|
Advantages
- Rare plants could be saved from extinction
- They could be used to treat conditions such as paralysis (by differentiating into new nerve cells), muscular degeneration in the eye to restore lost vision and diabetes (by producing cells that are sensitive to blood sugar and can control insulin)
- Plants could be produced with special features, such as resistance to disease
- Large populations of genetically differentiated plants ca be produced for scientific research
|
Disadvantages
- Some people believe that is a violation of the embryo's rights as it cannot give permission
- Some people believe that we should not interfere with the natural process of reproduction
- Embryonic stem cells divide rapidly so it could cause cancer
- Adult stem cells can transmit viruses to another person or trigger an immune response
- Scientists are finding it difficult to 'persuade' stem cells to differentiate and development of the process is proving slow and expensive
- Some people think that a lot of money, which could be used for finding cures for other medical conditions, is being wasted on stem cell research
|
Comments
No comments have yet been made