What is the major controversy surrounding stem cell research? Why do you think this controversy exists?
The major controversy with stem cell research boils down to the definition of life! As a Christian, I believe that life starts at conception. That means when the 23 chromosomes from the egg and the 23 chromosomes from the sperm unite, life as God designed it begins. It doesn’t matter how those chromosomes come together—either by manipulation or the act of procreation—life starts as designed by God. Many names are applied to remove the human factor from the personhood of the embryo being destroyed, such as “fetus,” “embryo,” “pre-embryo,” “zygote,” “blastula,” “morula,” and my all-time favorite, “human cellular products” or “human biological matter.” All of these categories desensitize the public to the life that is actually there and being destroyed. I tell people whenever they see an embryo to give it a name, like Tom or Sue, and then follow what is happening to them during the research. Approaching it this way, people will not be confused with all the terms and can see it for what it
