Authors Best & Kellner continue, "The Pope and critics of stem cell research argue that once a sperm and egg are mixed into an embryo, no matter what the medium, there is a human life with all of its rights and sacredness" (Best & Kellner, 2004, p. 216). This really comes down to the same debate that people argue over in abortion - when does life begin? Proponents of stem cell research argue that human life does not begin until the brain and spinal cord form, about 14 days into the life of an embryo, and stem cells are usually taken from embryos younger than this. Opponents of the research argue that life begins at conception, even if it is in a Petri dish in the laboratory. In addition to the embryo concerns, many people believe that stem cell research could lead to human cloning, and there are few people who approve of this procedure. Thus, the entire debate is controversial and contentious, and it is one of the biggest hurdles that stem cell research has to get over to continue and grow.

             There is a problem with the controversy surrounding stem cell research. Much of it is based on misunderstanding by the public. They believe that human embryos are the main source of stem cells. They do not understand that scientists can grow embryos in the laboratory, and that the stem cells can also be cloned, or recreated. In addition, adult stem cells that come from bone marrow, fat, blood, and other tissues, can also be used in stem cell research. Therefore, stem cells do not necessarily have to come from embryos, they can come from other areas as well, and research shows that adult stem cells react almost exactly the same as embryonic stem cells in most situations (Best & Kellner, 2004, p. 215). However, there are some situations where embryonic stem cells offer advantages. .

             There are many advantages to funding stem cell research right now. First, costs always increase, and the longer scientists wait, the more expensive it will become.