Ethical concerns in stem cell research

In the case of embryonic stem cell research, the end that scientists hope to achieve is the relief of human suffering. That is a humanitarian and worthy end is not in dispute. The controversy is about the means, namely, the consumption of the donated embryos. More particularly, embryonic stem cell research and therapy would use donated embryos that, by virtue of donor instructions, will never uttered. Recent research suggests that tumour formation may result from the development of cancer stem cells by the deregulation of normal self-renewal pathways of tissue stem cells.