Stem cells research essays

Stem cells research essays Stem-cell research may sound like the miraculous medical breakthrough of our time because it might hold a cure for many serious illnesses like MS and Parkinsons. However, there is a great deal of controversy involving this topic. The sources of these cells scientists are most interested in are spare embryos created in fertility clinics. These embryos become available when they are deemed unsuitable for transplantation into the womb. Another common source scientists have gone to for stem cells are the gonads of aborted fetuses (Bettelheim 1067). However, aborted fetuses and days old embryos are not the only sources of stem cells; this is where much of the debate starts. Stem cells can also be found in the adult human body-in places such as the brain, bone marrow, and some muscle tissues. Recently, scientists have even found retinal stem cells. The battle as to whether or not to fund stem cell research is divided between medical researchers and patient advocates on one side and Christ ian fundamentalists and pro-life advocates on the other. While the scientific community and patient advocates are in favor of embryonic stem cell research, Christian fundamentalists and pro-life advocates feel testing/funding should only be done using adult stem cells. According to the two sides of the issue, embryonic and adult stem cells both have their respective pros and cons. Most, including the National Institute of Health (NIH), hold that embryonic stem cell research is the more promising of the two fields. This is first because embryos are the most readily available source for stem cells. Secondly, scientists have found that embryonic stem cells are easier to work with because they are capable of changing into different types of cells (pluripotent) and able to proliferate indefinitely under laboratory conditions. Moreover, there are over 16,000 embryos created in fertility clinics every year-and the majority of these only ever make it int...