Embryos at early stage still do not have the essential features of a human being as they lack a nervous system and are still not physically fully developed. Embryos can be obtained from labs, which have produced them through IVF but have never been implanted so instead of throwing it away we can use it for research and therapy for diseases.
There is no real harm in using embryos as they have no functional nervouse system, even more if they are produced in IVF. We think that there will be more good done by the tteatment of diseases and disorders than actually causing harm to obtain the stem cells. With the ability of regenerating them selves, stem cells have been used in the treatment of Stargardt's disease and leukaemia. Stargardt's disease is a disease, which is passed on to the offspring when both its parents carry mutations of a gene associated with vitamin A that is found in the eye. This disease generally refers to a group of inherited disease causing light-sensitive cells in the retina to deteriorate, especially in the area of the macula, which is where, focusing occurs. It can happen during early age or to adults too (most common when a child). During 2012 medical companies were researching and testing the use of stem cells and hoping to get a cure from it. In 2014 there was already an announcement of positive results from 'Advanced cell Technology.inc ' from its early stage clinical trials of using human embryonic stem cells. So probably in the near future there will be cures for the Stargardt's disease, however, now there are only trials.
Leukemia, which is a type cancer found in the blood which affects the white blood cells is already using stem cells to cure it. Leukemia consists of abnormal white blood cells, which can be caused by radiation, or sometimes our body produces too many mutant white blood cells. There are two types of Leukemia; there is the acute Leukemia and the Chronic Leukeamia.
