Embryonic Stem Cell Research Pros and Cons

Filed under: Embryonic Stem Cell Research - 12 Dec 2011  | Spread the word !

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The embryonic stem cell research is a highly debated subject, which raised many controversies throughout the years. This is because the embryonic stem cell research has both pros and cons, and people can weigh them depending on their values, standards and knowledge. Prior to listing the pros and cons, we should clarify what is embryonic stem cell research, more exactly. Well, embryonic stem cell research is based on stem cells, which are non-specialized cells found in the human body and which have the property of multiplying and creating other types of specific cells. While stem cells can be found in every living body, the truth is that fetus stem cells are far more powerful and potent.

So embryonic stem cell research implies special studies, performed on stem cells which are grown in laboratories. As I mentioned before, stem cells can create other types of cells, including brain, tissue, blood, or muscle ones. This amazing property makes for the first embryonic stem cell research pro – the fact that it can find cures for a wide array of diseases. Some of the medical problems that scientists hope to cure through embryonic stem cell research are Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and heart diseases. Other disorders can also find their cure due to embryonic stem cell research: birth defects, type 1 diabetes, spinal cord injuries and cancer. Moreover, embryonic stem cell research can also be useful regarding transplants, as it can reduce their risk. It can even replace and repair damaged organs, so transplants will no longer be necessary.

The embryonic stem cell research cons refer to ethical issues. This is because embryonic stem cell research is mainly carried on aborted fetuses, as researchers take up tissue from aborted embryos in order to get the study material needed for the research. As a result, many people accuse researchers of messing with human life and trying to play God. The response is obvious: scientists say that the outcome of embryonic stem cell research must overcome the ethical issues, because the medical breakthroughs can benefit the entire human kind. So these are the embryonic stem cell research pros and cons, but it is only up to you to decide if its benefits outweigh the ethical concerns.

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Embryonic Stem Cell Research – Where Does It Start From

Filed under: Embryonic Stem Cell Research - 06 Dec 2011  | Spread the word !

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Nowadays, the advances in the medical field allowed for new treatments to be discovered and modern equipments to be released. While scientists are constantly finding cures for various conditions, more and more diseases are emerging every year. Like many other breakthroughs in medicine, the embryonic stem cell research is highly debated as well. The thing is that embryonic stem cell research can actually save many lives, if scientists are given permission to carry on with their research. This is why people should learn more about embryonic stem cell research and the benefits it can bring to our lives.

The best way to understand embryonic stem cell research better is to find out where does it start from. Well, on contrary to people’s beliefs, embryonic stem cell research is not conducted on humans. Like the name suggests, embryonic stem cell research is based on experiments made on cells. And what many people fail to know is where do these cells come from. Well, embryonic stem cells are not only extracted from deceased babies. People have the wrong conception that the embryonic stem cell research is conducted after an abortion.

There are cases, though, when parents who suffered a miscarriage are choosing to donate the cells of the baby in order for them to be used in the embryonic stem cell research. The truth is that the best embryonic cells come from human blastocysts, meaning the stage in which the fetus is 4 weeks old. Most of these cells are grown in vitro, and they are extracted from the fertilized embryo. As a result, the embryo is destroyed, which is the reason behind all the ethical concerns. However, many women choose to donate their eggs for embryonic stem cell research purposes, and as they are grown in vitro, this should not be an issue.

Moreover, there are also other types of cells that are used in embryonic stem cell research, like umbilical cord stem cells, placenta derived stem cells, and even adult stem cells, which are extracted from adult tissues. So this is where the embryonic stem cell research starts from. You are the only one deciding whether embryonic stem cell research is ethical or not, but there is no doubt that it can save lives and that people should get informed before talking against it.

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