With the death of former president Ronald Regan, the issue of stem cell research has once again come into public debate. Many argue that there is a possibility for this research to help scientists to better understand and find a cure for diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Who wouldn’t want to find a cure for Alzheimer’s? I know I do. However, what price are we willing to pay?

For those unfamiliar with stem cell research, it involves scientists artificially fertilizing a human egg. The embryo develops until about the time it would attach itself to the uterus wall. Then, scientists destroy it for stem cells. This brings us to the controversy. Some, including myself, regard this as ending a human life.

My proposal is to study the life form that is most closely related to us: the ape. As fellow primates, apes are the perfect animal to test. They’re the closest to humans in their intellect and health, but more importantly in the way they develop. There are amazing similarities between humans and apes in embryonic development. However, ending the life of an ape embryo wouldn’t be surrounded in such moral controversy and would yield close to (if not the same) research results.

Another stem cell source is the umbilical cord. Although normally discarded, umbilical cords contain valuable young stem cells, all ready to be harvested.

These are just a few ways that destructive stem cell research could be avoided, and the sanctity of human life upheld – all while advancing science.

Alan Cyr, Lewiston

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