General Medicine

» P_Al - Stem cell research

Yes, the traditional method of stem cell harvesting involves the destruction of the embryo. It requires the removal of cells from an embryonic stage called the blastocyst. This stage contains over 100 cells and occurs before implantation. As a result some scientists argue that it does not represent a human being.

On the contrary, many critics of this type of research believe that human life begins at conception. This would make any form of embryonic stem cell research immoral.

I think that this is the central issue. It revolves around the fundamental question of when exactly does life begin. This could be seen as a philosophical and theological matter and would be subject to all kinds of belief systems.

Interestingly, there were reports of a new method which removed one cell from an eight-cell stage called a blastomere. The remaining seven cells would then be reimplanted a go on to produce a normal individual.

However, even this was rejected by some on moral grounds. I have even read an objection to this method on the grounds that the one removed cell could theoretically have gone on to produce a human life!

-- posted by P_Al