Stem cell research has continued to be one of the most controversial issues in the news for the last decade. The debate is over whether or not it is ethical to use stem cells to try and find the cures to various kinds of diseases. The reason why it is so controversial is because some of the stem cells used are derived from human embryos. These kinds of stem cells are called pluripotent cells. Stem cells are sought after because of their ability to regenerate themselves into a variation of cell types. Although many people believe that that this is unethical, the benefits outweigh the risks. An argument that people who don't support stem cell research make is that by using the cells you are taking a life. This argument only holds true if you believe life begins at the moment of conception. The ploripotent cells that are used for stem cell research come from blastulae, and are far from being developed into a child. In fact, they aren't even differentiated enough at the point they are used to be identified with an organ system. A blastocyst is composed of 30-100 ploropotent cells and can be only be utilized during the 8-10th day after conception. These stem cells can be used therapeutically for paralysis, can mitotically divide for regeneration and generation of organs, used for angiogenesis, and many other processes that have endless benefit in fighting disease.
http://www.kumc.edu/stemcell/images/background.jpg
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/
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