Romeo And Juliet With West Side Story Essays -

Romeo And Juliet With West Side Story Story are two very similar movies. Though they are alike in many ways, they are also very different as well. The two movies mirror each other all the way until the fight in West Side Story and until Mercutio dies in Romeo and Juliet. When Tony dies in West Side Story and Maria, acting as a "Juliet", the major differences start to show. In Romeo and Juliet, the two lovers both die, in West Side Story, Maria lives. Instead of fighting between families, as the Montagues and the Capulets, West Side Story brings out the gang activity, Sharks vs. Jets. Some of the characters in West Side Story are the same personality-type as the ones in Romeo and Juliet. These characters: Maria as a Juliet, Tony as Romeo, Bernardo as Tybalt, Anita as the Nurse, etc., have the same attitudes. These are only a few of the similarities. The opening scenes in both movies are similar also. In West Side Story the Sharks harass a man, as the members of his gang show up to his side. They don't exchange words; they just start singing and dancing. This is when the cops come to break up the two gangs, just like Esclas(?) did in Romeo and Juliet. There is another time when Riff talks Tony into attending the dance at the gym as Benvolio talks Romeo into attending the ball. At the dance, there appears a young girl, Maria, just as in Romeo and Juliet, the exact ideal when Juliet appears. When Anita is telling Maria that she can't possibly be in love with Tony; for he is an American, and Lady Capulet and the Nurse speak to Juliet about the differences between the two families. Both girls know that their love is chancing, they still are strong-willed in keeping it. Both girls are also there to marry people they are not in love with. And again, their Ladies tell them that they should just marry who they are told to marry. In West Side Story, Tony and Maria first meet at the dance just as in Romeo and Juliet, where they both first meet at the ball. It is like love at first sight in both stories. The balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet also reflects the fire escape scene in West Side Story. Both men speak to the girls as a part of the sky, the sun, moon, etc. Anita finds out about the love between Tony and Maria, as the Nurse with Romeo and Juliet, yet both are supportive. The gang activity in West Side Story doesn't come that close with the gang activity of today. Today, gangs are a lot more violent, there is a harsher way to prove your loyalty whereas today, like having to kill someone or cut off their fingers, etc. In West Side Story, to be in gangs you must just prove your loyalty through your honesty. In gangs today, they surely don't sing and dance around. The names that the gangs have in West Side Story are not harsh names, either. Today, they are ugly names with harsh meanings. The only similar things with the gangs today and in West Side Story that I have seen is that they stick together, push their publicity, and have certain things about them that they all do together. One example, being the color, number, race, name, etc., that today's gangs use to distinguish themselves with also is used in West Side Story. Roxanne and Cyrano de Bergerac also have similar qualities to them. First, the names of Roxanne and C. D Bales, maybe standing for Cyrano de Bergerac and of course both girls are named Roxanne. In both movies, the whole town loves a man, but the man fears that he could never have the love of a woman because he has such a big nose. Both movies strike a universal note because maybe that we all have some type of thing or way about us that we secretly fear people may ridicule. In Cyrano de Bergerac, Cyrano falls in love with Roxanne, as does Christian. This reflects Bales falling in love with, again, Roxanne just like Chris. In Roxanne, she falls in love with Chris first because of the outer features, but he doesn't know how to talk to woman. C.D Bales is good with woman and gentle with them, just like in Cyrano, how Roxanne is in love with Christian's face and Cyrano's words. There is also a

Book Review of Domestic Violence Essays

Book Review of Domestic Violence Essays Book Review of Domestic Violence Essay Book Review of Domestic Violence Essay T. B. James has written a hard-hitting and incisive book focusing on current myths about domestic violence in the United States that turns the conventional approach on its ear (Domestic Violence: The 12 Things You Arent Supposed to Know, 2003). A practicing attorney in Minnesota and founder/director of Better Resolutions Mediation Service, Jamess short, quotable book focuses on empirical studies and an extensive review of the literature to make a powerful argument that women are as violent as men, while our legal system is biased against men and refuses to hold females accountable when they are violent dames, 2003). Based on this information, James first twelve chapters are small essays, each addressing one of the dozen things cited in