Behind the Stem Cell Controversey

Reaves, Jessica. "The Great Debate over Stem Cell Research." TIME Magazine. TIME 
              Inc., 11 July 2001. Web. 25 October 2011.

In this article, author Jessica Reaves discusses the different controversies surrounding stem cell research. She explains the basics before highlighting both scientific and political debates concerning the topic. She also demonstrates different methods that could be used in place of stem cell research to light and discusses the pros and cons.

Reaves' intended audience is anyone who wishes to learn more about stem cell research and the debates surrounding it in particular. Her main intent is to show out both sides of the story and highlight that stem cell research is a difficult subject to form an opinion on due to the undeniable points that can be made from both supporters and non-supporters.

The article begins by telling why stem cell research is controversial in the first place. It then moves on to political and scientific debates surrounding stem cell research to show that both the government AND scientists are concerned about the subject. Reaves uses supports from both supporters and non-supporters to strengthen her writing.

At the end of the article, Reaves discusses possible alternatives to using embryos in stem cell research. However, she notes that these methods (using adult stem cells instead, for example) do not work as well. Adult cells do not grow as fast or replicate as easily as young stem cells.

Reaves shows no bias in her writing. She shows the sides and supports of both pro-life advocates AND scientists and makes valid points for each.

This article has many good, almost haunting quotes that could be used in support of stem cell research. One of the best is, "... to turn back now, researchers say, would be... turning our backs on a bright, sustaining light because we are terrified of the shadows it creates." This could be very useful in research paper supporting stem cell research.

This article could be extremely helpful in my research paper. It does a great job of showing both sides of the controversey in a condensed manner, and it has also opened my eyes to the fact that there are other methods that could be used. For my next article, I will most likely explore these methods more in-depth.