In March 2016, 20-year-old Kris Boesen was driving down a wet road when his car suddenly spun out of control. It hit a tree and slammed into a telephone pole. The accident left Kris seriously injured. He had difficulty breathing on his own and was unable to move any of his limbs. Doctors confirmed that Kris was paralyzed from the neck down, but scientists had an idea that might help. They were conducting a study to test their theory that stem cells could help patients like Kris. After just three months, Kris had regained control of his upper body.

Stem cells are found in different parts of the human body, including in our blood. Stem cells are also found in fertilized human eggs, called embryos. Stem cells from embryos can develop into cells that do many different jobs in the human body. Scientists have also been working to grow replacement body parts for humans from stem cells.

Stem cell research is promising for doctors and their patients. New brain cells may help people who have had strokes or Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists also work to help people with diabetes by growing the cells that make insulin. But to obtain some stem cells, scientists must destroy a human embryo. Human embryos are usually obtained from unused fertilized eggs from In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). This is when a couple uses a reproductive specialist to help them have a child. For example, a couple has 10 eggs that have been fertilized but only uses four eggs to start their family. This couple then has six leftover embryos that can be donated to stem cell research.

Some people think that human life begins when an egg is fertilized. They think destroying a human embryo is like murder. They say scientists should only work with stem cells from adults. But scientists often find that stem cells taken from adults won’t grow into the many different kinds of human cells the way that stem cells from embryos do. Stem cells from embryos may be our only hope of curing some diseases.

Yet, however promising stem cell research is, many citizens oppose it. They object to having their tax dollars spent on something they think is unethical. Investigating stem cells and seeing their medical benefits takes years and costs millions.

What do you think? Should researchers be able to obtain funding from the government to investigate embryonic stem cells?