Stem Cell Research

The Facts on Stem Cell Research:

Why are scientists so interested in them?

Stem cells have the potential to develop into mature cells that have characteristic shapes and specialized functions, such as heart cells, skin cells, or nerve cells.

Where are stem cells found?

In the adult organism ("adult" referring to humans or animals any point after birth) stem cells are found in the bone marrow, blood stream, brain, spinal cord, dental pulp, skeletal muscle, skin, gastrointestinal tract, cornea, retina, liver, and pancreas. Another rich source of stem cells is the blood within umbilical cords and placentas no longer needed by newborn babies. New research shows human fat contains stem cells.

What's the problem with stem cell research?

Adult stem cell research is not controversial; no human being dies when these are collected. The moral problem arises because harvesting embryonic stem cells destroys the embryo. "Even though embryonic stem cell research one day could be proven useful, it is still never ethically acceptable to sacrifice the life of one human being to save another without their consent. The world should have learned that lesson from the scientists of Nazi Germany," says RTL of Michigan President Barbara Listing.

Is the enthusiasm for embryonic stem cell research justified?

Human embryonic cells (ESCs) have not yet successfully treated disease. Currently, the National Institutes of Health says that "any therapies based on the use of Human ES cells are still hypothetical and highly experimental."

But it's not legal, right?

Wrong. Embryonic stem cell research is fully allowed in the United States-there is no federal law against it. The government has only set some limits on the number of embryonic stem cell lines eligible for federal funding.

 

The scoreboard:

Click here to see the successes of Adult Stem Cells compared to Embryonic Stem Cells.

Local Adult Stem Cell Researcher finding success. Read the article by Dr. March.

Need more information?

Right to Life of Indianapolis has a helpful booklet titled "Stem Cell Research, Cloning & Human Embryos" available in our office. (Published by the Family Research Council and written by Rev. Dr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, expert on stem cell research.) Cost: $1.

Call 317-582-1526 for more information.

Invite a speaker to come to your church, school, or civic group to speak on stem cell research. See our list of speakers.