Stem cells are cells that can renew themselves indefinitely and also renew into the more mature cells with specialized functions. Stem cell research is important because it holds the promise for advancement in the treatment of diseases which are genetically linked. Hence, the technology has the potential to affect the lives of millions of people around the world.
Although definite benefits for humanity exist if research is vigorously perused, there are ethical and moral arguments that are also presented to control stem cell research. The moral and ethical views that have been presented are mostly against the use of human embryonic stem cells for medical research.
Scientists, however, have discovered that research on human stem cells is necessary to solve the problems that can benefit humans and that the use of cells from other species cannot be a substitute for human stem cells. Because stem cell research is still in its infancy, human embryonic cells will be required at the very least, in order to continue research efforts and in some instances adult cells may also be needed. Stem cells can be considered to be the clay of life which can be converted into different kinds of cells, such as heart cells, insulin producing cells of the pancreas and hair follicle cells to cure baldness by providing the appropriate cellular signals to stem cells. The ethical debate that is raging in the society is about whether scientists should be allowed to take cells from four-day-old embryos in order to conduct their research. The ethical questions that are being asked also involve questions about what can be done with stem cells. Can humans achieve immortality as a result of stem cell research and if so, what impact will this have on the society.
While much can be leaned from stem cell......
