I agree with you Elinor. To me, life begins at the moment of conception.
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Stem Cell Research
- Thread starter debra myers
- Start Date
I used to have great debates with the head chemist at a place I used to work. He was a member of the Communist party and very humanist,but a good man for all of that. When he got the most adamant about the supremacy of science I would simply ask him to produce one blade of grass on the desk top...not plant and grow it,but produce it from atoms...
As an exercise I would ask each of you,in the privacy of your own home..to just make up a list of all the characteristics you would edit out of human kind if you had the power. No need to publish it here. Don't be frivolous but give this some serious thought. When you are done..think about how many people in the world would be eliminated if your list was the blueprint for a New Order type group. Now what if YOU failed to meet the blueprint of someone else? Or your children?? Beginning to sound chillingly familiar?? I am very afraid of putting this ability in the hands of a group which could easily contain a budding Joe Stalin or an Adolph Hitler.
Humanity needs to do a LOT of growing up before we can say in truth that this CANNOT happen.
As an exercise I would ask each of you,in the privacy of your own home..to just make up a list of all the characteristics you would edit out of human kind if you had the power. No need to publish it here. Don't be frivolous but give this some serious thought. When you are done..think about how many people in the world would be eliminated if your list was the blueprint for a New Order type group. Now what if YOU failed to meet the blueprint of someone else? Or your children?? Beginning to sound chillingly familiar?? I am very afraid of putting this ability in the hands of a group which could easily contain a budding Joe Stalin or an Adolph Hitler.
Humanity needs to do a LOT of growing up before we can say in truth that this CANNOT happen.
Stem cell research... do you know what it's all about?
President Bush has endorsed limited stem cell research
but what does that mean?
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1728.86336
How does this decision affect scientific and medical research?
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1728.86328
Get the facts from the WebMD News Center.
http://my.webmd.com/medcast_channel_toc/3734
President Bush has endorsed limited stem cell research
but what does that mean?
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1728.86336
How does this decision affect scientific and medical research?
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1728.86328
Get the facts from the WebMD News Center.
http://my.webmd.com/medcast_channel_toc/3734
Stem Cell Research.. I do support it. It can save many lives.. and it can also prevent those that live in misery due to spinal injuries, cancers, diseases, etc to have a healthy and happy life again. I'm 100% for it.
Cloning.. it gives me the creeps. Cloning someone or something for that matter.. is just dangerous. I mean.. the population of the world right now is enough... we have plenty of REAL people in this world now.. must we add clones?! Then you also have religious beliefs.
Oh Elinor! I think it was you that was talking about how society would treat the clones. Well.. unless the clones are marked in a certain way.. how would you even know if they are clones?? Since they would look, walk, talk, breath, eat, and sleep exactly like a real human being. Hell, you could be dating a clone and not even know it if the clone didn't tell you! HOW SCARY IS THAT?!?! *runs away screaming*
Cloning.. it gives me the creeps. Cloning someone or something for that matter.. is just dangerous. I mean.. the population of the world right now is enough... we have plenty of REAL people in this world now.. must we add clones?! Then you also have religious beliefs.
Oh Elinor! I think it was you that was talking about how society would treat the clones. Well.. unless the clones are marked in a certain way.. how would you even know if they are clones?? Since they would look, walk, talk, breath, eat, and sleep exactly like a real human being. Hell, you could be dating a clone and not even know it if the clone didn't tell you! HOW SCARY IS THAT?!?! *runs away screaming*
U.S. Firms Seek Mass Cloning of Chickens -Magazine
Reuters
Aug 15 2001 2:12PM
LONDON (Reuters) - Two U.S. companies are attempting to clone chickens on a huge scale, moving factory farming into a new era but alarming animal welfare activists, the New Scientist magazine reported on Wednesday.
A breakthrough is some way off but the U.S. National Institute of Science and Technology has given Origen Therapeutics from California and Embrex in North Carolina $4.7 million to fund research.
Factory farming of chickens, which are often pumped full of antibiotics and kept in cramped conditions, already causes outrage within the animal welfare lobby.
But the poultry industry would welcome disease-resistant birds that grow faster on less food.
"Producers would like the same meat quantity but to use reduced inputs to get there," Mike Fitzgerald of Origen told the magazine.
The company aims to breed or genetically engineer a chicken with the required traits and then "bulk-grow" embryonic stem cells taken from fertilized eggs as soon as they are laid.
Those cells will then be injected into the embryo of a fertilized recipient egg.
Origen has a patent on the process still at the application stage. Embrex produces machines that can inject vaccines into up to 50,000 eggs an hour, the magazine said.
