Essay On Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Embryonic stem cell research is a highly debated and sensitive topic. A lot of good can come from researching this technology as many people suffering from diseases would benefit from it. Stem cell research and funding has caused a lot of controversy over the past decade. Stem cells are cells that are present in every living thing on earth. These cells can change into any type of cell which is needed at a certain time, including blood cells, nerve cells, cardiac muscle and pancreatic islet cells. The possibility of these cells being used to treat such diseases as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, strokes, type 1 diabetes, birth defects, spinal cord injuries and cancer. Despite the enormous potential for medical advantages, stem cells can be improperly used. Stem cells can be taken from 3 different sources. The most controversial source is cells taken from an embryo, this is known as embryonic stem cells. The cells are taken from a three to five-day old blastocyst, a blastocyst is a ball of cells that form after an egg is fertilized. These are normally created using in vitro fertilization, better known as IVF to help women who cannot produce their own embryos. During this process there are multiple blastocysts created, however only a

Many people agree that the research should continue and spread. The reason for supporting this cause is that it can save millions of lives worldwide and cure diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and cancer. In a survey taken in the EU in 2010, 80% of EU citizens supported embryonic stem cell research, up from 53% in 2005. 84% supported non-embryonic stem cell research (e.g. adult/tissue stem cells). 67% supported research with human embryonic stem cells, up from 41% in 2005. In response to the statement “Research involving human embryos should be forbidden, even if this means possible treatments are not available to ill people” it was found