PanaceaPanacea- n. a cure for all ills, a universal remedy [Webster's 724]. Embryonic stem cell research has been one of the most strongly and intensely debated topics in the last five to ten years. While it's not literally a cure-all, it holds the key to the most exciting medical advances of the past 100 years. The controversy surrounding stem cell research is enormous because of the moral dilemma surrounding it. There is no doubt that everyone would like to have cures for diseases ranging from paralysis to Alzheimer's, but they must be willing to side with science for the betterment of humanity. Too many people form opinions about stem cell research without understanding what it is. In the 1960s, Canadian scientists Ernest McCulloh and James Till discovered the idea of ​​stem cells. A human embryo is born as a blastocyst, or the formation of a hollow ball of cells [Firpo par.3]. The cells then develop into specialized cells. Each group of specialized cells has specific tasks in the human body. Groups of cells continue to divide and grow into similar cells. Embryonic stem cells are special because as an embryo they have not yet specialized. This means they have the ability to divide into any type of specialized cell. In other words, embryonic stem cells are cells of the heart, brain, skin, or any other type of cell. In 1998, when Wisconsin biologist James Thomson successfully isolated and cultured embryonic stem cells, it became a realistic possibility that these stem cells could be used for possible cures for a vast number of diseases [Haymer 3]. It was thought at the time that the potential of stem cell research was unlimited. The controversy surrounding stem cell research is... at the heart of the paper... spending will not reflect public support received. “We are awaiting public comment on how to handle this sensitive issue,” said James Battey, vice president of the NIH, in an interview [Connolly 2]. The citizens of our country must understand what stem cells are and grasp the potential possibilities of embryonic stem cells. stem cell research. Too many people's outdated values ​​are hindering the achievement of modern science's goals of dramatically improving humanity's quality of life. “This should not be a moral issue. Stem cell lines are discarded by fertility clinics. Is it not better to save them for the promise of hope [...]” [American News par.9]. By understanding what stem cells are and the reasons to support their research, hopefully our country will cross the line and support embryonic stem cell research..