Research Paper on:
Ongoing Debate on Stem Cell Research

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rather heated. On one side are the religious who believe that embryos at any stage have souls and so experimentation is abhorrent. On the other are scientists who see the  significant potential of such research. Never before have they been so close to finding cures or treatments for serous diseases. While stem cell research is promising for many Americans, ethical  dilemmas cannot be dismissed. What is stem cell research and the implications for all thinking, human beings? First, allowing stem cell research-which is research on stem cells-means that new, exciting  developments may be on the horizon. Stem cells "have the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells" ("Stem," 2000, p.PG). Unlike ordinary  cells, these can generate a variety of tissue. For instance, an embryo is considered totipotent, as its potential is total (2000). This is unlike cells that are pluripotent or can  give rise to various types of cells but not all types (2000). Certain cells derived from the embryo, or other vehicles, called stem cells, are more flexible than ordinary cells.  One can see why scientists are excited about such research. Given the potential for embryonic cells, scientists have wondered if they could utilize embryos that are not in  use. Tens of thousands of embryos are stored in clinics in the United States and some are in suspended animation; such embryos play a role in the debate for stem  cell research (Bookman, 2001). Every embryo is of course a tiny mass of human stem cells, and each cell is capable of dividing into any type of cell such as  brain cells, bone cells, blood cells, or cartilage cells (2001). According to researchers, this ability makes embryonic stem cells potentially significant for treating diseases like Alzheimer s and diabetes or