Embryonic stem cell research...yay or nay?

In our day and age stem cell research has become very prominent. Attention to this topic is both good and bad. The debate around embryonic stem cell research touches on similar issues to the abortion controversy and is therefore caught up in an ongoing ethical debate.

For one, embryonic stem cell research has amazing potential. Cures for diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, some forms of cancer, diabetes, as well as a way to test new drugs are all in our future. Scientists admit that these achievements are a long way ahead, but if we don’t start now, they are even further away! We have spent so long looking for cures for these diseases and now we have the opportunity to reach for them, so why not take it?

Opponents to embryonic stem cell research are mainly against the fact that when stem cells are removed from an embryo, it is destroyed. Currently, the embryos being used for the research are the ones that are left over from fertility clinics and abortion programs. These embryos would be stored for who knows how long and basically go to waste otherwise. People argue that embryos deserve a chance to be born and stem cell research robs them of that chance. I agree that it is wrong to destroy embryos for no cause, but in the case of stem cell research they would be destroyed in order to save lives that already exist. It’s a fight between protecting an embryo’s chance to be born and saving a life that is functioning in society and affects many others in this world. Even so, what would happen to the babies that are born without parents, or family? There are already too many children without a home; it would be unwise to add to that problem.

In order to advance this science, laboratories have actually cloned embryos solely for the purpose of stem cell extraction. I agree with the regulations of countries like the US and Australia, banning the cloning of embryos (for use other than aiding a woman with pregnancy). If embryo cloning becomes an accepted procedure then where does it end? How can you say that cloning embryos just for stem cells is alright but cloning people for certain body parts isn’t? You can’t, it’s the same thing. I think that the cloning of embryos is one step too far.

There is an alternative—using adult stem cells. The problem with adult stem cells is that they are more difficult to obtain and isolate, they don’t proliferate as quickly, or have the versatility embryonic stem cells have. For these reasons, I think embryonic stem cells should be used. There are still many uses for adult stem cells (including for research into minor injuries) and I think that if possible they should be used over embryonic stem cells but I think the combination of the two will yield the best results.

Since research is just really getting started we will find out more about both types of stem cells with time. Perhaps a solution will arise that eases both sides of this moral debate. I’m excited to stay updated and see what happens!