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One of the greatest debates that plague our society is the continued practice of embryonic
stem cell research. This particular practice involves the use of stem cells taken from living
human embryos. This process, in turn, kills the embryo, thus destroying a human life. The
Catholic Church criticizes embryonic stem cell research, saying that the practice of research
using adult stem cells is far more sufficient. While scientists insist that further research into
embryonic stem cells will result in a successful application, many are at odds regarding the lethal
nature of the procedure. Embryonic stem cell research has proved to have insignificant findings
and it should be banned because it takes away the life of an innocent human being.
The use of stem cells is a practical method for curing and treating diseases and
conditions. Stem cells are prized for two reasons: they reproduce constantly and they
differentiate (Ráez 5). This ability to differentiate means that stem cells are not pre-specialized
and that they can transform into other cells of the human body, which makes them a commodity
among scientists. The type of stem cell most desired by scientists is the pluripotent stem cell.
Pluripotent stem cells arise from totipotent stem cells. Totipotent stem cells arise when
the sperm and egg meet to form the zygote. The zygote then splits to form totipotent cells. These
totipotent cells are the foundation of the body because they give rise to all cell types and they
have the potential to “develop into any type of tissue needed to build the body” (Daddona 1031).
Totipotent stem cells transform into the much needed pluripotent stem cells about four to six
days after fertilization. Pluripotent stem cells are able to “develop into any kind of cell in the
body” (Pavlat 10). They can form to become part of any tissue. Pluripotent stem cells are
preferred because they are “capable of moving from one organ [to another]” (Daddona 1031).
Pluripotent stem cells can be removed from many locations in the body, including the
brain, liver, fat, muscle, and most importantly, bone marrow (“Stem Cell Classification”). After
being removed from the donor or patient by injection, the stem cells are placed onto the damaged
tissue and mix with their “neighboring cells and [develop] into part of that tissue, replacing
damaged areas and strengthening the organ” (Daddona 1031). This allows the organ to become
partially treated for the better or to be strengthened and cured.
Most believe that pluripotent stem cells are only found in mature tissue. However,
pluripotent stem cells can be found about four days after fertilization. Pluripotent stem cells are
the cells that make up the blastocyst, “a several day year old embryo” (Pavlat 10). At this point in
time, the blastocyst is formed of an outer layer and an inner layer. The inner layer, called the
embryoblast, is composed entirely of pluripotent stem cells. The outer layer, called the
trophoblast, will become the placenta for the baby. The Catholic Church argues that embryonic
stem cell research is unethical because it destroys a human life. “The human embryo dies
immediately when stem cells are extracted from it, since at that stage of life, it is only formed of
stem cells in its internal layer and of the cells that will form the placenta in its external layer”
(Ráez 6).
The Church instead insists on continuing adult stem cell research. Adult stem cells can
come from tissue as young as a fetus. A stem cell belonging to “an older embryo, a fetus, or a
more mature individual is considered to be an adult stem cell” (Condic 1). Like embryonic stem
cells, adult stem cells are pluripotent. They are manipulated to “generate specific cell types so
that they can be used to treat injury or disease” (“Stem Cell Basics”). This technique has resulted
in many accomplishments for adult stem cell research. Adult stem cells have successfully cured
or treated over seventy diseases and conditions (Pavlat 11). A number of these include brain
cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, ovarian cancer, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and
various bone repairs (“Benefits of Adult Stem Cells”). There have been over one thousand two
hundred successful human trials completed using adult stem cells (Pavlat 12). Embryonic stem
cell research has not had that much success. Contrary to popular belief, embryonic stem cells
have neither cured nor treated any condition (Pacholczyk). Because of their immaturity and
energetic character, embryonic stem cells are very unstable and difficult to control (Pavlat 12).
As mentioned before, embryonic stem cells are favored over adult stem cells for their
potential and pluripotency. There are also many other factors hindering adult stem cells. They are
less pluripotent, which makes them less versatile (Pavlat 11). Most adult stem cells are already
pre-specialized as they have had more time to mature, which means that there are not as many
that can be moved to other organs of the body. Also, adult stem cells do not last as long as
embryonic stem cells because of their age and because there is a limited amount in each organ
(Ráez 21). The pluripotency of embryonic stem cells does not allow for these problems.
