. The clones can be compared to stem cells because scientists are playing the role of God and they are killing innocent human beings. Unlike the clones in the movie, living until they are needed, the embryo at least has the potential to live a life that it hasn't had a chance to put a say into.

In order to understand how stem cells tie into the movie I will go a little more in depth with stem cells. A lot of people believe that stem cell research is important to continue because most scientists support the argument that stem cells are undifferentiated cells which have the ability to turn into different types of cells which are called pluripotent [Document 2]. It is called pluripotent because it has the capacity to become any cell in the human body. Scientist as well as other people in the medical field strongly agree that this is vital to help cure certain types of diseases. Stem cells are unique because they have the potential to replicate itself into any kind of tissue and that is why scientists have a lot of hope in finding cure because they believe that they can cure various diseases ranging from Alzheimer's, heart disease, paralysis, stroke and even cancer. A lot of researchers say that stem cells can change the interface of human diseases because of the cells unique ability to restore and regain tissues, bone marrow and a multitude of organs [Document 3]. Stem cells have all of this potential but no one is putting into account the way that scientists are putting research into their experiments and what cells they are using to push stem cells into a scientific pull. Scientists are using frozen embryos to further their research and these frozen embryos were once living and they are killing innocent unborn human beings just like in the movie "The Island" (Ruse and Pynes 15).

"The Island" is a recent movie that deals with cloning, which is something else that ties into stem cell research. Stem cells as I explained earlier are used to restore parts of the body that could possibly be damaged. The correct definition for stem cells is:

An unspecialized cell found in fetuses, embryos, and some adult body tissues that has the potential to develop into specialized cells or divide into other stem cells. Stem cells from fetuses or embryos can develop into any type of differentiated cells, while those found in mature tissues develop only into specific cells. Stem cells can potentially be used to replace tissue damaged or destroyed by disease or injury, but the use of embryonic stem cells for this purpose is controversial. Also called progenitor cell (Stem Cell).

This definition explains the importance of restoration in the human body. There was an excerpt online titled "YOU BE THE JUDGE: STEM CELL RESEARCH, CLONING, AND 'THE ISLAND'!" The author remained anonymous but what really caught my eye was the way that he started off talking about this very issue. "If anyone has ever wondered about the possibilities of stem cell research I'd advise you to see this movie." This leads to the movie because they are actually breeding human clones, instead of using the cells to restore the organs to a better condition. This movie is futuristic; it is supposed to symbolize what could possibly happen in the world. It is not only wrong morally, but religiously as well. This is one argument that is well talked over because a crime is being committed. Stem cell research has taken its toll in the court rooms because of issues like these- murder. Stem cell research causes a lot of controversy, ethically, morally and religiously. Background knowledge must be given in order to understand Stem Cells and their possibilities. Stem cells are the function and core of biology because they have the potential to divide and give rise to more stem cells [Document 4]. Stem cells have the potential to create new tissue for any part of the body. These cells can replenish blood cells, muscle cells, and brain cells. The issue seems simple, but stem cells are quite difficult to harvest. The best place to retrieve stem cells would be from the embryo, and there lies the debate, moral issue, and right. I would denounce stem cell research because the extraction of cells is the killing of an innocent person. Because of the usage of the embryos ethical issues have always arisen (Reaves).

An innocent human being is being killed every single time an embryo is being used for an experiment. The use of these human embryonic stem cells continues to contribute to medical and science research but at the extent of vitality. There should be boundaries placed when it comes to the heartbeat and the life of developing human embryo/fetus. "All such research must be done in a context of concern for global justice (Ruse & Pynes 115)." The sperm and ovum come together to form a zygote (the early cells which are called Stem Cells). The zygote which was formed by the two reproductive cells fuses together and starts the division of cells that continues to divide as an individual grows (Bush 9-14). These early cells are known as stem cells or fetuses if you please [Document 5]. There should be no continued research for the development of medical procedures to prolong our lives in an already overpopulated world (Nelson). I have questions of my own on this subject and one is the deciding factor that decides who is to live and who is to die; no one plays the hands of God when it comes to taking and giving life. An aged entity that has already seen the world would rather kill an innocent embryo that hasn't had the chance to put any commitment to anything. Technology has always been top of the line in the United States ranging from cloning to plastic surgery. The advancements have always geared in many directions in order to progress in medicine and the science field. Research on embryonic stem cells commits to raising ethical questions because "extracting the stem cell destroys the embryo, and thus destroys its potential for life (Bush 10)."

