Adult vs. Embryonic Stem Cells


    
One of the most public medical issues facing this country is the use of stem cells for research and disease prevention and cure.  When most Americans hear stem cells, they believe that stem cells only occur in embryos.  The debate then rages concerning the use of embryos; is it wrong to end what some consider life, is it right to create embryos just to test and harvest stem cells, is harvesting stem cells from embryos really abortion?  What many people do not know is that there are two types of stem cells: adult and embryonic.  Should adult stem cells be used instead of embryonic ones?  This is both a scientific and a political question.  Focus your paper on this question, not on whether it is moral to use embryonic stem cells.

General/News:

The Washington Post, 19 Aug 2004

Stem Cell Basics NIH

The DNA Learning Center

 Adult Stem Cells:

 The Case for Adult Stem Cell Research

Americans for Research Ethics

New Scientist, 23 Jan 2002

National Review 23 Apr 2002

The Center for Bioethics and Human Diversity
 
 
Embryonic Stem Cells:

Stem Cell Research Foundation

UW-Madison News

Religious Tolerance

The American Physiological Society

The International Society for Stem Cell Research

 
Please beware as some of these links may contain rhetoric and information provided in a way to encourage you to take a side.  Please consider all the information that is available and also do your own research.  These links should only serve to guide you, you will have to make your own decisions and assumptions from the information available.