his title. In the 13th and final chapter, he marshals his chilling conclusions from the research literature: men are victimized more often than women and violence against them by females is Just as severe as violence against women. Women are the primary abusers of children and most of their young victims are male. Criminal statistics show, in spite of a rising chorus of voices denouncing violence against women, that violence against males over at least the past twenty ears has been rising, while conversely, violence against women has been decreasing. The same statistics reveal that violence perpetrated by females, in general, has been on the rise dames, 2003). In his most startling chapters, James makes a forceful but controversial assertion that domestic violence against men, ratner tnan raclal crlmes, are tne most under-reported crimes, cltlng Tactors tnat include masculine cultural conditioning about not admitting they are victims and mens real fears about seeking Justice in a legal system that favors women. James demonstrates systemic bias by some lawyers, police and Judges toward men based n the assumption that they are more violent. Assumptions that have been uncritically accepted by many in the legal system include the belief that women are rarely violent, except in self-defense situations dames, 2003). Thomas also cites chilling statistics showing males, not females, as victims of bias in the legal system, noting that men are charged and convicted for all crimes proportionately far more often than females, and when convicted for essentially the same crimes, even capital crimes, face far more serious sanctions (including longer sentences, a vastly higher ikelihood of execution and far more restrictive conditions under their sentences) dames, 2003). A glaring example of this bias is that women, as the primary abusers of children, face minimal consequences for their actions. Sexual abuse of children, while representing less than ten percent (10%) of abuse crimes against them, are primarily committed by men and yet are prosecuted far more often and more forcefully than physical abuse by adult females, which constitute the vast majority of such crimes. When child custody is an issue, males are at an even greater isadvantage-in spite of the clear statistics about the preponderance of child abusers being female. Even when there is significant evidence that a mother is not a fit parent, fathers are correct in their assessment that they are unlikely to win sole custody, primary custody, or be able to significantly limit their childrens contact with abusive mothers dames, 2003). James also skewers the current research base for domestic violence, noting that much of the purported research into domestic violence is characterized by critical flaws; on an intellectual level, these problems included eep-seated prejudices against males based on many researchers feminist-based assumptions about the inherently violent nature of males, the unacceptability of all male violence (even if it is for self-defense) against females, and the presumptively defensive or insignificant nature of violence by women toward their male victims. Data about female perpetrators of child abuse are apparently overlooked dames, 2003). In the domestic violence research world, feminist assumptions-many contradicting better designed studies or more reliable crime data- have tremendous nfluence on how questions are framed, what questions are asked, who is surveyed, and how slanted data are then interpreted to support these pre-existing assumptions. Such studies are based on a circular logic that calls women victims and men batterers dames, 2003). As an example, James cites studies that ask women to report if they have ever been abused according to an extremely generous definition of abuse, then assumes that all instances of abuse reported has been, naturally, perpetrated by their male domestic partners. This data is then reported as reliable, and more importantly, alid. The data is then interpreted to make questionable or untenable conclusions that support the original, simplistic assumptions dames, 2003). James portrays a legal system apparently so intent on correcting past injustices against women that males are now consistently held to a much tougher standard. Not only are females given the benefit of the doubt, much of their violence is viewed as purely defensive or due to Tactors excuslng tnem Trom responslDlllty wnen tney are vlolent. Many people In our Justice system have bought into specious arguments supporting a gender-based ythology as well as uncritically accepting as truth a specific ideology that not only skews the realities of domestic violence but has profoundly negative consequences for males-victims and perpetrators-of all ages dames, 2003). Hard-core feminists who view all women as incapable of violence and all men automatically guilty because of their gender and domestic violence advocates who dont care about the facts will surely attack this book on emotional grounds, but they