Stem Cell Controversy

Stem cells are utility and repair units of the body that serve a central function in the maintenance and regeneration of organs and tissues throughout life. Adult stem cells (ASC) derived from tissue sources such as bone marrow have been used in various medical therapies for several decades. In comparison, human embryonic stem cells (ESC) were not identified for the first time until 1998. Over the past decade, research in this area has been the subject of considerable political controversy in the United States. The controversy has often drawn public attention through media coverage, generally reflecting communication efforts by stakeholders on all sides of this issue.

In the early 1960s, scientists initiated research predominantly on stem cells taken from bone marrow and umbilical cord blood, with ...