Reuters
Aug 15 2001 2:12PM
LONDON (Reuters) - Two U.S. companies are attempting to clone chickens on a huge scale, moving factory farming into a new era but alarming animal welfare activists, the New Scientist magazine reported on Wednesday.
A breakthrough is some way off but the U.S. National Institute of Science and Technology has given Origen Therapeutics from California and Embrex in North Carolina $4.7 million to fund research.
Factory farming of chickens, which are often pumped full of antibiotics and kept in cramped conditions, already causes outrage within the animal welfare lobby.
But the poultry industry would welcome disease-resistant birds that grow faster on less food.
"Producers would like the same meat quantity but to use reduced inputs to get there," Mike Fitzgerald of Origen told the magazine.
The company aims to breed or genetically engineer a chicken with the required traits and then "bulk-grow" embryonic stem cells taken from fertilized eggs as soon as they are laid.
Those cells will then be injected into the embryo of a fertilized recipient egg.
Origen has a patent on the process still at the application stage. Embrex produces machines that can inject vaccines into up to 50,000 eggs an hour, the magazine said.
I am not completly informed of the whole situation, so if my thoughts stray, someone jump in and help get me set straight.
I am all for finding cures for the horrible diseases and traumas that life has delt us to deal with. If the stem cells were to come from an already existent source, I am in favor of it. Mabye this next thought is a little off the wall, but here goes. Having suffered for several years with infertility, the thought of artifical insemination(sp) crossed my mind. The woman has several eggs harvested for the fertilization process. This process takes place in a dish. In my mind there is the possibility that ten eggs could be fertilized, but the hopeful couple could be told that only four made it.
Is it possible that the other eggs could be raised to the point needed for the cells? If any of that could be possible, as an expecting parent, I would come loose at the seams to know that I could have had more kids, alive and running around.
As far as cloning, I think it is wrong. It would be wonderful if medicine could go to the point that much needed organs could be cloned to help with the transplant process. But then again, if stem cells are a new hope for science, the problem with the diseased organ could be taken care of.
I am all for finding cures for the horrible diseases and traumas that life has delt us to deal with. If the stem cells were to come from an already existent source, I am in favor of it. Mabye this next thought is a little off the wall, but here goes. Having suffered for several years with infertility, the thought of artifical insemination(sp) crossed my mind. The woman has several eggs harvested for the fertilization process. This process takes place in a dish. In my mind there is the possibility that ten eggs could be fertilized, but the hopeful couple could be told that only four made it.
Is it possible that the other eggs could be raised to the point needed for the cells? If any of that could be possible, as an expecting parent, I would come loose at the seams to know that I could have had more kids, alive and running around.
As far as cloning, I think it is wrong. It would be wonderful if medicine could go to the point that much needed organs could be cloned to help with the transplant process. But then again, if stem cells are a new hope for science, the problem with the diseased organ could be taken care of.
I don't think cloning is right in any way at all!
I think it is immoral (even though I am not religous)! I look at it this way: I don't want another me running around the earth! :tounge2: Also, by cloning, you are duplicating diseases or what not, and to me that is another no-no! It is sick that scientists would even want to clone a human being. Heck, what happens if they clone a human and the human doesn't turn out right for some reason? What are they going to do? Kill it? Kind of reminds me of The 6th Day, and that would really suck to have 2 of me running around..... No, it sickens me!
As for stem-cell reasearch, now that is a different story. I don't like the thought of abortions, I think it is wrong, yet a woman's choice. But, if the embryo or fetus (sorry, I can't think right now) is going to be used for research to help people with diseases then do it....... they will be helping a lot of people..... saving peoples lives!
That is my 2 cents worth!
As for stem-cell reasearch, now that is a different story. I don't like the thought of abortions, I think it is wrong, yet a woman's choice. But, if the embryo or fetus (sorry, I can't think right now) is going to be used for research to help people with diseases then do it....... they will be helping a lot of people..... saving peoples lives!
That is my 2 cents worth!
Wow, what a fascinating thread!
Stem cell research - I think it should be heavily monitored but should be allowed to an extent. I think they are using very young embryos, even before they can be called embryos. I think that before there is a heartbeat and basic formation of organs, this is not yet a baby but rather a potential for a baby. Therefore if they use these fertilized eggs that are going to be thrown away anyway, I'm fine with it. If they ever want to use older embryos (beyond 4-5 weeks old) I would be uncomfortable with it, as that would mean using actual embryos taken out of a woman's womb and not the divided eggs grown in a dish.
Another thought - I would much rather see scientists use fetal cells under these conditions, rather then have experiments carried out on animals. I know that cats are often used in neorulogical reserach in very painful ways. If they can switch to using stem cells I'm all for it.
