Controversy in the Use of Embryonic Stem Cells Essay

â€Å"How can the use of stem cells be so controversial?†, one may ask. If the stem cells are donated out of free will or were going to be destroyed anyway, how can putting them to better use be controversial? Sure, a potential life must be destroyed to save a life, but only before one can tell that it is a human. Should the use of stem cells for medical research and use be regulated? These questions and more will be discussed and pondered throughout this paper. A stem cell is defined as a cell that can change into a different type of cell. Stem cells are different from other cells because from the start they do not have specialized functions. Embryonic stem cells are found within the blastocyst (embryo), which is just a tiny package of†¦show more content†¦These organs would then be transplanted into someone whose had previously failed or is in the process of shutting down. In humans adult stem cells, not embryonic stem cells, have been used in therapies for more tha n forty years. People with blood disorders have used stem cell therapy to take the opportunity to improve upon their life. On the other hand, embryonic stem cells have a very high potential to treat or even cure numerous diseases like diabetes and heart disease. They are much more versatile in their usage compared to adult stem cells. Another practical use for embryonic stem cells is to treat damaged nerves (Testing The Use†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). These nerves could have been impaired in a spinal cord injury. As of today, scientists have already performed stem cell transplants in people whose cells were damaged through chemotherapy of disease. To make the use of stem cells helpful to the patient they must come from that person. If not, there is a possibility of the stem cells being rejected. Currently, only adult stem cells have been transplanted into humans, with embryonic stem cells missing out. If a person stores their stem cells earlier in life, the usefulness of them would be extremel y high later in life (Preserving Stem Cells). A stem cell is more advantageous at a younger age, thus why embryonic stem cells extraordinarily useful. If a person was against the use of stem cells as regenerative medicine or just the use of embryonic stem cells in general,Show MoreRelatedThe Debate Over Embryonic Stem Cell Research1543 Words   |  7 PagesWhile embryonic stem cell research has been ongoing for more than 30 years, it has only become a controversial topic over the past decade. The embryonic stem cell was first isolated in 1981 by two scientists at the University of Cambridge. However, it wasn’t until 1998 at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where the first batch of embryonic stem cells were created in a test tube. In 2001, President George W. 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