Why is stem cell research/transplants necessary?
147249
Stem cell research can lead to discoveries of cures for diseases.  Transplants save people with bad organs from dying.
693540
Embryonic stem cell research is unquestionably wrong because it involves the destruction of a human baby.  There are other sources of stem cells such as placental cord blood, adult stem cells, etc. that are right and good research which promises to produce many good therapeutic procedures and products.  Stick to that kind of stem cell research and many good things will come of it.  But, at all costs, avoid anything to do with embryonic stem cell research.
674372
STEM CELLS CAN BE PRESERVED THROUGH OUT THE LIFE AND CAN BE USEFUL FOR A PERSON IF SUFFERING FROM ANY DANGEROUS DISEASE, AS THEY MATCH WITH THE BODY CHEMISTRY.
624231
ES cells have the potential to self-renew, or keep dividing without differentiating into a specific cell type. that means you can coax them to become any kind of cell and keep some going to maintain the pool of stem cells.\n\nso in theory you can make skin for people with burns, new livers, hearts, lungs for people waiting on transplant lists, etc.\n\nthere are adult stem cells you can use as well, but they are hard to get and hard to maintain with current techniques.
83841
Women are going to have abortions. Whether it's right or wrong to do so, they are going to do it.  Why shouldn't we as a society utilize this stem cell resource?  We're more than willing to destroy the rain forests and other resources for chemical "cures".  We'll pump ourselves full of chemicals and endure side effects worse than the disease we're trying to treat when stem cells offer cures, not just symptom cover ups.
18080
Embryonic stem cell research generally involves the death of an embryo.  The objection to stem cell research is basically a pro life position held in the belief that an embryo is human and should not be experimented on and killed like it is not human.
819900
It is the wave of the future of human medicine. There are many web sites that support that concept. International Stem Cell Research - WEB site.
1126377
The stem cell is the only cell that can grow into any other cell in your body. Therefore, the cells are grown into a type of tissue and then used for some type of treatment.
726039
Depends on which stem cell research you are talking about!
1138603
Actually adult stem cells are MORE versatile than embryonic ones.  At least to date.\n\nVery little has been accomplished w/ embryonic stem cells, while much has been done w/ mature stem cells.\n\nAnd there are no ethical concerns about mature stem cells.
59612
Stem cells are cells designated by the body to make copies of themselves to replace tissue. This helps the body regenerate in an orderly maner.\nYou're born with them.
1129900
Some people just need to fight something, for a lack of a better purpose in life.\n\nFoetus and stem cell research can allow to re-grow damaged/amputed organs or maybe even entire limbs.
900029
I don't know - nor will we ever truly know unless the research is done.\n\nEven if there is a remote chance that the possibilities suggested for stem cell research will come about, this research has to be carried out - the potential for saving human life and removing some horrible complaints is stunning.\n\nAnyone who understands the first thing about it must support the research. Only the ignorant oppose it.
402773
practicaly anithing!! Stem cells can replicate themselves or make any type of cell required to build an organism.
730714
1)  EVERY advance gained from stem cell research has come through adult stem cells\n\n2)  ZERO advances have come through embryonic.\n\n3)  When ZERO advances come along, private funding for research dries up.  Who wants to throw money at a losing proposition?\n\n4)  Stem cell research is not illegal.\n\n5)  The push for stem cell research is a veiled move to push for public funding for FAILED avenues of research.\n\n"To date there is no evidence that cells generated from embryonic stem cells can be safely transplanted back into adult animals to restore the function of damaged or diseased adult tissues. The level of scientific rigor that is normally applied (indeed, legally required) in the development of potential medical treatments would have to be entirely ignored for experiments with human embryos to proceed. As our largely disappointing experience with gene therapy should remind us, many highly vaunted scientific techniques frequently fail to yield the promised results. Arbitrarily waiving the requirement for scientific evidence out of a naive faith in "promise" is neither good science nor a good use of public funds."
320860
You answered your own question about stem cell research. I encourage you to learn more. \n\nRegarding replacing animal testing, you are comparing 2 completely different things. A stem cell is a cell. It has the functionality of a cell. It is unique because it can be treated with a variety of biochemical processes to cause it to differentiate, but it will never function as a whole living system. \n\nWhen a vaccine is studied, for example, the creators must know how the vaccine interacts with every system of the body. Sure, you can demonstrate in a petri dish that the vaccine binds flu virus. Great. That's the FIRST step! But how do you know it won't bind the interior surface of the lung in a living body? how do you klnow how it is working? How do you know what systems in the body improve its function? How do you know that 3 days after vaccination there can be an allergic reaction in people with impaired immune systems becasue the incidence of CD4 cells in the airways can cause asthma (this is a hypothetical case, BTW, used to illustrate the complexity of the issue)? The only way to know is to test it in a living body. Period. \n\nHere is a very good web site debunking the popular myths surrounding animal research: \n\nhttp://www.huntingdon.com/index.php?currentNumber=4.9&currentIsExpanded=0\n\nBy the way- two facts most people do not know:\n1) Animal research is much more strictly regulated than human\n2) At all reputable research facilities, the use of every animal used in testing must be justified to government regulatory agencies, and to a representative of public interest\n\nThe use of animals is governed by groups of people dedicated to making critical, and tough, ethical decisions, weighing risk vs benefit, and carefully assessing every proposed study. The benefit to human and animal health and well-being  is alwasy considered very carefully in each decision.\n\nI encourage to learn more about this topic, and continue to ask thoughtful questions.
971448
I agree that stem cells hold the answers to many different diseases. I do not see anything wrong with using embryos.\nHere is the problem, not all groups can agree to this due to religious reasons. \nSome believe a child is a child at conception, others believe in the 2nd trimester. Its very complicated and unfortunate. I believe that the embryos that will not grow (there are many) should be used for research. That way maybe both groups will be ok.\nI also believe that people should not put other people down for their beliefs. I understand from both sides.