will have trouble logically refuting the authors impressive grasp of the research literature, including some of its glaring flaws. Advocates of a balanced and fair approach to domestic violence, individuals and organizations fighting for the civil rights of men and equal Justice under the law regardless of gender should welcome this powerful indictment of our societys response to domestic abuse and the systematic mistreatment of males under our current approach dames, 2003). summary As a straight, African-American, heterosexual female I can assure you that Mr. James is well off the mark with this book. Though it would be nice if the stats were skewed and men were truly less responsible for violence in the household, it is imple not the case. This book is irresponsible scholarship, and a prime example of the type of prejudice that exists against the Domestic Violence movement as a whole. It is no longer a feminist issue, but rather a family issue. Domestic Violence is a serious matter, that deserves serious scholarship, and this book does not meet that standard. On any given day the number of male perpetrators of Domestic Violence is ten times that of female. Furthermore, it is almost never the case that a male victim has suffered perpetual abuse or lived in a controlling patriarchal household for the uration of the relationship, as is the case with an overwhelming number of female victims. The issue is real, and despite efforts by radical pro-male groups it is impossible to suggest that the number of men affected by domestic violence is anywhere near that of female victims. As much as people may want to believe there is a conspiracy against males via the Domestic Violence issue, I submit that a battered woman, living in a patriarchal and controlling environment, has neither the time, interest, nor ability to perpetuate such a conspiracy. Be a man, and help stop the violence. Criminal behavior is criminal behavior. Most women, like most men, do not perpetrate violence. The men and women who do such things should be treated as criminals. Violent behavior should not be ignored, because of the gender of the perpetrator. Nor should government services be deliberately denied to men, as they are in the State of Washington, where it was determined that any government aid directed to victimized men would be gender specific and; therefore, terribly unfair. Reference James, T. B. (2003). Domestic Violence: The 12 Things You Arent Supposed to Know. Chula Vista, California: Aventine Press, 2003.

Managing Business Information (report) Assignment

Managing Business Information (report) - Assignment Example Manipulation as well as plotting of data is also possible with the help of few simple commands. Even so, while defining database, it can be outlined as the prime technique for developing an information system in the modern business process. The databases are used in e-commerce and internet based marketing systems. It is very important for information system developers to have detailed knowledge and understanding regarding data structure and data analysis. The spreadsheets and database are highly used by organisations for proper running of their business. However, it is noticed that the use of database is preferred against that of spreadsheets, in present business scenario. The report details the difference between use of database and spreadsheets, along with differences between the two. It also highlights the database and spreadsheets models, which are used in the recent years for development of the informative system in an organisation. The strength and weakness of both the processe s are elaborated in the report; so as to determine the best tool used in the present world of management (Baxter, 2006). Spreadsheets are used traditionally by accountants to prepare financial budgets and had helped them to identify the financial position of companies. It is the main software for companies, which assist them to track the basis of numerical information and evaluate the same quickly and easily, compared to paper calculations. It is used widely for accounting and financing purposes and also, to record transactions made by the companies. Spreadsheets have helped accountants to replace the manual pages in ledgers, where the income and expenditure are detailed in columns and rows. The users of spreadsheets can build different functionalities, which assist them in understanding data without the need of any mathematical skill. One of the main advantage of the spreadsheet software is that it is customised with macros and buttons and thus, makes it

