Stem cell research involves the study of how an organism develops from a single cell to an adult organism. This promising area of biology has led scientists to believe and investigate the possibility of treating diseases using cell-based therapies, among other uses. However, like many scientific fields, stem cell research has generated more scientific inquiries as well as ethical and moral questions. Some people believe that using and destroying an embryo for research is tantamount to killing a human being. Supporters of stem cell research, on the other hand, argue that the scientific consequences of stem cell research far outweigh the moral and ethical problems the
opposition has raised.

For a simple explanation of what stem cells are, click here for an animated look. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that renew themselves for long periods through cell division. They also have the remarkable potential to differentiate into many different cell types in the body. They serve as a sort of repair system in the living body of a plant or animal. These unspecialized stem cells can come from either the embryo or adults. Stem cells that come from embryos are termed embryonic stem cells or ESC; those from adults are adult stem cells or ASC.

Proponents of the stem cell research would like to study the behavior of ESC because it has shown great potential for research and treating diseases. These diseases include Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and cancer -- a pretty heavy list of degenerative and debilitating diseases. Just reading about the remarkable potential of stem cells is enough for me to say "Fund the research! Support it! " However, to do so would involve the destruction or harvesting of embryos. Now, we all know what an embryo is right? That's where the opposition comes in. According to them, harvesting them for research is like murdering people.

Pretty heavy stuff. So what do you think: are you in favor or not of stem cell research?