Unlocking the Potential of Stem Cells

In an age of stunning advancements in the fields of science and medicine, perhaps one of the most promising breakthroughs is the discovery and use of stem cells. While the two types of stem cells; adult and embryonic, each hold enormous potential for the advancement of medicine, their origins are frequently surrounded by controversy. Specifically, embryonic stem cells have become the center of a worldwide debate in recent years because the creation and research of these cells causes dissension when not in accordance with certain religious and moral convictions. Funding for research involving stem cells is limited, so it has become increasingly difficult to achieve success with these cells. Embryonic stem cell research, a scientific innovation that has the potential to save lives, should be continued and supported by the public.

Embryonic stem cell research provides an efficient way of using spare embryos that would not otherwise be used in fertility treatments. Perhaps the largest objection to this form of stem cell research is that an embryo must be destroyed in order to extract a stem cell line However, embryonic stem cell lines that are used are obtained “from an embryo generated for reproductive purposes that is no longer needed for that purpose”, and would have been destroyed and discarded anyway (Kirchstein). Clearly, if these embryos are not used for their originally intended purpose, they should be utilized in other ways instead of being disposed of. Using spare embryonic cells in order to continue valuable scientific research is a superior alternative to discarding this rich source of research material. In fact, most of the embryos used for this research have passed the date when they can even be used in fertilization t...

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...e are currently no treatment options. Clearly, embryonic stem cells provide an amazing leap forward in the medical fields, and have the potential to save lives.

As the need for new cures to life-threatening illnesses rises, scientists are increasingly looking towards stem cell research to provide the answers they need. Despite the heated controversy that surrounds this research, the results of countless experiments have had proven success. Therefore, it seems unreasonable that stem cell research would not be the most viable option when considering the treatment of diseases and injuries. A pressing need for treatments to previously incurable illnesses can be addressed through ardent research of embryonic stem cells. The continuation and support of embryonic stem cell research is crucial in the field of regenerative medicine, and in the effort to save human lives.