Summary of some of the pros and cons of stem cells and therapeutic cloning

lCons:

• ¡ The scientific progress is slow, and many aspects of stem cells and cloning are poorly understood.
  
• ¡ There are many problems in identifying ES stem cells, and coaxing them to differentiate into specific tissues. The development of these tissues in embryonic development is complicated, and whether it can be replicated in a lab is unknown.
  
• ¡ Questions around what the source of eggs will be when and if stem cell therapies become a reality.
  
• ¡ For those who believe life start at conception, there are many issues around destroying an embryo to harvest stem cells.
  
• ¡ Many new advances in research on reversine, parthenogenesis & amniotic stem cells may reduce our need to pursue aggressive research into ES cells.
  

lPros:

• ¡ There is enormous potential to cure many debilitating and fatal diseases for which no cure currently exist
• ¡ The cloning aspect reduces or eliminates problems of tissue rejection
• ¡ Research is ongoing with many regular breakthroughs
• ¡ New embryos are not being created for stem cell research; the source of embryos for research is currently from IVF clinics