by Corey Lamb

Created on: July 16, 2009   Last Updated: July 19, 2009

Stem Cell Research

What is the cure to Parkinson's? Will there ever be a reliable treatment to Alzheimer's? Can man cure cancer? What used to be considered an impossibility to the world of science is now reality, with the development and use of stem cells. In modern science, stem cells can be accurately depicted as one of the most fascinating, yet controversial subjects in biology. Research on these cells is advancing knowledge in both how a living organism can develop from a single cell and how healthy cells can be used to replace damaged cells within the organism. With the continuing of this ongoing research, the possibility of cell-based treatments for disease is growing every year.

In short, stem cells are cells which hold the capability of developing into a wide variety of types of cells in the body. These cells can grow and divide without limit to replenish and restore damaged cells in a living organism, such as red blood cells, muscle cells and even brain cells. Stem cells can also develop into more important cells such as the cells created to pump a heart or the insulin-producing cells in the liver. Primarily, scientists use two different types of stem cells: Embryonic and adult stem cells. Human embryonic stem cells are the most desired and are typically taken from a human embryo created for infertility purposes only. Here lies the growing controversy over this particular form of research. Obtaining a human embryonic stem cell requires the destruction of a human embryo and/or therapeutic cloning. Such is the controversy with expecting mothers getting abortions, many religious and pro-life activists argue that the embryo, even in its first three weeks of life (which is the desired age to retrieve a stem cell), is nonetheless a human life in its own, and they refer to those scientists extracting the stem cells as first-degree murderers.

While many persist to disagree, embryonic experimentation researchers Michael J. Meyer and Lawrence Nelson argue that "Donating embryos for such research, even though it involves their destruction, can be consistent with genuine respect for them." Just as present-day human cadavers are used for dissection and further experimentation, why can't embryonic experimentation obtain the same level of acceptance and respect? Further, unlike abortions, stem cell research is done with human embryos donated or created for the sole purpose of advancing scientific development. And with the benefits of extracting stem cells

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