During the early life of an individual, the cells are undifferentiated, and cell division proceeds at a relatively rapid rate.

During the early life of an individual, the cells are undifferentiated, and cell division proceeds at a relatively rapid rate. These early cells, called stem cells, can give rise to lots of different kinds of cells, depending on their location in the embryo, and the chemical influences of their surroundings. As you might know, there is a current controversy over whether or not scientists should be allowed to culture and use stem cells from aborted embryos, or even from embryos originally created by in vitro fertilization in the laboratory, to study how this process of differentiation proceeds. Scientists maintain that this research may lead to cures for such diseases as Parkinson's disease, and even Alzheimer's disease. Many individuals, including President Bush, oppose the use of these embryonic cells as immoral. Here is a case where pure scientific research butts heads with certain members of society. Where do you stand? Should this kind of research be allowed? If so, what kinds of limits should be placed on these laboratories?

The stem cell debate is the ethical debate centered on creating and using theembryos to develop stem cell lines for transplantations. I support the causeas only and only embryonic stem cells have...