OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

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Why are embryonic stem cells controversial?

They are difficult to create
They require a special environment
Embryos are destroyed in the process
They can create superbugs

The correct answer is: Embryos are destroyed in the process

Embryonic stem cells are controversial primarily because their extraction involves the destruction of human embryos. This practice raises significant ethical concerns, as many individuals and groups believe that human life begins at conception and that embryos deserve moral consideration. The debate revolves around the balance between the potential medical benefits of stem cell research, which can lead to breakthroughs in regenerative medicine and the treatment of various diseases, versus the moral implications of destroying embryos for research purposes. This ethical dilemma is at the heart of the controversy surrounding embryonic stem cell research, making it a highly debated topic in both scientific and public domains.