the beginning

Having some basic knowledge on what stem cells really are can help people make informed decisions about their personal position on the issue. I think it is particularly important for Missourians to understand what exactly is embryonic stem cell research and the major issues surrounding it because this November (2006) it will be on the Missouri ballot. In order for voters to express their true beliefs on the ballot they must be as informed as possible. Here, I would like to explore the two opposing arguments surrounding embryonic stem cell research.
The controversy surrounding embryonic stem cell research is directly related to ethics. Basically, what everything boils down to is this…where does life begin??

As you know from the background information, embryonic stem cells can only be obtained for research purposes by destroying an embryo about 5 days after conception (fertilization of egg with sperm). Those opposed to embryonic stem cell research see conception as the beginning of life and thus destroying an embryo is the same as taking a life. I know it is hard to believe that a mass of 50-150 cells can be considered human life and some proponents of the research take a different view. Some proponents of the research believe human life begins when electrical conduction through the cells arises, this happens about 14 days after conception. Thus a 50-150 cell blastocyst that is present only a few days after conception isn’t technically a human life, therefore its destruction is not unethical. Frankly, no one knows when life begins. Intuitively, it would seem life begins at conception, but if you think about it for a while, you begin to wonder if there really is a definitive point in time when a network of cells becomes a human life. Is it a gradual process that occurs in degrees? Is it logical to assume % human life? What I mean by this is could something (like a network of cells) be 50% human, 89% human? These are just a few of the countless questions desperately in need of answering before the controversy over stem cells can be resolved. I encourage you to decide for yourself when life begins. Is it at conception, after a set number of days (14?) or is it a matter of degrees? Answering this question for yourself is the first step in determining your stance on the issue of embryonic stem cell research.