Money as Debt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Money as Debt - Essay Example But as soon as people realize this a protection right has been created which limits banks money making called â€Å"9 to 1 Fractional Reserve System†. Basically, if the bank has $1K cash with them the they can lend up to $9K to borrowers based on the 1:9 fractional reserve system regulations. This does not mean that banks cannot limit the earning of money up to $9K. In reality, they can make money up to $90K which makes it 1 to 90 ratios. For instance, if the bank initially had $1K cash in possession, it means the bank can lend up to $9K to public. So, we can assume that if a person X takes the loan of $9K to buy a car from PersonY. Based on the person X’s promise to pay the money back, bank will create $9K cash and loan it to person Wythe tactical part is the Person Y will then deposits $9K in the bank. Based on the 9:1 federal reserved regulation, the bank can then reserve $900 ($9K/10) and loan out the rest which is $8100 ($90:$8100 =1: 9). Moreover, it moves on to the next loan. Transaction until the bank cant reserve money anymore. So the video explains how banks

Final Examination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final Examination - Essay Example On this basis, the performance evaluation process will help in identifying the various roles of an employee, and the desired results/ outcomes of their duties within the organization. This process helps in communicating the desired outcome of their duties, and how the organization will measure their efficiency in meeting its objectives (Fried and James, 2002). This process is also important because it establishes the progress of an employee under consideration. On this basis, the periodic performance evaluation process makes it possible for the organization to provide continuous coaching, training and education to the employee under consideration. This will help in developing the various skills of the employees; as a result, the organization will have a highly talented and skillful individual to work for it (Fried and James, 2002). There are a variety of good rating criteria for performance appraisals. One of the best methods to rate employees is the use of the BARS, which stands for behavioral anchored rating scale. This method allows a manager or s supervisor to provide a description on the employee’s behavior in relation to their teamwork, delivery of results, leadership skills and communications. This type of rating, gives managers the ability to provide their own reasons as to why they rate a particular employee in the particular manner. On this basis, this type of rating has an effect in reducing errors that managers can create while rating their employees (Fried and James, 2002). This is because this type of rating defines the dimension of a job that an employee does. This type of rating also identifies the various areas that are needed for training and development. However, the only disadvantage with this method of rating is that it is time consuming to develop. In carrying out a performance review, a manager/ supervisor will need data. To collect data, a manager needs to involve the employees by asking them to submit a self-review of themselves. This gives employees a sense of control, and an opportunity to be heard by the management under consideration (Fried and James, 2002). A self review will give the employee an opportunity to remind the management of some of their important contributions. The manager will also collect data/ information from other stakeholders of the business organization. This includes customers who might be asked to review the performances of an employee under consideration. Other methods of data collection include observing the performance of the employee by the organization, for purposes of recording their strengths and weaknesses. There are four main types of rating errors. This includes (Fried and James, 2002); Halo effect Halo effect involves the influence of an individual’s character based on the overall impression of the individual under consideration. Personal bias This involves rating an individual based on whether the supervisor likes him or not. Contrast effect. Contrast effects in volve making a comparison between the employees work performance, as opposed to the established standard set by the organization. Distributional errors. This involves generalized ratings, such as good, below average, excellent, without basing the rating criteria on an accurate data or knowledge.

Impact of Fatigue on the Workplace

Impact of Fatigue on the Workplace Introduction Exposure to work-related fatigue is rising in todays 24-hour culture, which is progressively dominated by knowledge work. Fatigue from a medical point of view refers to a state of weakness of the body and the mind that affects everybody (Phillips, 2015). Fatigue is mostly related to exertive situations of work. Fatigue is an intricate problem that can be ascribed to numerous factors. Hence, it is problematic to define (Phillips, 2015). This essay seeks to explain the idea of fatigue and also discuss its effects in the working place. The paper then further discusses the types of workplaces, and work settings that the fatigue exists; the safety and health effects, both acute and chronic that may be associated with exposure to fatigue.It also discusses the federal and state agencies and standards used to regulate the hazard; traditional