Embryonic stem cell treatment has the potential to be very beneficial to our society. Nevertheless, many people oppose the use of embryonic stem cells due to the fact that they are extracted from human embryos. They believe that embryos are human life and should possess the same rights that humans do. However, this belief is irrational, as we shall come to see later on. The ability of these stem cells to save millions of people suffering from degenerative, debilitating diseases is evidence that embryonic stem cell treatment is completely ethical and should be completely legal all across the world. First off, what really is a stem cell? A stem cell is a cell that possesses three unique characteristics: they can divide and regenerate for extended periods of time; they are unspecialized; and they are capable of becoming different types of specialized cells (“Stem Cell Basics II”). Embryonic …show more content…
People with Parkinson’s disease do not have enough dopamine in their bodies. This is significant in that dopamine is essential in order for your brain to properly control body movements and some forms of thinking. The reason for the minimal amounts of dopamine is because Parkinson’s disease kills the neurons that create dopamine in the body (“Parkinson's Disease: How Could Stem Cells Help?”). However, embryonic stem cells can reverse this trend. It has been proven that embryonic stem cells can produce these dopamine-producing neurons. These new neurons could be injected into the suffering patients and substantially aid in treating Parkinson’s disease (“Parkinson's Disease: How Could Stem Cells Help?”). According to the Parkinson Association of the Carolinas, “An estimated seven to 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease.” Imagine the significant effect that embryonic stem cells could have on the lives of those suffering from this degenerative nervous