Stem Cell Basics
ADULT STEM CELLS
The extraction of stem cells from adults and umbilical cord blood causes no harm to the patient. These are completely life-affirming options of research. Cures to diseases can be found without killing human beings unlike Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research.
Research using stem cells obtained from adults and umbilical cord blood has been used to help thousands of people with various ailments. At least 73 different diseases or ailments have been treated with or helped by the use of adult stem cells including with Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, various forms of leukemia, heart damage, and various forms of cancer.
Research and treatments using stem cells from adults and umbilical cord blood have shown that these cells aren't likely to form tumors. Adult stem cells usually come from a patient's own body and have the same DNA as the patient so they don't face the risk of being rejected by the patient's body. The National Marrow Donor Program allows couples to donate the blood from their child's umbilical cord after birth. This blood is rich in stem cells and allows doctors to find matches to patients who need help.
EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS
The extraction of embryonic stem cells from a human embryo kills the human embryo, an innocent human being. Embryonic stem cell research forces one human being to sacrifice their life without consent in the vague hope that their cells might one day cure another human being. Embryonic stem cell research has yet to cure a single patient of a single disease.
To get people to support this kind of destructive research, proponents have created a fairy tale, promising that cures of many conditions are at the fingertips of scientists when this isn't the case. Research with embryonic stem cells has shown that these cells are often difficult to control and can form tumors when they are inserted into animals. Embryonic stem cells face the risk of rejection and Graft vs. Host disease because they come from the body of another human being and have different DNA.
Many researchers would like to get around this problem by creating cloned human embryos whose DNA would match the patient's DNA. Human embryos created by in-vitro fertilization don't need to be discarded or killed for research. These tiny human beings can be adopted by couples hoping to have children.
On May 24, 2005, President Bush appeared with 21 families who have adopted human embryos through the Snowflakes Frozen Embryo Adoption program of Nightlight Christian Adoptions.