means of monitoring fatigue and measuring the effects it has the working place; Analysis of the possible causes of the fatigue. Finally, discuss various countermeasures to be used to manage fatigue in the workplace. Causes of Fatigue in the Workplace Fatigue is mainly a problem in safety sensitive areas, such as transport. The costs of fatigue are broadly studied in professional settings. There are numerous factors at both; in the place of work and out of the location of work which can impact levels of fatigue. The most significant factor that causes fatigue is the lack of enough sleep. In addition to the lack of sleep, fatigue can be induced by the type of work done and on the coworker. Occupational Safety Health (OSH) proposes that there are four categories of work in this regard. Fatigue can be induced through any of these four categories. These groups include self-generated stress, healthy work, poorly organized work, intrinsically stressful work. Self-generated stress occurs when a worker creates his/her stressors because of individual choices. ÂÂ  A person in this group might be trying to do many jobs, or agreeing to unrealistic demands on themselves (Rahman et al., 2017).Healthy work is work that is pleasing, motivating, satisfying and exciting. A valuation of this kind of job discloses this type of work does not induce fatigue to the worker directly rather it induces stress to resources. Poorly organized work is usually pleasing and fulfilling but structured in such a way that it becomes difficult for most people doing the work to cope with. Jobs in this category can be done safely but are often being worked too many hours in each week(Rahman et al., 2017). This can quickly induce fatigue to the person involved. The last group of work may be essentially more problematic to handle than others. Some cases of work that may be difficult to handle are work that is emotionally challenging, draining or even work that involve s long periods of intense concentration; work that has high costs from error (medicine, policing air traffic control, social work) (Han et al.,2014). The Safety and Health Effects of Fatigue Fatigue is experienced by everyone irrespective of abilities, skills, and training. The most common effects of fatigue include poor judgment, information processing decrease of attentiveness and work motivation, longer reaction time, reduced concentration, and problems with memory. Studies show that fatigue in workplaces costs over 18 billion $ a year in the US (Caruso, 2014). Also, fatigued workers have deprived communication with their environment and get irritated easily. Therefore, a fatigued employee is possibly dangerous to themselves and their fellow employees, and most of the unfortunate incidents are found among fatigued workers. Serious accidents that have been reported in recent five decades have been credited to workers fatigue. The Three Mild, The Challenger Explosion,The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill,American Airlines Flight 1420 Crash incidents are considered to be the most disastrous incident on U.S. soil; all these accidents are attributed to human error (Caruso, 2014). Chronic effects of fatigue may follow chronic exposures to severe fatigue or portray a continuous failure of adequate rest. Continuous exposure to severe fatigue causes chronic circadian disruption of the immune response and intensify risks of emerging cardiac diseases (Boivin Boudreau, 2014). The distraction of the daily regulation of human transcriptome is another mechanism behind fatigue. Also, postponing sleep by four hours for three successive days has led to decrease of the human blood transcriptome. Fatigue also alters hormonal and sleepiness cycles and the lipid and glucose metabolism, which may lead to the development of other diseases like obesity. Studies have shown that severe fatigue cumulatively rises the rate at which performance declines across wakefulness (Caruso, 2014). Fatigue favors sleeping illnesses such as insomnia and hinders with behavior. Insomnia is defined as the incapacity to sleep and to remain asleep for a desired period. It is a very common sleep illness that is related to unbalanced work hours. Sleep hypopnea is sleep disorder which is very common among overweight men who often snore. This condition is not caused by fatigue directly, but it is associated with fatigue in a way that it causes sleep deprivation which increases the fondness for food with high calories that may cause overweight and metabolic changes (Caruso, 2014). It may also affect the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular functions by altering hormonal and sleepiness cycles and increase peptic ulcer and symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome. Standards Used to Regulate Work Fatigue Reducing fatigue involves both state and company regulation and control as well as the efforts of the workers. OHS laws have been designed to guarantee that the health and security of everybody in the workplace is keenly