Why do some people feel that stem cell shouldn't be used?

Answer 1

Certain experiments in stem cell research requires embryonic stem cells that are obtained from developing embryos. Unfortunately, this is an invasive procedure that involves inserting a needle-like probe into the mother and extracting stem cells from the embryo.

The procedure carries with it a high risk of damaging the embryo thus causing developmental abnormalities in the developing fetus.

This raises ethical reasons. After much debate, interest groups have begun petitioning the ban on stem cell research.

Answer 2

There is nothing wrong with using just stem cells. Stem cells are found throughout people's bodies, but are mostly concentrated in umbilical cords and fetal tissue. Umbilical cord blood is harvested without harming the infant when it is born and can be stored in a cord blood bank in case the child ever needs cancer treatment or other medical therapies that are being developed with stem cells.

Some people want to harvest stem cells from frozen human embryos, left over from fertility treatments where eggs are fertilized in a lab and then implanted in the mother.

That is controversial with people who feel that those embryos are individual humans and that harvesting them is like murdering someone to harvest their organs.

It is also controversial because those embryos were created by combining reproductive cells from parents who, for some reason, were unable to reproduce naturally. Some people are concerned that using them as a source of stem cells for treating disease or research will lead to some weakness or defects being passed on that aren't found in stems cells from naturally conceived embryos.

Since unbilical cord blood can be harvested with no harm to mother or child, and is often from a natural conception, many see that as a preferable source of stem cells to embryonic stem cells.