Although I’ve never lost a loved one to Alzheimer’s disease, my interest in stem-cell research comes in part from my family. My cousin was conceived through in-vitro fertilization. He was one of the embryos that people are talking about destroying for medical research. Scientifically speaking, if that embryo had been destroyed, my young cousin Stephen would not have been born.
Other options exist for the “leftover” embryos of IVF. Many women struggling with infertility would be delighted to carry one of them to term. The babies would bring joy to many families. In spite of what you’re hearing (or not hearing) in the media, other sources of stem cells exist–sources that do not require destroying human embryos. Adult stem cells hold great promise for medical treatments and, to my understanding, have surprised scientists by their adaptability.
Please remember Stephen when you consider harvesting human embryos for their cells. We should not destroy human embryos to prolong the lives of others, especially when alternatives exist.
