Why Do We Need Embryonic Stem Cell Research?

There has been a debate about stem cell research since 1998 when the research teams of James A. Thomson of the University of Wisconsin and John D. Gearhart of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine announced the isolation of human stem cells (Farrell). But before anyone should take a side, one must know what a stem cell is. A stem cell is an unspecialized cell characterized by the ability to self-renew by mitosis while in undifferentiated state, and the capacity to give rise to various differentiated cell types by cell differentiation (Stem Cell). There are three types of stem cells in the human body: embryonic, hematoietic, and adult (Lee). Hematoietic stem cells come from the blood of the umbilical cord (Lee). Adult stem cells are taken

Some object to stem cell research on the basis that it involves the elimination of the most basic form of human life (Issitt). Former President George W. Bush strongly believed in the right to life and his polices during his terms displayed this. In 2005 and 2007, President Bush vetoed two bills for the federal funding embryonic stem cell research (Issitt). In addition to the moral issue, many cite the pitfalls of embryonic stem cell research as a reason to oppose the research. In one study, it was noted that 20 percent of rats injected with embryonic stem cells developed untreatable brain tumors (Clouthier). Since stem cells multiply so rapidly, it can be difficult to control the cells, especially if a mutation occurs. These mutations can cause cancer and other malignant disorders. Additionally, the danger to women has been brought up. They state that the increased campaign of egg donations is a threat to women because of the process the women must go through to acquire the eggs. In order to acquire the eggs, the donor must be on a hormone regiment that enlarges the ovaries and stimulates egg production. Afterward, a large needle is inserted and extracts the egg

I support the use of embryonic stem cells for research. Embryonic stem cell research has so much potential that has yet to be discovered due to federal limitations. For years, research was limited because of President Bush's votes and laws against embryonic stem cell research. Embryonic stem cell research was not allowed federal funding unless scientists used the original 71 stem cell lines created before the Bush administration, but only 21 of these cell lines were useable (Lee). The other lines were not usable because they had been degraded and contaminated (Lee). In addition to only using the existing lines, scientists could not clone the existing cells to increase the supply because that was prohibited under federal law (Lee). These restrictions have hindered stem cell research. These restrictions have also discouraged potential scientists from even entering the field of stem cell research (Pearson). The complaint that embryonic stem cell therapy does not work in due in part to the lack of