Stem-Cell Research

Well, I don't know to much about it but I've been reading up on it, and I was wandering what everyones opinions on it was.

If your not to sure what it is, try reading up on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell


personally, Im pretty much for it, it seems like it has a good potential.

 

Wikipedia isn't always a reliable source for information, you should check out some of your countries government issued websites, they usually provide good information also


Medical websites also offer a great deal more info on diseases/cures/research/ect..

 

Stem cell research basically entails this:

- Stem cells are basically undifferentiated cells that can transform into pretty much any other kind of cell (brain, nerve, muscle, etc.).

- Embryo's have an abundance of stem cells that can be used for research.

- There are hundreds of thousands of frozen embryo's left over from failed in vitro attempts that, unless someone does something with them, will die soon.

- The scientists who want to research stem cells benefits to mankind want to take these embryos, and tear out the stem cells, effectively destroying the embryo.

- The Bush Administration is currently preventing American scientists from using these embryos to cultivate new stem cell supply lines, drastically limiting the research they can do.

 

I love how they allow abortions but they can't use stem cells which could ultimately be used to save people.

 

arent those the cells that are made when you were in your mothers stomach , those cells transformed later into your brain , liver etc. ; we all have those cells right now , but they do not create new brains rather replaces our lost blood when we lose it

 

They are cells that have yet to be developed into what they would be, so when a women gets an abortion the baby is not fully developed and has these cells you can use.

 

im for it,
bush is against it, i mean its going to help us out in the long run so why not..

 

Its better to use the ALREADY dead baby's cells to, in the end, save people but in the end they don't so on top of the already dead baby, more people who could be helped with this research could die.

 

I am for Stem Cell research...stem cells can be used to make pretty much any kind of cell.
For example, you get some disease and your liver is dying.

Since we get stem cells from embryos, it becomes a question of when life begins: when the egg is fertilzed, when the brain is developed when there is a second heartbeat...etc.

Personally i don't know when life begins, but killing embryos that are, in my opinion, not alive to save real people that are alive is pretty much common sense.

 

I think that it is a good idea. There are two main controversies. One being where you get it from(fetis of an unborn child) i think if a child is born dead then you should use them though i do think it's wrong to have a child jsut to abort it and get the stem cells. The other being that if you can "program" cells to do anything then could you create another human out of them. Though this is potentially true, couldn't you make a human out of organs from organ donars, thus making organ doning just as "wrong" as stem cells.

 

its a good idea. you are recycling the dead fetus's and you are saving other lives whilst you are at it.

hell yeah

 

It's really not so wrong if you think about it...

Medicine:
pros
keeps people from getting sick
cures people when they get sick
helps damaged things heal
heals/boosts the immune system
cons
Often has many side effects
sometimes makes the problems worse
people get addicted and can't stop using it

Stem Cell:
pros
Helps damaged things heal
could eventually keep people from getting sick
heals/boosts immune system
Cures paralysis and other nervous system/brain related illnesses
cons
Goes against some peoples religions
We don't exactly know much because it hasn't been tested extensively

As you can see, as far as we know the pros outweigh the cons on this subject. Until we research this more, and until someone finds something harmful about it, it should be legal.

(first post ever on sythe!!)

 

the reason bush outlawed it, is because it would cause such an ethical argument about killing the embryos that aren't alive (in my opinion).

It really doesn't matter what anyone outlaws in science. Someone somewhere is going to research it no matter what.

With stem cell and extensive DNA research, one day you could be able to choose what your child looks like; their hair color, eye color, skin color.
Say i don't like rainbow colored eyes... but i want clear eyes instead (only an example). Say noone wanted their child to have rainbow eyes, what would happen? A certain group of people with rainbow eyes would be eliminated. (a race of people)

But another question: Say your unborn son/daughter had a disease that would cause him/her to be handicapped. You can see this disease before the child is born and you have the option to never think about it again.

But what if that was fate...


(umm by the way...stem cell research was the topic i studied last year in science)

 

The Placenta is RICH in Stem Cells, the same type as found in Embryos. AND the good thing about it is, it is useless. Most of the time it is just chucked out when removed at birth BUT it can be preserved due to it being rich with these types of cells for the future use of it on the developing being. I really do support stem cell research if gone about by this means because after all, you're using an item rich in the Potential to cure many things, which is not a developing human.

And a good example of what staples said can be seen in the movie GATTACA (The name consists of some of the letters that make up the Human Genome(Human Genome Project=The Mapping of Human DNA))

 

I don't see why people are against it, I've never met anyone against it, in fact. Might as well use the dead baby cells to save another human. Why not? It seems like a no brainer to me.

 

For some reason, embryonic stem cells are superior to placental and adult human stem cells. Why would you want to use inferior stem cells?

 

Inferior? Well i've deemed them as Superior seeing as there is no Ethical or moral complications about whether or not this would be right, also Superior since there's less risk and just as much potential.

There is a type of cell in the placenta which is being tested and thus far has proven to be Equally as good, possibly better, and without the drawbacks of Embryonic Stem Cells. Embryonic stem cells have complications such as the possible generation of tumors. Scientists spread through the world have confirmed this and have marked it as a better alternative to Embryonic Stem Cells

http://health.dailynewscentral.com/content/view/0001454/44/

All i did to find this basic information was googled Placenta Stem Cells vs. Embryonic Stem Cells

 

In terms of how easily they can be coaxed to form other types of cells, embryonic stem cells remain the best.

In my mind, moral/ethical issues take a backseat to progress. Sure, if they were entirely equal, then you could use the placental cells if you wished. However, they're not equal.

 

I'm for it, it's a good idea as far as i'm concerned.

I remember that South Park episode had it, lulzfulness.

 

Wow...how can you not see that the many types of Cells in the placenta are just as equal and have none of the Drawbacks that Embryonic Stem Cells have, Such as Frequent Tumors as a result of Embryonic Stem Cell Research.

It's single track minds such as yourself whom will never get what they wish for, you want it one way and one way only, instead of going around a wall to get to the other side, you're just just gonna keep bashing into it to get to the other side, with your midset

Even scientists doing this research with Placental cells agree with each other that the cells are better than those of Embryonic Origins and are a better alternative without them being bound to Embryos