23 replies to this topic

[Stupendous Man]

Whats your take on the advancements currently in Stem-Cell research

[Godless-Liberal]

I am VERY pro-stem-cell research.  It is a viable and crucial science that has benefits for humanity. I would like to see the devastation of Alzheimers and Parkinson's disease cured.

[I Heart Dirk]

i agree, if there are fetuses that are being aborted anyway, why not use that unfortunate reality to cure disease?

[We Could Be Heroes]

I don't know much about his one?

what is a stem cell? why can they only get em from fetuses?

This post has been edited by Shanabing: 02 January 2006 - 12:01 PM

[Godless-Liberal]

From the National Institutes of Health:

Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.

[We Could Be Heroes]

but they only come out of fetuses?  

This post has been edited by Shanabing: 02 January 2006 - 12:02 PM

[Godless-Liberal]

Yes, and umbilical cords.

[Kaliratra]

Actually, no, everyone has stem cells, just less flexible than fetal stem cells.  I mean, how would skin become repaired if not for stem cells in our bodies?  It's just that adult stem cells don't do as much as the ones out of fetuses *shrugs*

This post has been edited by Kaliratra: 30 September 2006 - 02:51 AM

[Godless-Liberal]

Technically, we all have stem cells.  However, our adult stem cells don't have the abilities that the embryonic ones do.

This post has been edited by Shanabing: 02 January 2006 - 12:02 PM

[Kaliratra]

But that's what I had said...*cries*..................

[I Heart Dirk]

that's because embryonic stem cells aren't specialized yet, so they can be used for ANYTHING.. this is an amazing process that could cure many people... and not even necessarily hurt the babies... god people are stupid for even discouraging that..

[Kaliratra]

Interestingly, China's stem cell research, as well as genetic research and gene therapy, is much less restricted, so we might have to look to China for new research and developments

This post has been edited by Kaliratra: 19 December 2005 - 01:31 AM

[I Heart Dirk]

I heard that China also does live abortions (infanticide).. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but if so, then I don't know that we should necessarily look to them as a model..

[Kaliratra]

Or maybe they are just reaaaaaaaaaally ahead of us, hehe.
I haven't heard that because the current law is that anyone having more children than designated is heavily fined to the point of bankrupcy; people face economic punishments, not physical ones in this case.

This post has been edited by Shanabing: 02 January 2006 - 12:03 PM

[I Heart Dirk]

which is also inhumane, pregnancy is not always avoidable..

[Kaliratra]

But it is in a communist country!
*waves little red book in air*
"Your life for the party!"

[Shanabing]

I have no problem with china's measures to try and control its population.. when you have that much population concentrated into such a relatively tiny area, you MUST do something in order to sustain life as we know it. Over-population is not a good thing. Could they do it more humanely? Probably.. Should we worry about it? Not really.

As for Stem cell research, I'm against it.. I'm against any kind of scientific research that changes genes and mutates people so they can live longer. Rarely do we ever not use science for anything but purely selfish desires. Death is a necessity.

[Godless-Liberal]

Shanabing, on Jan 2 2006, 06:12 AM, said:

I have no problem with china's measures to try and control its population.. when you have that much population concentrated into such a relatively tiny area, you MUST do something in order to sustain life as we know it. Over-population is not a good thing. Could they do it more humanely? Probably.. Should we worry about it? Not really.

As for Stem cell research, I'm against it.. I'm against any kind of scientific research that changes genes and mutates people so they can live longer. Rarely do we ever not use science for anything but purely selfish desires. Death is a necessity.

I agree with the first paragraph.  

I disagree with the second.  If stem cell research can help save someone from the debilitating effects of Parkinsons or Alzheimers.  I've seen first-hand the devastation these diseases cause.

[Kaliratra]

Oh Shana hon, there's no such thing as a real necessity...
And besides, avoiding something because someone potentially could use it for ill is sacrificing a cure out of fear...

[Meshuga]

I don't agree with stem cell research
To me, a fetus is still a life, and to take a human life to do research is wrong.
No government would allow such a thing, but yet people want to allow research on fetuses...
Its contridictory in my opinion