Doomed

Embryonic Stem
Cells: extra
embryos from
fertility clinics
Be Ethical.
Be Advancing.
Stem cells hold lots of potential,
not only to save or improve many
lives, but also to cause many
ethical problems. It is important
that people remember the cost
they are paying for scientific
advancements. While the most
morally justified stem cell type is
the adult stem cell, it simply does
not hold the potential of other
types. While the most
scientifically justified stem cell
type is the embryonic stem cell, it
crosses many ethical boundaries
that should not be crossed. The
most ethically and scientifically
promising option is the doomed
embryonic stem cells.

The answer to this controversy over

which cells are most promising while
still being ethical is doomed embryo
cells. Doomed embryos are the extra
embryos created at fertility clinics
that would be otherwise discarded if
not donated to scientists for research.
These embryos have no potential for
life. Its morally justifiable to kill
these embryos for the sake of
research because they will soon die
even if they are not used for research.
Even if these young embryos are
considered humans, scientists arent
making the decision to kill them; they
are already destined to die, research
is just the manner chosen to end their
lives with. Instead of these doomed
embryos being wasted by being
discarded, they have the potential to
cure many conditions and help
scientists make huge strides in
medicines if able to study them.

The
Future of
Stem Cell
Research
Doomed Embryonic Cells
The Perfect Compromise!

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What are Stem Cells?

Stem cells are unspecialized
cells that can give rise to
specialized cell types through
differentiation. The cells go
through many stages and
become more specialized at each
step, and are signaled to
differentiate by genes, secreted
chemicals, physical contact with
neighboring cells, or molecules
from the environment.
Scientists use stem cells from
adult tissues, blood cells from
umbilical cords, early embryos
created in vitro fertilization
(doomed embryos from fertility
centers), and potentially from
germ cells or organs of aborted
fetuses. There are currently a
limited number of human
embryonic stem cell lines
available for scientists to
research. They hold vast
potential for medical uses.

Embryonic stem cell research will prolong life, improve

life, and give hope or life to people.
- Jim Ramstad
Although adult stem cells are currently
used for bone marrow transplants, it will
be more beneficial for scientists to focus
on embryonic stem cells than adult stem
cells in the future. Embryonic stem cells
are much more versatile than adult stem
cells. According to researchers from the
National Institute of Health, adult
tissues contain stem cells that generate
replacements for cells that are unable to
function, but they can only produce the
cell type of the tissue they reside in. In
contrast, embryonic stem cells are
capable of becoming any type of cell. It is
also easier to grow embryonic stem cells
than adult stem cells. Adult stem cells
are hard to isolate from mature tissues,
which poses a problem because large
numbers of cells are needed for therapy.

While it is important that embryonic

stem cells be used instead of adult stem
cells because they are much more
medically promising, it is also important
that only certain types of embryonic
stem cells be used for ethical reasons. It
is not morally justifiable to create lives
solely for the purpose of murdering them
to be used for research. When an embryo
is created, its inalienable rights are
created, too. The most pertinent right to
every human is the right to life. Human
beings, at any developmental stage,
should be promised the chance of life;
they should not be viewed only as
research material. The value of lives
should not be determined based on age,
stage of development, or size, just as the
value of lives should not be determined
based on gender, race, or ethnicity.