English Section 1 Stem Cell Research Term Paper Stem Cells are undifferentiated cells. This means that they can divide and multiply before given a specialized job in the body such as bone cells or skin cells. There are embryonic stem cells, which come from developing embryos, somatic stem cells, which come from adults, and umbilical stem cells, which come from the umbilical blood. (Stem Cell Basics, 2) Although each of these stem cells can all be used to treat a variety of different diseases, embryonic stem cells are the most promising since they are the youngest and most versatile. There is a question of ethics involving stem cell research because obtaining embryonic stem cells means terminating a potential life. When embryonic …show more content…

In 2009, President Obama was sworn into office. He immediately reversed President Bush’s orders, and he removed the barriers involving stem cell research. Clinical trials took place to used human stem cells to try and repair progressive eye diseases. The FDA also began a clinical trial to test embryonic stem cells on patients with macular dystrophy, which cases blindness. (Godoy, 2-7) To those who are pro life, they believe that life begins at conception. The Catholic Church is against embryonic stem cell research because it involves an embryo being destroyed. This means that potential life of a human baby has been ended. The church sees embryonic stem cell research as a form of murder. According to a statement given at the United States conference of Catholic bishops, “it now seems inevitable that once we cross the fundamental moral line that prevents us from treating fellow human beings as mere objects of research, there is no stopping point.”(O’Brien, 1) The Catholic Church believes that the end product does not justify the means for committing an act of harm. In the case of embryonic stem cell research, they believe that the cure for diseases and saving thousands of lives does not justify the destruction of human life. The Church supports umbilical stem cell research because it does not harm to the growing fetus. (O'Brien, 2) Scientists have discovered this type of stem cell research to be very