The early embryo from which stem cells are derived is a ball of cells smaller than a grain of sand. While it could become a person, it lacks any sort of human characteristics at this stage. However, many people are deeply offended at the thought of scientists working with a human embryo. There are legitimate religious and ethical concerns. Some feel embryos should be given the protection of human rights. Certainly, an informed debate is in order. Just as there are difficulties in deciding about when it is permissible to remove organs from accident victims, there are similarly no easy answers to this type of research.

Politicians and the public are most concerned about the direct use of embryonic stem cells being placed in other human beings, but scientists note that in the long run stem cells may be most valuable in the laboratory. If researchers can use stem cells to work out the complex steps involved in a medication's effect on the body, for example, it may prove that the major benefits are simply for research. Or if scientists were to determine that stem cells carried the genetic markers for cystic fibrosis, then this would permit them to explore possible cures using only the cells.

This debate is far from over. Scientists still need to determine exactly how stem cells could be of the most value, and in the meantime there will continue to be discussions about guidelines governing their use. . .

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