Do We Need Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ethical?

Stem cell research is a controversial and sensitive topic that has been debated for over two decades. Millions of people every year die from diseases and accidents, such as cancer or Alzheimer’s. Even though there have been medical advancements in the treatment of cancer, most of them cannot cure cancer completely. However, stem cells has the potential to completely cure many diseases and creating new immunizations. Dr. E Donnall Thomas began stem cell research in 1956 when he performed the first bone marrow transplant. The best source of stem cell is from human embryos. However, embryonic stem cell research is seen as especially unethical because researchers need to kill essentially very young embryos in order to obtain these stem cells. Embryonic …show more content…
Adult stem cells are an alternative to embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells can renew itself and its main role in living organisms is to maintain and repair tissues. These stem cells can be found in for example the bone marrow, heart, and the brain. This alternative does not involve killing anyone, so it may seem ethical to people who oppose the use of embryos. They are useful due to the fact that they can develop into more than one cell type(Condic). However, the problem with adult stem cells is that they are hard to find and it is even harder to extract them. Not to mention, they are multipotent, while embryonic stem cells are pluripotent. Which means that they are less useful and effective compared to embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells can repair almost any part of the human body and they can even replicate themselves indefinitely. Even though adult stem cells can be used in stem cell research, they have not provided with positive results from recent medical therapies and research. It is hard to obtain adult stem cells and it is also hard to manipulate them in labs. Embryonic stem cells are a more practical and attainable