The ethical debate on whether stem cell research should be permitted has raged on for years. Those who oppose stem cell research are usually primarily concerned with the creation, treatment, and destruction of human embryos during research involving embryonic stem cells. These opponents feel that the destruction of an embryo is equivalent to ending a human life. However, scientists have recently developed new methods for producing and extracting embryonic stem cells without doing any damage to the embryos. Besides these new methods used to counter-act opponents arguments, not all stem cells have to come from embryos. Adult stem cells, amniotic stem cells, and induces pluripotent stem cells do not involve human embryos at all.
-Embyronic stem cells hold the potiential cures to many different diseases and injuries such as spinal cord injuries, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, and much more
-Help to understand human development better
-Millions of Americans suffer everyday from diseases that may be one day treated/cured by embryonic stem cells.
-Potiential to put an end to many human sufferings
Cons
-Claim destruction of any human embryo no matter how old is taking a life, or equivalent to murder
-Other sources of stem cells need to be explored more
-Believe that there has not been enough attention put towards adult stem cells which have already been used very successfully
-Also argue that the potential in umbilical cord blood stem cells has not been looked into enough either
Throughout the years different laws have been put in place regarding stem cell research. The most recent came from President Obama, over-riding previous President Bush's ban on advancements in stem cell research. With some restrictions, the President announced that federal funds may be used to conduct research. One restriction put in place includes that no federal fund may be used for the creation of any human embryo for research or cloning purposes. However, despite these restrictions, several lawsuits have still been filed regarding stem cell research and many questions have been raised regarding federal researchers access to these stem cell lines of restriction.
