[syriacus]

Because all [non-human] forms of life are "lower".

Bingo!!

The essent�ial question is

Why do some embryonic stem cell researchers want to tinker with human embryos specifically?

The answer is: Because they know that human embryos grow to be bigger humans, rather than bigger cats or dogs or cows .

Human embryos are not merely potentially human.

Human embryos are essentially human.

If someone traded non-human embryos for human embryos in an ESCR lab, the researchers would become very agitated. !!

If the non-human embryos were equivalent to the human embryos, the researchers would not care.

As you so aptly pointed out...human embryos are different than other embryos.

They are a treasure that should not be destroyed.

[syriacus]

Human embryos

So precious that researchers demand hundreds of them

Human embryos

Not precious enough to deserve to live

[syriacus]

The Darker Side of Slogans

I'm glad I'm not an embryo, growing on a plate.
I was treated better in the past, than humans are of late.
"Life enhancement",
"Man's advancement"
Can elevate...

...or just sedate.

[jas3]

They are a treasure that should not be destroyed.

Or, an alternative view is that they might develop into a treasure that should not be destroyed, but until they do, they are not yet worthy of moral or legal protection.

jas3