PLEASE ANSWER: What are the advantages/disadvantages of stem cell research?

Answer 1

Advantages: Potential cures for a wide range of diseases.

Disadvantages: Conservative Americans lose another battle in the culture war raging in this country. Stem cell research is closely tied to abortions. Stem cells are taken from fetuses that have already been aborted, and would normally just be medical waste. It takes a tragic life choice and tries to make some good come from it. But there are those who (understandably) want all abortions banned. No abortions means no embryonic stem cells, and no research. Stem cells however can still be obtained from the umbilical cord causing no harm to mother or child.

It is because of this that there is no need to ban stem cell research. As long as abortions are legal and voluntary, there will be a ready supply of experimental material. If it happens that the pro choice front loses the culture battle, then stem cells can still be harvested from umbilical cords. We should be doing all we can to cure these diseases and increase the quality of life for people. Those who are radical members of the pro life front need to remember that life isn't an on or off situation, its a range of grey area that is determined by quality of life.

Answer 2

Some people are misinformed about this. When a man and a woman get together, like each other a WHOLE lot (some might even say love), they have sex. Then, his sperm fertilizes her egg and 9 months later VOILA a baby is born! This isn't exactly what happens with stem cell research. We're not taking a fetus and turning it into Frankenstein. We're taking stem cells out of a persons body and using to recreate something (not a person). For instance, in Finland, a man was missing the upper portion of his jaw. They used stem cells to regrow his upper jaw inside of his own body. To me, that's nothing short of amazing. Tell me, stem cell naysayers, would you deny yourself the opportunity to look remotely normal by not agreeing to regrow your jaw via stem cell research? I wouldn't, I'd be the first to sign up. Brandon edit: For those of you who don't keep up with science, it has been proven that you can create a stem cell without the destruction of an embryo. This is only in it's infancy, no destruction of the embryo, but what do you think about that now?

Answer 3

The majority of embryonic stem cells come from IVF embryos that would otherwise be discarded. Many abortions occur far too late to be able to harvest any potential stem cells for research.

There are some areas in research where embryonic stem cells (ES cells) would be highly advantageous. For example, research groups trying to find the causes of developmental disorders such as Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy. They would, potentially, create a society where if one organ fails, we can create one from stem cells and need no longer rely on the donor system.

I can't think up of any technical disadvantages. All of the disadvantages I can think up of, are based on religion and maybe potential ethics.

It all depends on which you think is more ethical:

Preserving the dignity of embryos that would otherwise be thrown away, or using them for medical purposes.

Answer 4

i think it's usefull on one hand you got :clones and organs and on the other you got :playing the role of god so would you really want to do that i think yes and no.yes because it could save lives but we would have to also know how to make the organs big enough to be able to be givin to adults in a way that would be hard but in another it's science fiction .another fact is why make clones will they be able to accomplish the same as the real person doesn't it depend on how and where you grew up what makes you unique.and no because it's wrong and like i said what happend through out your life is what makes you yourself right?