As for cloning, I really can't see how recreating one of the parents is a reasonable solution to infertility... I don't think clones should be treated any differentlt than others. They would be individuals in their own right, just like identical twins are. I think research into cloning animals has a long way to go before cloning of humans should be undertaken, if al all. Like hissy said, there seem to be far too mant side effects, such as early aging etc.
I think cloning humans poses tons of moral problems. I am not concerned with the "playing God" aspect, as this can be said of many medical procedures (in particular In vitro fertilization). I just think the option of creating humans for spare parts or for other terrible reasons might be too attractive for tyrants...
Just my 2 cents...
Stem cell research - I think it should be heavily monitored but should be allowed to an extent. I think they are using very young embryos, even before they can be called embryos. I think that before there is a heartbeat and basic formation of organs, this is not yet a baby but rather a potential for a baby. Therefore if they use these fertilized eggs that are going to be thrown away anyway, I'm fine with it. If they ever want to use older embryos (beyond 4-5 weeks old) I would be uncomfortable with it, as that would mean using actual embryos taken out of a woman's womb and not the divided eggs grown in a dish.
Another thought - I would much rather see scientists use fetal cells under these conditions, rather then have experiments carried out on animals. I know that cats are often used in neorulogical reserach in very painful ways. If they can switch to using stem cells I'm all for it.
As for cloning, I really can't see how recreating one of the parents is a reasonable solution to infertility... I don't think clones should be treated any differentlt than others. They would be individuals in their own right, just like identical twins are. I think research into cloning animals has a long way to go before cloning of humans should be undertaken, if al all. Like hissy said, there seem to be far too mant side effects, such as early aging etc.
I think cloning humans poses tons of moral problems. I am not concerned with the "playing God" aspect, as this can be said of many medical procedures (in particular In vitro fertilization). I just think the option of creating humans for spare parts or for other terrible reasons might be too attractive for tyrants...
Just my 2 cents...
Cassie yes I guess that is true to a degree that a lot of people would not know a person was a clone. It just seems though that kind of thing would come out if enough people knew and some didnt like it. That could include some family members and friends of the family.
You are right that they could date someone and not tell. As far as health issues(children etc.) go I dont know of course if they would have to tell their fiancee before marriage. Maybe not.
This is a very interesting topic and I enjoy reading the thoughts of others.
You are right that they could date someone and not tell. As far as health issues(children etc.) go I dont know of course if they would have to tell their fiancee before marriage. Maybe not.
This is a very interesting topic and I enjoy reading the thoughts of others.
I believe that man is making enough money now off of the innocents in this world by selling unwanted Baby parts. It seems to me the whole issue is like everything else GREED
my 2 cents worth too!!!
my 2 cents worth too!!!
Harvard to Become Supplier of Stem Cells
Reuters
Aug 24 2001 5:51PM
BOSTON (Reuters) - The nation's largest fertility clinic said on Friday it plans to begin providing Harvard University scientists with leftover embryos for stem-cell research by the end of the year in what could make the school one of the world's top suppliers of embryonic stem cells.
Harvard University said the decision by fertility clinic Boston IVF would be a major boost for its stem-cell research program. "We're pleased the work is going on here," spokeswoman Sally Baker said. "It's quite important."
Dr. Doug Powers, director of Boston IVF's laboratory, confirmed a Boston Globe report on Friday that Harvard researchers planned to offer the new stem cells to any interested scientist at no cost and with no commercial restrictions.
Researchers envision using the cells, which can transform into virtually any cell type in the body, to develop treatments for a wide range of medical conditions, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, juvenile diabetes and spinal cord injuries. The cells would be used to regenerate healthy tissue to replace tissue wasted by disease or injury.
Scientists who use stem cells provided by the Harvard-Boston IVF program would appear to be ineligible for federal funding for their research under a policy recently announced by President Bush.
Bush, in an Aug. 9 address, said government money would only be used to pay for research on stem cells already in existence at that time.
Extracting stem cells from an embryo destroys the embryo, which opponents consider akin to taking a life. Bush's policy was a compromise aimed at allowing research to go forward on stem cells that already existed without encouraging further destruction of embryos to obtain new stem cells.
The president defended his restrictive policy at a news conference on Friday, saying officials from the National Institutes of Health assured him there were enough stem cells available to allow scientists to determine whether their research could "yield the results necessary to save lives."
CONTACTING DONOR COUPLES
Boston IVF already has contacted donor couples for permission to use their embryos so Harvard can begin extracting stem cells, Powers told Reuters.
"Of the handful of couples we've contacted, they seem to be quite interested," Powers said, adding that a "decision to donate won't come up until they finish infertility treatment."
