Stem Cell Research

Stem cells are cells that have the potential to become any type of cell in the body during early life. Stem cells serve as an internal repair system in many forms of tissue—they divide without limit to replenish other cells. When a stem cell divides, the new cell can either stay a stem cell or become another type of cell (such as a muscle cell, red blood cell, or a brain cell). Scientists work primarily with two types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and somatic stem cells. They use these cells in transplants to help people severe blood or immune system illnesses, as well as people with some types of cancer, and some people with non-cancerous diseases such as immune deficiency problems, autoimmune diseases, or blood disorders. A stem cell transplant involves taking healthy stem cells and putting them in the bloodstream of an ill person using an IV.
Stem cells can be taken from bone marrow, the blood stream, or the umbilical cord blood after it is detached from the newborn baby. However, stem cells can also be taken from a human embryo, which creates controversy. People who think that someone is human from the very point of fertilization are opposed to the use of such stem cells, because they consider it murder. People who have other views regarding the point at which the egg becomes human are more supportive of it.

Pros

  • Embryonic stem cells are thought to have the potential to cure spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, and hundreds of rare immune system and genetic disorders.
  • Scientists believe embryonic stem cell research will be a tremendous help in in understanding human development, as well as the growth and treatment of diseases.
  • Over 100 million Americans suffer from diseases that could potentially be cured through stem cell research.
  • Adult stem cells have already been used to cure diseases.

Cons

  • Pro-life citizens and organizations consider the destruction of a fertilized human egg to be murder, because they believe life begins at conception, and that the destruction of this life is morally unacceptable.
  • Scientists have been unable to cure any diseases using embryonic stem cells, and have arguably not payed enough attention to adult stem cells and stem cells from the umbilical cord.