Stem Cell Research

Stem cell research has been a controversial topic since its birth. Of course, anything that uses an embryo would be. With a topic like this, anything but a radical opinion seems heartless. Stem cell research could open doors for science, letting us test new drugs, which could one day cure cancer or AIDS. However, is that worth the cost of a human life? It's impossible, from an unbiased standpoint, to decide which side is right in this argument.

First of all, an explanation of stem cells would be helpful. What are they? Well, stem cells themselves come from four to five day old embryos. Embryos are the beginnings of babies; tiny and unformed inside the mother. These cells are used because they have many special properties. First of all, they can divide and repair themselves for long periods of time. Secondly, they aren't specialized. This means that some of the cells aren't for eyes, some aren't for fingers, and some aren't for the brain. At this stage, every one of them is the same. Finally, they can become those special types of cells--for eyes, or fingers, or brains.

The opinion for stem cell research is a very popular one in the scientific community. There are literally countless things they can do with the ability to conduct stem cell research. They can test new drugs, to try and find cures for common, lethal diseases like cancer, AIDS, and many others. They can also be used for "cell-based therapy." Stem cells can be directed to become different types of cells--that means they can replicate into eye or liver cells, or any other kind. So, with this research, stem cells could become a source of renewable cells for an ailing body. If someone has a bad kidney, they need it replaced. Today, they would sign up on a transplant list and wait maybe years for someone to donate to them. With stem cell research, though, the cell could actually be inserted into the bad kidney and start duplicating into good kidney cells. It would be like a magical cure. Obviously, these things would be incredibly useful for today's medicine. There are far more people who need kidneys than people who are giving them.

"...it is ridiculous for people who have already decided that it is moral to kill babies in the womb to show some squeamishness about destroying human embryos in a petri dish. Hell, man, once you decide to become a child-killer, their ages no longer matter. Or the numbers. Damnation of your soul is completed with the first one." Charley Reese.

The opinion against stem cell research is really an ethical one. Some people believe that the sacrifice--or murder--of a potential human is a high crime. To this,