Another topic that relates to stem cell research and the film "The Island" (2005) is Dolly. Dolly was a sheep that was cloned from a mammary cell. Bill, and his the team of researchers repeated the process two hundred, and seventy six times before they got the procedure right. It took Dolly one hundred and forty eight days for her to be born. She was a healthy sheep, but she wasn't the only clone that was produced at the Roslin Institute and they are proud to state that the clones were made from the nucleus of embryo cells (Science Explained). As you can see it took scientists one hundred, and seventy six tries before they could actually had Dolly made. How many times do you think it will take scientists to try an experiment that will duplicate organs, let alone any science experiment that takes multiple times to get satisfied results.

It shouldn't be "an eye for an eye" when there was no crime committed but the one of unnecessary brutality. I do believe that "Life once conceived, must be protected with utmost care (Catholic Church 186)." Science is an educated guess like many other things in the world. The only thing that we can do is ask ourselves is what could possibly happen. The study of the universe can only be guessed because we as humans and even scientists have no idea what could possibly be out there. Science, like medicine, is just another educated guess because when you go to the doctors for an illness all that they are doing is checking your symptoms and matching it up with what they know. If this educated guess is supposed to be grandiose then scientists should stop giving false information and leading the scientific community with inspirations that stem cell research will be able to cure cancer and all of these other malicious diseases that have not been cured yet. These false hopes are making others want stem cell research to stay, but scientists have been working and killing these embryos with no results. The people that want the stem cell research to continue are the ones that are filled with the hope that stem cells will be able to cure these diseases when all its doing is wasting federal funds for something that is causing a lot of controversy.

Stem cells raises questions, and questions must be answered. Scientists try and answer these questions with their guessing, trying to continue research by continuing experiments by trying to find a cure (answer) to a disease, a disease which no one quite certain that a cure will be found. A lot of progress has been made in the technology field, but has anyone ever looked at moral reason? Humans always seem to devote most of their energy towards curing disease without overlooking moral concerns. Human life is a gift from our creator. Science has always generated a hope with its research to conquer diseases. The conservation of matter states that an atom cannot be created or destroyed. This law should be taken into consideration when dealing with embryos. "Embryos have a modest but genuine moral status and should not be either created or destroyed for insubstantial reasons embryos must be used or destroyed by persons (Nelson)." Stem cells have been able to restore tissue and even produce more cells but there are other ways to get stem cells. For instance, an example of this would be the use of umbilical cords.

Sixteen year old Nathan Salley made a testimony regarding the useful alternative to stem cell research and he is a very good example that it can happen; you can be helped by getting stem cells from a different source. His case is one of the many that can be used to support the act that stem cells do not need to be killed in order to complete medical breakthroughs when there are alternative ways. Nathan Salley was diagnosed at the age of eleven with acute myloid leukemia. This is a quote from his speech:

Doctors informed me at age fourteen that I needed a bone marrow transplant. They gave me three options: receive the bone marrow from a donor relative, and unrelated donor, or cord blood [...] However, at the last minute, a six of six matching cord blood unity from Spain became available (Ruse and Pynes 163-164).

This is a direct quote from Salley's testimony. Cord transplants started becoming popular in 1999. It took Salley about three weeks to regain full blood count. After that there were no signs of leukemia left in the body. There were thirty-six more cord transplants after the first which was done in 1996. (Ruse and Pynes 165). Salley has an interesting story for all to hear, the story of the stem cell debate. This proves that stem cells can help cure hundreds of diseases. The negative of using any fetus or embryo for any purpose isn't right and this conflicts with the Hippocratic Oath. The Hippocratic Oath has changed in its years but still upholds the same ideas which in modern relevance have changed since the beginning of its creation. "Never to do deliberate harm to anyone for anyone else's interest (Hippocratic Oath)." The use of embryos would conflict with this statement because it is conflicting with the oath. The Hippocratic Oath is traditionally taken by physicians so that they can practice medicine. The Oath is primarily for doctors and their individual right to commit to their patients with no harm intended (Hippocratic Oath).

Now that some doctors have went against their oath they might as well understand why doctors take this so seriously. Stem cells are the Holy Grail of medicine. There was a boy that was cured from his life-threatening disease and his doctors didn't even use a human embryo, and that is the key. His doctors drove away from controversy and used an umbilical cord which is thrown away as medical waste every time a child is born. This boy has made history because an umbilical cord was used to cure his disease. It is amazing to find out that we can avoid the murder of innocent human embryo with something we throw away everyday- umbilical cords. To give more background knowledge on this there is a fifteen minute window to gather the blood that has the potential stem cells that can be used in the future (Marin 75).

