Stem cells and ethical issues associated with them.

Stem cell research has made a significant contribution to the medical field.
Evaluate this statement by describing what are stems cells, where they are
harvested, their uses and the ethical issues associated with them.


What stem cells are
• Undifferentiated cells
• that have the ability to form any cell or tissue
• in the body



Where stem cells are harvested from
• Stems cells from embryonic tissue
• Stems cells from foetal tissue



Uses of stem cells
• Replace neurons damaged by injuries to the spinal cord
• Produce insulin that could treat people with diabetes
• Replace heart muscle cells
• that could repair damage after a heart attack
• Portion of bone marrow collected
• Bone marrow transplants



Arguments for stem cell research
• Embryos only small amounts of undifferentiated
• tissue - Embryos will be destroyed anyway
• Stems cells harvested from cord blood
• does not destroy the embryo



Arguments against stem cell research
• Using stem cells for research, embryos are living organisms
• unacceptable to destroy them
• Destruction of embryos is immoral.
• against moral and religious Beliefs.