They could be cells that heal broken nerve cells, offering the possibility of treating Parkinson's disease, and could be used in internal organs to treat diabetes or heart failure. The problem is that scientists insist on obtaining these stem cells from embryonic human beings. By dissecting embryos for their stem cells, they kill the embryo just as dissecting adult humans for their body parts would kill them. So stem cell research raises substantial pro-life concerns. But it doesn't have to.
Stem cells are readily available from other sources.
Placentas and umbilical cords are rich in stem cells. So are some adult tissues like bone marrow and the nervous system. Already scientists treating cancer and doing research on leukemia are using blood cell-producing stem cells from bone marrow as well as stem cells from the umbilical cords in live births. And scientists have also discovered an enzyme that could lead to new ways to regenerate adult tissue, giving new life to old cells. Frankly, these sources of tissue regeneration may be just as promising for advances in transplant therapy as stem cells.