observed. Every employer is urged to offer a possible working environment which is safe and does not risk the health of employees. Workers also have an obligation to take care of their health and wellbeing and that of their coworkers and follow measures the management takes to conform with OHS laws.There are also various international standards that have been in place to help regulate fatigue in the workplace.For example, the International Safety Management Code states that if fatigue, lack of adequate rest, or excessive hours of work are or should be apparent, the employer should intervene to solve the problem immediately. All this laws and standards are put in place to help the employers and employees manage fatigue effectively. Fatigue Measurement and Monitoring Studies show that fatigue is a complex problem that cannot be simply monitored and measured in working place(Wright et al., 2013). Most workers are unwilling to express signs of fatigue. Also, no instrument has been designed to measure fatigue, because of definitional difficulties of fatigue, the huge effects fatigue has on human skills, and multiple causes of fatigue. However, to be able to manage fatigue in the workplace effectively, fatigue must first be identified, measured and then analyze their causes. There exist very many tools available to be used for this purpose including articles, books, rules, and questionnaires. Some instruments are inaccurate and inconclusive. It is, therefore, important to identify the most appropriate for the workplace and acquire sufficient knowledge about the various benefits and shortcomings of each instrument in the workplace. Availability of this instruments allows the management and employees to identify, measure and manage fatigue in their pla ce of work, determine the useful methods for evading fatigue or the probability of it occurring.They are also able to study some managing strategies to be used to control fatigue and perform through accident surveys after the occurrence of problems induced by fatigue.The measurement carried out in the workplace can determine one dimension of fatigue or multiple dimensions. The one-dimensional scale is the most important dimension that is used for measuring fatigue. Its variety is mainly used for research and clinical purposes. Multi-dimensional assessment of fatigue (MAF) is another type of subjective quantification of fatigue.It indicates the degree of fatigue experienced by a worker one week ago.However, the Piper Fatigue Scale is the most accurate scale for quantification of fatigue. It contains various additional features to measure how fatigue interferes with daily living activities and the timing of fatigue. The second method of identifying fatigue is by investigating the various correlates of fatigue which include sleep and depression. These correlates are used to predict if a worker suffers from effects of fatigue. Its typical application is a valuation of fatigue for academic researchers. There exist various methods of measuring how tired a person is. Epworth Sleepiness Scale is one of the common standard methods used. It illustrations how a worker is likely to sleep during the daytime or working periods (Dawson et al., 2014). Another instrument used in fatigue measurement is the Horne-Ostberg Questionnaire (HOQ). The questionnaire contains nineteen questions that aim to determine when respondents would desire to awake or sleep. (Dawson et al.,2014). There are more other instruments used for measuring and identifying fatigue. This research mainly focuses on the three most important that have been discussed above. The other common methods include: Sleep questionnaires, sleep diaries, a ctigraphy, and polysomnography, symptom distress scale (SDS) 13-items questionnaire (Dawson et al.,2014). Fatigue can also be measured physiologically through various methods. These methods include eye blink rates, the temperature of the skin, and response and reaction time. Conclusion ÂÂ   As discussed above fatigue can be caused by very many factors in the workplace. It is there necessary to come up with multiple tactics to address various types and causes of this hazard. These strategies can be classified into two categories: Operational strategies which are used during the job; preventive strategies which are mostly implemented before working hours and during rest time (Darwent et al., 2015). Different methods can be applied in the preventive strategy. Most of them help to relieve fatigue symptoms temporarily.These strategies include: minimize sleep loss, teaching healthy sleeping behaviors to the workers, and stimulators (Darwent et al., 2015). It is important to note that laws and compliance cannot resolve all the issues connected to fatigue. The workers behavior is also significant. The workers are advised to rest and avoid caffeine and alcohol before sleeping. It is highly recommended to spend most of the free time in daylight and to participate variou s activities to promote activeness during the day. Recommendation Work fatigue