Fetal Stem Cells

The fetal stage is a critical phase in the development of all vertebrate organisms. At the fetal stage, the organism has developed the basic structures of most of its respective organ systems. These organ systems arise from the differentiation of progenitor stem cells into differentiated daughter cells. Fetuses have extraordinarily high numbers of stem cells for the purpose of creating these organ systems. The study of fetal stem cells can provide remarkable insight into the development of organisms and there may be many practical [Page 410]applications for the use of fetal stem cells. However, the ethical considerations surrounding the use of fetal stem cells have sparked heated debates worldwide. Studying fetal stem cells in an ethically acceptable manner is a crucial field of past and ...