2007-03-01 00:17:15 · 5 answers · asked by mine 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
Stem cells are a type of cell that can divide to form every other type of cell in the body. Scientists and doctors are interested in stem cells because it could be possible to use stem cells to grow organs for transplants, eliminating the need for organ donation. Stem cells could also be used to repair damaged tissue, offering promise for treatment of many degenerative conditions, including Parkinson's disease and leukemia.
Stem cell research is controversial because some stem cells come from aborted fetuses. Some scientists claim that the most useful stem cells are the embryonic stem cells that can only be obtained by sacraficing a human embryo about four days after fertilization. The federal government and some state governments currently restrict the allocation of funds for embryonic stem cell research, on the same moral grounds as the movement to ban abortions.
Stem cells can also be found in adult humans (adult stem cells) and in umbilical cords (cord blood stem cells). Adult stem cells have less capacity for differentiation than embryonic stem cells, but the federal government has funded more research into adult stem cells due to lack of controversy. Cord blood stem cells are useful for treating blood and immune system diseases. The rates of cord blood matching are much higher than those of bone marrow, making donation much easier.
2007-03-01 00:24:02 · answer #1 · answered by DavidK93 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People have an issue with stem cells that come from embryos. Since the egg is fertilized, some have a question of when life actually starts. Taking the cells destroys the embryo.
2007-03-01 00:29:28 · answer #2 · answered by Question Addict 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some stem cells are manufactured in laboratories, some from aborted fetuses, and some from donated eggs. I am of the opinion if the abortion is done something good should come from it. This research has the ability to change a lot of lives. Including Parkinson's disease, cancer research and diabetes. If you have ever had a love one suffer from one of these diseases you will value this research. Yes the fetus and or egg could have been a child, but I believe it is our inherent right to do what we want with our bodies, and no one else, regardless of what they believe, should tell you what to do with your body.
2007-03-01 00:31:01 · answer #3 · answered by Virginia C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
stem cells are unspecified cells that can modify themselves to become any type of cells.
R&D in stem cells could produce a bilogical cure for cases where the original body cells were destroyed.
the present source for stem cells is embryos at the very beginning, before the embryo's cells start specifiying.
this need to destroy embryos is one of the main reasons for objection to stem cells R&D, but I suspect that religious objections do exist, and maybe are the real reasons for objections, but as yet these are not spelled out loud.
2007-03-01 00:31:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes some stem cells come from aborted fetuses but they are doing medical research to cure cancer and other such illness, yes there are other methods that they can do for reasearch but this is a better method.
2007-03-01 00:31:17 · answer #5 · answered by Key P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