The source of stem cells determines whether the use is controversial. There appears to be universal support for using stem cells that are obtained from non-embryonic sources such as umbilical cord blood, placentas and bone marrow. The procurement of stem cells from these sources does not harm the donor. Strong disagreement ensues over experiments using stem cells collected from human embryos and fetuses.
http://www.stemcellschina.com/content/view/325/169/lang,en/
I seem to remember reading however that the processes used to create stem cells from non-embyonic sources are much less reliable, and because of this expensive. Theyre working on getting the rates of viable cells up to the same as embyonic ones (which even then the amount of embryos required to get enough viable cells is considerable if I remember correctly) however. This is what I was meaning in the tech lag between what Ive read about in the last month or two and what that website purports. Dont get me wrong, when it comes to the ethical debate of embryonic stem cell research Im all for it to be honest. Same with a lot of other research that has ethical issues.
in the FAQ on that site, very imformative.
Has embryonic stem cell research (which destroys human embryos) produced remedies in human beings?
No. Embryonic stem cell research has experienced only failures, including the worsening of Parkinsons
symptoms in one human test group. Since 1998, when researchers first isolated embryonic stem cells,
there has been no reports of a successful treatment for any human being using this type of cell.
Research using embryonic stem cells has been problematic. The cells have proven difficult to control.
Therapies with embryonic stem cells will have to overcome the problem of rejection by the immune systems
of recipients, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Has non-embryonic stem cell research produced remedies in human beings?
Yes. Doctors have used bone marrow and cord blood stem cells for more than 40 years,
according to NIH. Research using non-embryonic stem cells has provided treatments for
numerous medical conditions, including spinal cord injuries, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis,
sickle cell anemia, lupus, strokes, Parkinson’s disease, Crohns disease, heart damage and some
types of cancer. Non-embryonic stem cells have been used to treat 80 different ailments, according
to Do No Harm: The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics. Remarkably, there are three documented
cases of paraplegics regaining the ability to walk after having undergone non-embryonic stem cell treatment.
Why is stem cell research controversial?
The source of stem cells determines whether the use is controversial.
There appears to be universal support for using stem cells that are obtained from non-embryonic sources
such as umbilical cord blood, placentas and bone marrow. The procurement of stem cells from these sources
does not harm the donor. Strong disagreement ensues over experiments using stem cells collected from human
embryos and fetuses.