Scientists, celebrities, politicians, reporters . . . from the average person to the president of the United States . . . it seems like everybody is talking about stem cells and their potential to cure some of the most debilitating human afflictions.

If you believe the hype, all we have to do is fund research on stem cells – specifically embryonic stem cells – and we’re on our way to medical utopia.

It’s not that simple. The hype has put a haze over the truth about embryonic stem cells: they are living human beings and must be protected, and there is a morally acceptable alternative by using adult stem cells.