is among the top ten issue in the modern industry, mainly due to long duty periods, circadian rhythms distraction and continuous sleep debt. The full understanding and further evaluation of the potentials of various preventive strategies, and individual fatigue mitigation management systems is recommended. Additional research should be done on the different methods of measuring and quantifying dynamics of transient, circadian biologic clock and cumulative sleep, and recovery to help in efficient management of fatigue in the workplace. Furthermore, a software tool to be used for fatigue prediction should be developed. References Dawson, D., Searle, A. K., Paterson, J. L. (2014). Look before you (s) sleep: evaluating the use of fatigue detection technologies within a fatigue risk management system for the road transport industry. Sleep medicine reviews, 18(2), 141-152. Han, K., Trinkoff, A. M., Geiger-Brown, J. (2014). Factors associated with work-related fatigue and recovery in hospital nurses working 12-hour shifts. Workplace health safety, 62(10), 409-414. Rahman, H. A., Abdul-Mumin, K., Naing, L. (2017). Psychosocial Work Stressors, Work Fatigue, and Musculoskeletal Disorders: Comparison between Emergency and Critical Care Nurses in Brunei Public Hospitals. Asian Nursing Research. Wright, K. P., Bogan, R. K., Wyatt, J. K. (2013). Shift work and the assessment and management of shift work disorder (SWD). Sleep medicine reviews, 17(1), 41-54. Boivin, D. B., Boudreau, P. (2014). Impacts of shift work on sleep and circadian rhythms. Pathologie Biologie, 62(5), 292-301. Dawson, D., Searle, A. K., Paterson, J. L. (2014). Look before you (s) sleep: evaluating the use of fatigue detection technologies within a fatigue risk management system for the road transport industry. Sleep medicine reviews, 18(2), 141-152. Darwent, D., Dawson, D., Paterson, J. L., Roach, G. D., Ferguson, S. A. (2015). Managing fatigue: It is about sleep. Accident Analysis Prevention, 82, 20-26. Caruso, C. C. (2014). Negative impacts of shift work and long work hours. Rehabilitation Nursing, 39(1), 16-25. Phillips, R. O. (2015). A review of definitions of fatigue-And a step towards a whole definition. Transportation research part F: TrafficPsychology and Behavior, 29, 48-56.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research Essay -- use of stem cells in regenerativ

Advancements in medical technology has allowed for a new understanding of stem cells and further developments in research. The use of stem cells in regenerative medicine may hold significant benefits for those suffering from degenerative diseases. To avail such advancements in stem cell research could see the alleviation or complete cure of afflictions that take the lives of millions worldwide each year. (McLaren, 2001) A stem cell 1 is able differentiate into any somatic cell found in the human body, including those identical to itself. Differentiation is a cellular process whereby a stem cell will divide into a specialised cell, for example a neuron2. To harness the unique cellular function of a stem cell could mean the cultivation of entirely new organs; saving countless lives and resolving acute organ transplant shortages. (Healey, 2007) Although stem cell research poses a considerable breakthrough in regenerative medicine, it raises serious ethical controversy. A specific type of stem cell used in regenerative research is an embryonic stem (ES) cell; harvested through the destruction of human embryos. (Hurlbut, 2006) This poses a significant ethical dilemma, as ES cells are sourced from pre-implantation embryos leftover from In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). The destruction of embryos is seen by many as an abuse of human life, an exploitation of those that are living, but cannot decide their own fate. (Masters, 2005) Before ES cell research is to make a positive impact on modern medicine and the global scientific co mmunity, this ethical predicament must first be considered. Embryonic stem cell research will allow for an emerging era of medicine, where researches will be capable of providing a cure for many of todays degene... ...velopment, Monash University, Australia Fuchs, E 2008, Stem Cells: Biology, Ethics and Potential for Medicine, L'annuarie du College de France, France Denker, H 2006, Potentiality of Embryonic Stem Cells: An Ethical Problem Even With Alternative Stem Cell Sources, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany Scott, C 2008, Stem Cells: new frontiers of ethics, law and policy, Stanford University, United States of America Healey, J 2007, Cloning & Stem Cell Research, Volume 265 edn, The Spinney Press, Sydney, Australia Morgan, S 2006, From Microscopes to Stem Cell Research: discovering regenerative medicine, White-Thomson Publishing, Oxford, United Kingdom Dowswell, P 2000, Genetics: the impact on our lives, Hodder & Wayland, London, United Kingdom Maters, C 2005, DNA and your body: what you need to know about biotechnology, UNSW Press, Sydney, Australia