The Great Stem Cell Debate: Understanding the Options

The debate regarding human embryo stem cell research and cloning has been a hot topic across the United States and in Michigan. Much misinformation has been circulated regarding this type of research. Unfortunately, Governor Jennifer Granholm added to the misinformation by saying Michigan has a ban on embryonic stem cell research and that the ban is hindering the state’s scientific and economic advancement. Michigan law properly prohibits human cloning and the destruction of live human embryos, but, unfortunately, it does not prohibit research on embryonic stem cells imported from outside of Michigan.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, “Ms. Granholm is peddling empty promises that exploit desperately ill people.”

Michigan’s life sciences industry has been steadily growing for a decade. The laws preventing cloning and the destruction of live human beings have not hindered this growth.

Listing said, “The Governor’s economic development corporation on its web site boasts about Michigan’s effective life sciences research corridor. When we look at the facts, it appears the Governor’s statement may be little more than election year grandstanding. That serves neither those Michigan citizens with serious illnesses nor the economy of our state.”

Check out the facts below on stem cell research.

Adult Stem Cell Research
The extraction of stem cells from adults and umbilical cord blood causes no harm to the patient. These are completely life-affirming options of research. Cures to diseases can be found without killing human beings.

Research using stem cells obtained from adults and umbilical cord blood has been used to help thousands of people with various ailments. At least 65 diseases have been helped with the use of adult stem cells including Parkinson’s, spinal cord injuries, various forms of leukemia, heart damage and forms of cancer.

Research and treatments using stem cells from adults and umbilical cord blood have shown that these cells aren’t likely to form tumors. Adult stem cells usually come from a patient’s own body and have the same DNA so they don’t face the risk of being rejected.

The National Marrow Donor Program allows couples to donate the blood from their child’s umbilical cord after birth. This blood is rich in stem cells and allows doctors to find matches to patients who need help.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research
The extraction of embryonic stem cells from a human embryo kills the human embryo, an innocent human being. Embryonic stem cell research forces some human beings to be sacrificed.

Embryonic stem cell research has yet to cure a single patient of a single disease.

Research with embryonic stem cells has shown that these cells are often difficult to control and can form tumors when they are inserted into animals.

Embryonic stem cells face the risk of rejection and Graft v. Host disease because they come from the body of another human being and have different DNA. Many researchers would like to get around this problem by creating cloned human embryos.

Creating human embryos for research, which includes cloning the patient and then destroying the cloned child to treat the patient is unacceptable. You cannot kill people in the name of trying to cure people.

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