I've recently been studying iPS (induced pluripotent stem cells) - cells reprogrammed from a mature state to mimic human embryonic stem cells. Theoretically this means any cell in the body can be modified to differentiate into any other - a technique that can be used to grow specific cells, tissues or even whole organs. Their therapeutic potential is near endless.
Specifically, iPS cells are touted as the ethically sound alternative to using human embryos for experimentation and treatment. Most moral objections with stem cell experimentation revolve around the idea of using foetal tissue. Countless arguments exist, but I will simplify these (forgive me) under "rights to life". The embryo destroyed could be the next President or Einstein - what right do we have to prevent this?
iPS cells are not obtained from fertilised eggs but they are capable of producing cells from every germ layer of the relevant organism. In theory, this also means that if uninterrupted they will grow into a clone of the original cell donor [For the more science inclined reader: these cells may not be totipotent and without a placenta or host these embryos cannot be viable, but this is mostly true of embryonic stem cells too].
What is the difference between the human embryo and the man-made one? The only difference is origin, not potential. Are naturally created embryos in any way superior to their artificial counter-parts? Do they deserve different treatment?
I find myself thinking if something looks, swims and quacks like a duck then isn't it a duck? Surely this organism, regardless of source, has the same right to life as any other fertilised egg? Personally, my belief is that embryos have no rights at all, but the double standard seems unreasonable.
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