Cord Blood Stem Cells Information

Stem Cell Research?

An embryo is considered "alive" after 3 months of conception - so, i want to ask, are stem cells harvested before or after 3 months? Does the harvesting harm the embryo? Now please, Im quite aware of the other stem cells (adult, cord blood, etc) but my questions regards EMBRYONIC cells. This is a question, not a debate topic. Please refrain from starting one. Thank you.

Public Comments

First off, it isn't a good idea to start a question with a statement saying exactly when an embryo is considered alive, then stating that you don't want a debate. I don't know where you heard the 3 month idea (legal?), but it isn't scientific... Embryonic stem cell extraction might be possible at a very early (4-8 cell) stage without destroying the embryo. At early stages, the extraction of one cell does not always destroy the embryo. There is also exciting research on extracting embryonic stem cells from the placenta and umbilical cord. All stem cell research is in the very early stages and many exciting discoveries should come in the next few years.
Waaaaay before 3 months. In vitro fertility clinics store frozen embryos from very early stages after fertilization (typically less than 100 cells I believe).
As you mention there are different types of stem cells. Since stem cells are more of an Idea than a practical tool so far we don't know which types we need to use for different cures (if any). Since we dont know exactly which cell types are going to fix a problem if any, then depending on the exact question differnt cell types are used from different stages. Sometimes harmful/lethal to the embryo, others less so. There is no widely practiced medical techniques that use any types of stem cells yet. Initial experimental cases show some promise of treating specific diseases, but the process is far from worked out. Once we work out the process we will know what type of stem cells we need, until then we have to just make good guesses. Due to the political nature of the debate various definitions such as "Alive", "Harm" and "Embryonic" have very different meanings to different people.