줄기세포 연구의 활용 가능성과 법적 문제점 - 인간생명의 시기와 관련하여 -

Abstract

With the great development of biotechnology, the scientific and medical potentiality of stem cell research has become enormous. Through the research, we would be able to cure or prevent many genetic diseases or fatal diseases in the future. We might be able to replace our sick organs by organs established from stem cell. However, there are many critical issues in stem cell research. Firstly, in order to get human stem cell, we have to destroy a fertilized egg which could be regarded as a human being or a being that has the possibility to be a human being. Secondly, the academic results from the research on human embryo stem cell could be used in human cloning. This might cause catastrophic effects on our society. Human clones might be used as sources of organs that will be transferred to human beings. To do this job successfully (Saving a human being!), the personality of human clones has to be disregarded and this trend would extend to the attitude toward human beings as well. In addition, we have no standard or rule on the relationship between a human clone and the cloned human being whose tissues was provided to clone the human clone. This will cause tremendous disorders in our society. Loss of humanity and such a chaos would never be desirable to a society where we and our future generations will live. Considering the potentiality of stem cell research, we should determine when or whether a human embryo could be regarded as a human being. If a human embryo should be considered as a human being, we have to prevent most researches on human embryo stem cell.