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Stem cell research: All viewpoints.

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What is at stake:

Stem cells:

A microphotograph of human embryonic stem cells taken at a Brazilian laboratory.

Human embryo:

A microphotograph of a human embryo consisting of seven undifferentiated stem cells in the process of having one stem cell removed for pre-implantation genetic diagnosis.

A consensus exists that  that such embryos are alive. They contain human DNA and are thus human life.

The controversy over embryonic stem cell research centers on whether human life in the form of an embryo less than two weeks after conception is also a human person.

	If it is a person, then extracting stem cells constitutes first degree murder.
	If it is not a person, then removing stem cells is morally acceptable.

Overview:

Stem cells are seen by many researchers as having virtually unlimited application in the treatment and cure of many human diseases and disorders including Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer, strokes, etc. Stem cells come in three general types:

	Embryonic stem cells are a primitive type of cell that can be coaxed into developing into all of the 220 types of cells found in the human body (e.g. blood cells, heart cells, brain cells, nerve cells, etc). In the past, they have always been derived from human embryos in a process that causes the death of the embryos. However, new research is developing techniques to convert skin cells into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS cells) that emulate embryonic stem cells.
	Adult stem cells bear some similarities to embryonic stem cells. Research using adult cells has a two decade head start on embryonic stem cells. Thus, potential treatments have already advanced to human trial stage. Unfortunately, adult cells are limited in flexibility, and are only capable of developing into a few of the cell types.
	Induced pluripotent stem cells are specially treated ordinary cells -- e.g. skin cells -- that are specially processed to exhibit some of the properties of embryonic stem cells. Research in this area is just beginning. However the process seems to offer the advantages of embryonic stem cells without the ethical and rejection problems.

Many pro-lifers believe that human life, in the form of an ovum and spermatozoon, becomes a human person at the time of fertilization. They view the killing of any embryo in order to extract its stem cells to be a form of homicide. They are generally opposed to such research. Others disagree. They believe that an embryo has the potential to develop into a person, but is not a person itself. They note that an embryo is not sentient; it has no brain, sensory organs, ability to think, memory, awareness of its surroundings, consciousness, internal organs, arms, legs, head, etc. They feel that research using stem cells derived from embryos is ethical. Fortunately, if iPS cell technology develops as expected, it will eventually replace the need to derive stem cells from embryos.

Topics covered in this section:

	Overview: Quotations. Embryonic, adult and Induced pluripotent stem cells. Unethical reporting
	Background information (Please read these first): More quotations. What are stem cells? Existing surplus embryos Adult, induced pluripotent and embryonic stem cells
	Types of stem cells: Do adult stem cells have potential? Amniotic stem cells discovered Methods developed to create Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cells
	Experimental treatments using embryonic and adult stem cells
	Ethical and legal implications: About extracting new stem cells from embryos Research performed on descendents of stem cells The problem of surplus embryos in fertility clinics In opposing stem cell research, are pro-life leaders ignoring the real problems? Methods of obtaining embryonic stem cells with fewer ethical concerns
	Political activity: Political concerns President Bush's restriction of research in 2001 & President Obama's 2009 reversal California stem cell research law, 2002-SEP Missouri amendment, 2006-NOV
	Recent news: 1998 to 2001-JUNE 2001-JULY to 2001-AUG. 2001-SEPT to 2002-DEC. 2003 and 2004 2005 and 2006 2007, 2008, 2009
	Additional information: Becoming politically active; links to other information sources

Copyright © 1998 to 2009 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Latest update: 2009-MAR-10
Author: B.A. Robinson

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