While it may be true that stem cell research provides a window for doctors to do medical procedures such as transplants without taking an organ from another person, it also has its downsides.

Although medical professionals believe that stem cell research will alleviate many medical problems we have today and a number treatments already exist as a result of stem cell research, they are very rarely used because they are tend to be experimental and are not very cost effective. Also, there is a great deal of social and scientific uncertainty surrounding current stem cell research. This can only be overcome through years of intensive research, as well as through gained acceptance of the public.

Many technical difficulties still remain, and these hinder the ultimate goals in the stem cell research therapeutics. Expanding the stem cell populations that were extracted from the patients also remains a huge problem. Implanted stem cells may not expand or grow efficiently enough to add the needed corrective factor required for treatment benefit.

In addition, although stem cells may be obtained from bone marrow and the pancreas from adults, some stem cells used currently are taken from embryos and fetuses of human babies. This leads to rising problems on the black market for human organs, and a rising problem of embryos and fetuses being sold illegally by doctors themselves.

Stem cell research has led to controversial religious and social issues. Also, Embryonic Stem Cells, or ES Cells, have been found to have a tendency for creating tumors in their hosts. In my opinion, Embryonic Stem Cell research should not be allowed given the many drawbacks.  Save the Embryos! They are people too!