Embryonic Stem Cell Research

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Pro Embryonic Stem Cell Research

"Is it more ethical for a woman to donate unused embryos that will never become human beings, or to let them be tossed away as so much garbage when they could help save thousands of lives?" (cnn.com) This is the question that was asked by Christopher Reeves an advocate for stem cell research who recently passed away. This is the question asked by millions of children and adults with terrible incurable diseases like Parkinson's, diabetes, Alzheimer's, heart disease, spinal cord injuries and cancer who have the same hopes and aspirations that Christopher once had. Christopher Reeve’s advocacy for researching stem cell research helped to make it a major issue in the 2004 campaign between George W. Bush and John Kerry. Many people opposed to embryonic research including President Bush argue that stem cells can be derived from sources other than embryos such as adult cells, umbilical cords from babies, from human placenta (http://www.whitehouse.gov/). This is true but these people fail to realize the limited potential that these types of stem cells offer compared to embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are the only types of cells that are totipotent or pluripotent meaning they can become any type of cell in the body. (http://www.isscr.org/science/faq.htm) America needs to uplift the restrictions on embryonic stem cells and peruse research to the fullest extent so patients and their families are not denied the endless hope of possibilities that new research can bring to society.
I believe that the ban on federal funding should be uplifted allowing scientists to explore their maximum potential while following certain ethical restrictions. In August 2001 Bush’s stem cell policy was supposed to provide the funding for 60 stem cell lines. Many of the stem cell lines turned out to be useless either having no scientific value or not even being a genuine stem cell line. As of today there are o...