We can acknowledge the fact that stem cells can come from different places other then human embryos, but what I don't understand is that scientist continue to do the research when they know that there are other options available. Religion has to take some side in this argument. Kalbain states that the Catholic Church has strongly opposed the debates about human cloning and embryonic research. The president also takes the Catholic Church into consideration when he was deciding whether or not he should support federal funding for the continuation of this research. He met with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican, and President Bush was urged by the Pope to reject the practices that devalue and violate human life. Religion is never the one to play any roles because of state separation/church. The Catholic Church's issues always blend together with abortion and contraception but these are issues that everyone sees on the political plateau. If you look at the issue religiously the embryo has the status of a human person with entitlements of a human person the second of contraception. Stem cell research has been bringing up debates from the beginning of its research in 1991. There are other ways to get stem cells but some scientists would rather use human embryos. Stem cells are difficult to harvest but I would rather harvest what I could instead of being greedy and lazy. Because if you really think about it all scientists are doing is performing experiments and then throwing away the deceased embryos instead of putting more research into their study (Reaves).

Catholic Church's view on embryonic stem cell research. Finally, I look at the extent to which the Catholic position is unchanging and absolute [...] Catholic moral reasoning: natural law, the common good, and pro-portionalism. These three elements all reveal tensions in contemporary Catholic moral though- [...] tensions that can provide an opening for a different analysis of the use of human embryos in research (Kalbain 183-284).

The church is one place that can take the side of the human embryo that is being used for testing while having the rights of a human being. Humans have the right as a person once they are conceived. It shouldn't be "an eye for an eye" when there was no crime committed but the one of unnecessary brutality. I do believe that that "Life once conceived, must be protected with utmost care (Catholic Church 186)." Science is an educated guess like many other things in the world. The only thing that we can do is ask ourselves is what could possibly happen. The study of the universe can only be guessed because we as humans and even scientists have no idea what could possibly be out there. Science like medicine is just another educated guess because when you go to the doctors for an illness all that they are doing is checking your symptoms and matching it up with what they know. If this educated guess is supposed to be grandiose then scientists should stop giving false information and leading the scientific community with inspirations that stem cell research will be able to cure cancer and all of these other malicious diseases that have not been cured yet. These false hopes are making others want stem cell research to stay, but scientists have been working and killing these embryos with no results. The more people that want the stem cell research to continue are the ones that are filled with the hope that stem cells will be able to cure these diseases when all its doing is wasting federal funds for something that is causing a lot of controversy (Breznican).

Another popular story that you might have heard of is the story of Christopher Reeves. If you have not heard about Reeves now is a good time. Reeves was thrown from his horse and was then paralyzed from the neck down and this was considered tragic because he was an actor that played the role of Superman in the Superman saga. He was waiting on a miracle (stem cells) to cure him from his disability (Kay and Henderson 71). He could have been cured and scientists are saying that many advances have been made since his death, but of course with time there is always improvement. What Reeves was hoping for was the possibility to restore circuitry to the spinal cord. His story touched many because he was trying so hard to get back on his feet when false hopes led him down (Frieman).

Stem cell research is a difficult topic to swallow and understand. These issues have antagonized many because of the topics that come up when it is brought up. In the end who is the individual that has the power to decide if a person should live or die to extend the life of another and to end the life of one that hasn't even had the chance. Science has devoted its development to cure and help others but scientists must understand when to draw the line and leave it in the hands of God especially when it balances life and death. As you may have realized stem cell research is rising and making many improvements, but with every single improvement a life is being put on the line. Stem cell research must be stopped because scientists have found other ways to obtain stem cells and I believe that with time there will be more cures for certain diseases but as science has improved with time so will the development of other ways to treat medical blunders. These are only a few of the concerns that people should have when they are supporting embryonic/stem cell research because people must understand that there will be other ways but we just have not found them yet. What if one of the embryos that is being put up for research is the next boy or girl that will discover the cure for aids, or maybe even cancer? These are two big diseases that can alter many things, but we will never know if a chance is never given.

Sources:

Keim, Brandon (Jan 23, 2007). Hacking the Human Life. Retrieved January 24, 2007, from WIRED NEWS Web site: http://wired.com/news/technology/medtech/0,72518-0.html?tw

Kalbain, Alaine. "Stem Cells and the Catholic Church." Ruse, Michael, and Christopher A. Pynes. The Stem Cell Controversy. Amherst: Prometheus Books, 2003. 165.

Kay, Kathy and Mark Henderson. "Paralyzed Mouse Walks Again as Scientists Fight Stem Cell Ban." Ruse, Michael, and Christopher A. Pynes. The Stem Cell Controversy. Amherst: Prometheus Books, 2003. 71.

Reaves, Jessica. "TIME." The Great Debate Over Stem Cell Research. May. 07/11/2001 .

Ruse, Michael, and Christopher A. Pynes. The Stem Cell Controversy. Amherst: Prometheus Books, 2003. 15-20.