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What is the controversy about stem cell research?

April 26, 2017biological sciences Biology biomedicine CELL controversy regenerative medicine Research stem stem cells

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What is the controversy about stem cell research?

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The controversy about stem cell research is focused on one specific source of these cells: human embryonic stem cells. Human embryonic stem cells are derived from the cells that make up the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, a hollow sphere of cells that forms about four days after a sperm has fertilized an egg. Human embryonic stem cell production requires the destruction of the fertilized egg, which is objectionable to those who believe life begins at conception. Both mouse and human embryonic stem cell lines exist. Mouse embryonic stem cells are capable of generating any and all cells in the body, under the right conditions, and are therefore said to be pluripotent. That is, they have unlimited potential as far as growth and differentiation.