Everyday, whether an adult or a child, individuals are sat down to receive the awful news that they have been diagnosed with fatal diseases. Diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are a few of them. Such illnesses are now considered as incurable and lethal. However, have not illnesses such as Polio seemed incurable to mankind at one point? The first Polio epidemic occurred in 1894, which spread fear and a contagious virus. It was not until 1955, that a vaccine for Polio was introduced. Although the cure took time, such medical advances have allowed the elimination of deadly diseases. Nevertheless, to obtain the cures for such illnesses a medical breakthrough is required. Medical professionals must take a leap of faith and experiment with unknown substances for the benefit of the people while following ethical regulations. Stem cell research is an example of such a breakthrough with the potential to largely benefit the medical world. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that have the ability to continuously divide themselves and become any other differentiated cell. Despite the ethical concerns, embryonic stem cell research has the potential for far reaching medical benefits and would allow scientists to explore new information regarding cell division and reproduction. Stem cells are known for two characteristics. They are unspecialized cells with the ability to renew themselves. Second, they are pluripotent, meaning that under certain conditions they can become a differentiated cell ("Frequently Asked Questions ). Because they are pluripotent, they may become any of the three germ layers in the body: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. The endoderm consists of the stomach, intestines, and the lungs; the mesoderm focuses on the muscle, blood and bone, while the ectoderm controls the skin and nervous system. During fetal development, most of the embryonic stem cells develop into differentiated cells. However, the remaining embryonic stem cells develop into adult stem cells, also called somatic stem cells ("The Nature of Stem Cells ). Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos, specifically from the inner cell mass. To obtain the cells, the inner cell mass must be excised from the embryo but because the inner cell mass is composed of the three germ layers and once taken out, the embryo dies. While adult stem cells remain in human bodies and are easier to obtain, embryonic stem cells are much more beneficial than adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells can become any differentiated cell but adult stem cells are limited in terms of what cells they may become. Embryonic stem cells are grown easily and multiply faster, while cultivating adult stem cells poses several problems for researchers, only finding few somatic cells ("Frequently Asked Questions ). Mentioning the word "fetus  and "destruction  often arouses controversy. The ethical and political controversy is centered on extracting the stem cells from the embryo. The only way to obtain the cells is by destroying the embryo, placing the moral status of an embryo into question. This research plays with two important principles: "the duty to prevent or alleviate suffering, and the duty to respect the value of human life  (Hug 108). Embryonic stem cell research poses an unruly question that places one in a position where one principle is of higher value than the other. There is not a global consensus to what should be done about embryonic stem cell research. With an ongoing pool on both sides, exists a moral dispute, ethical consequences versus the promise in the medical field. Extracting stem cells by destroying a human embryo is to some people ethically violating basic human principles. Others, however, argue that sacrifices must be made for the benefit of mankind. Opponents of the research argue it is immoral to destroy an embryo for such medical uses. People who share this perspective began a "pro-life  movement and advocate for the rights of the embryo. Many believe life beings with fertilization and therefore, regard the destruction of the embryo as a murder. Pro-lifers reason that the human embryo is equivalent to a human, regardless of the development stage, and is entitled to rights. They believe it is more important to save an embryo than exploit one to reduce suffering in human life. Counteracting the fact that embryonic stem cell research can lead to cures for fatal diseases, they explain that no cure has been yet obtained by this research. Instead, they claim that adult stem cell research holds the largest potential. Much like abortion, most religious leaders highly oppose the research. As Pope Benedict XVI said, "the destruction of human embryos to harvest stem cells is not only devoid of the light of God but is also devoid of humanity  (Kegnor, Paul). Embryonic stem cell research promises to cure over 70 diseases, including cancer, Parkinson's and diabetes, all of which are extremely costly illnesses. Fo