Arguments - AGAINST

1. There is a long, ongoing debate about whether embryos can be counted as lives,
and whether or not it is ethical and/or moral to extract the stem cells from them. Anti-
use arguers argue that embryos are of the same value of human lives, and should be
treated as such, I.e. not to be killed and have their stem cells used. The possibility for
life for the potential human that could've evolved from the embryonic stem cell is cut
short, and some argue that it is at a similar level to that of killing a human. It can be

seen as unethical to use these embryonic stem cells, to combat diseases such as liver.

2. There are many suitable alternatives to use over the embryonic stem cell method,
for example, adult stem cells. This argument is supported by anti-embryonic stem cell
use arguers and adult stem cell specialists. These arguers frequently state that the use
of adult stem cells in body parts such as umbilical cords have generated more reliable
and promising results. The money, time and resources used for embryonic stem cell
research could otherwise be invested into adult stem cell research, which could speed
up the research for adult stem cells, rather than slow it down by wasting money, time and
resources on embryonic stem cell research.

3. The so-claimed capacity and potential for embryonic stem cell research is yet to be
completely proven. Criticism is even received from researchers, "some of the public
pronouncements in the field of stem-cell research come close to over promising at best
and delusional fantasizing at worst.", quoted from Princeton University president and
geneticist Shirley Tilghman, which just shows how uncertain the future of embryonic stem
cell research is.


Cartoon 1: This cartoon shows a picture of an unborn embryo that is unsure whether it will even survive up to being born, due to embryonic stem cell research.

 Source: http://www.stmatthewsnj.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/Picture%202.png


Cartoon 2: This cartoon explains that it becomes quiet after an embryonic stem cell research lab opens up. This is implying that the laboratory kills babies, thus, why it is so apparently quiet.

Source: http://www.bioethics.gov/images/lauritzen_cartoon.gif