Much of the excitement about stem cell research are the medical benefits around
regenerative medicine and cloning. Stem cells do provide a large potential for
finding treatments and cures to a vast array of diseases; cancers; diabetes,
spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer's, MS, Huntington's, Parkinson's and many more.
There is really endless potential in this research area.
The use of adult-derived stem cells, from blood, skin and other tissues, has
been demonstrated to be effective for treating different diseases in animal
models. Umbilical cord-derived stem cells have also been isolated and utilized
for various experimental treatments. Another option is use of uniparental stem
cells. Although these cells lines have some disadvantages or shortcomings
compared to embryonic cell lines (they are short lived), there are a vast
potential if research is funded. The best part is that the use of adult derived
stem cells are not viewed as living by pro-life advocates.
The Cons of Stem Cell Research
The major con to stem-cell research is from the religious stance that life
begins at conception and to destroy it to be used for research is immoral and
wrong. Currently, the use of embryonic stem cells for research involves the
destruction of the blastocysts formed from laboratory-fertilized human eggs.
