Stem Cell Research on Embryos: For or Against?

@Empired; and I were having a discussion about stem cells (after talking about the abortion thread). If some of you don't know what stem cells are 'capable' of here's an article of something they've done recently with them:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...cientists.html

Stem cells are available from (I'm not marketing them dw):

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Embryos (Embryonic stem cells)
Adult stem cells (often found in small numbers from the bone marrow or fat)
Perinatal stem cells

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The main one that brings up more debates than anything is the embryos (obviously), but here is a pro and con list:
(* = before 2007 ideas, I got these from a website)
Pro:
Can potentially help treat a range of medical problems (such as parkinson's/alzheimer's disease)
Improve peoples life, and others around them
*"If some one was going to have an abortion wouldn't it be better to put it to good use"
*The research would be great as it will give insight to the basics of the body

Cons:
"We should not mess with human life"
"Humans should not try playing god"
Some people believe that using stem cells can lead to knowledge of cloning humans
*You can use more ethical research, such as adult stem cells.

Just to list a few, the rest you can figure out/research yourself.
So to line it all out the question is: Are you for or against Embryonic stem cell research? Why?

For. Definitely.

I mean I hate the idea of having to test on embryos but, for me, the benefits vastly outweigh any kind of moral dilemma. If it's between improving a living person's quality of life and "saving" an unborn baby's life, there is no contest for me.

Plus, who wouldn't take it? If you get Parkinson's disease tomorrow of course you're going to want people to find you a cure. And I think it's totally unfair (not to mention selfish) for someone to be against something until they need it themself.

I'd have to say I 100% agree with the research. E.g, lets say it did cure some one from their disease not only has it improved their quality of life but others around the cured person (etc; the carers). I see where the view of "just use adult stem cells" comes from, but they aren't as frequently found as embryonic stem cells are (as I've read, someone can correct me if wrong) and besides if you're not going to use the embryo for anything else, put it for use where it can be used for something worthwhile.

@Wengles; I am kinda interested in what would you say, since you said you're pro-choice but don't agree with abortions.

"We should not mess with human life"
Why?

"Humans should not try playing god"
Why not? What about those who do not believe in any god?

Some people believe that using stem cells can lead to knowledge of cloning humans
Wondering why this is a con

*You can use more ethical research, such as adult stem cells.
This isn't even a con what site did you get this from??



That would basically be my response to all those flimsy cons and I am very much for it.

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Originally Posted by dbgtz

"We should not mess with human life"
Why?

"Humans should not try playing god"
Why not? What about those who do not believe in any god?

Some people believe that using stem cells can lead to knowledge of cloning humans
Wondering why this is a con

*You can use more ethical research, such as adult stem cells.
This isn't even a con what site did you get this from??



That would basically be my response to all those flimsy cons and I am very much for it.

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Idek lmao, I think what they were saying that there is more 'ethical' ways. Instead of using embryos. But I don't see anything wrong with it, personally.

i am for stem cells as they have the potential to cure someone with a medical problem !

My view is very one-sided and I'm for it there is nothing wrong in this, it's research and research means invitations, new links, big path ways!

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Originally Posted by Paragon

I'd have to say I 100% agree with the research. E.g, lets say it did cure some one from their disease not only has it improved their quality of life but others around the cured person (etc; the carers). I see where the view of "just use adult stem cells" comes from, but they aren't as frequently found as embryonic stem cells are (as I've read, someone can correct me if wrong) and besides if you're not going to use the embryo for anything else, put it for use where it can be used for something worthwhile.

@Wengles; I am kinda interested in what would you say, since you said you're pro-choice but don't agree with abortions.

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This is out of my domain, I have to say. I know next to nothing about it or at least it's not something I write about or spend my time researching. So I could't give you an informed opinion!

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Originally Posted by Wengles

This is out of my domain, I have to say. I know next to nothing about it or at least it's not something I write about or spend my time researching. So I could't give you an informed opinion!

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Fair enough!

Just out of interest..

It seems most people so far are for stem cell research using embryos yet a lot of people in the abortion thread were definitely definitely against. What's the difference? (Apart from the research bit. I mean about how the embryos are "received" :P)