The arrangement between the fertility clinic and the university is part of a three-way collaboration with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a nonprofit medical research and philanthropic organization in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
The lead researcher on the project is Dr. Doug Melton, chairman of Harvard's molecular and cellular biology department. Melton is also employed as an investigator for the Howard Hughes institute and receives funding to research diabetes treatments.
Several years ago, Melton, whose son has diabetes, approached Powers about getting leftover embryos to extract stem cells for his research, Powers said.
Boston IVF was one of the first centers in the United States to engage in the study of stem cells.
Reuters
Aug 24 2001 5:51PM
BOSTON (Reuters) - The nation's largest fertility clinic said on Friday it plans to begin providing Harvard University scientists with leftover embryos for stem-cell research by the end of the year in what could make the school one of the world's top suppliers of embryonic stem cells.
Harvard University said the decision by fertility clinic Boston IVF would be a major boost for its stem-cell research program. "We're pleased the work is going on here," spokeswoman Sally Baker said. "It's quite important."
Dr. Doug Powers, director of Boston IVF's laboratory, confirmed a Boston Globe report on Friday that Harvard researchers planned to offer the new stem cells to any interested scientist at no cost and with no commercial restrictions.
Researchers envision using the cells, which can transform into virtually any cell type in the body, to develop treatments for a wide range of medical conditions, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, juvenile diabetes and spinal cord injuries. The cells would be used to regenerate healthy tissue to replace tissue wasted by disease or injury.
Scientists who use stem cells provided by the Harvard-Boston IVF program would appear to be ineligible for federal funding for their research under a policy recently announced by President Bush.
Bush, in an Aug. 9 address, said government money would only be used to pay for research on stem cells already in existence at that time.
Extracting stem cells from an embryo destroys the embryo, which opponents consider akin to taking a life. Bush's policy was a compromise aimed at allowing research to go forward on stem cells that already existed without encouraging further destruction of embryos to obtain new stem cells.
The president defended his restrictive policy at a news conference on Friday, saying officials from the National Institutes of Health assured him there were enough stem cells available to allow scientists to determine whether their research could "yield the results necessary to save lives."
CONTACTING DONOR COUPLES
Boston IVF already has contacted donor couples for permission to use their embryos so Harvard can begin extracting stem cells, Powers told Reuters.
"Of the handful of couples we've contacted, they seem to be quite interested," Powers said, adding that a "decision to donate won't come up until they finish infertility treatment."
The arrangement between the fertility clinic and the university is part of a three-way collaboration with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a nonprofit medical research and philanthropic organization in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
The lead researcher on the project is Dr. Doug Melton, chairman of Harvard's molecular and cellular biology department. Melton is also employed as an investigator for the Howard Hughes institute and receives funding to research diabetes treatments.
Several years ago, Melton, whose son has diabetes, approached Powers about getting leftover embryos to extract stem cells for his research, Powers said.
Boston IVF was one of the first centers in the United States to engage in the study of stem cells.
I am searching for a feline stem cell bone marrow transplant program for my cat. He has had two blood transfusions now and may only get two more which leaves us as few as 20-30 days.
He has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Immune Mediated Anemia.
There is more to stem cell research that what you hear about on T.V.
"Monkey" is only 5 years old. I intend to provide him the level of care I would provide a child, he is a dear member of my family. I ask him everyday to choose to stay with us. I have asked God to let him stay longer.
Stem cells are the foundations of healthy life and the rhetoric that comes from conversations about playing God is clouding the issue of modern medicine.
If you don't like modern medicine, you may go back into the jungle WITHOUT your antibiotics, vaccines, mortgage and BMW and long life. As long was have bright men and women persuing the enrichment of our society we will be faced with a generation of people that will hypocritically take a stand against something they are not yet educated on and perhaps for religous reasons until it comes to their family. I don't subscribe to religion which expects God to do everything for them without helping themseves first. Perhaps God gave us these tools, these doctors, these possibilites, do you know for sure that He didn't?
If you feel compelled to help me find a transplant program, please report back your findings here so that others can be helped by the information on this topic.
If you feel offended that I have a perspective on stem cell research that you don't identify with, try to better understand what stem cells are and that they are not limited to discussions about embryos. :-)
He has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Immune Mediated Anemia.
There is more to stem cell research that what you hear about on T.V.
"Monkey" is only 5 years old. I intend to provide him the level of care I would provide a child, he is a dear member of my family. I ask him everyday to choose to stay with us. I have asked God to let him stay longer.
Stem cells are the foundations of healthy life and the rhetoric that comes from conversations about playing God is clouding the issue of modern medicine.
If you don't like modern medicine, you may go back into the jungle WITHOUT your antibiotics, vaccines, mortgage and BMW and long life. As long was have bright men and women persuing the enrichment of our society we will be faced with a generation of people that will hypocritically take a stand against something they are not yet educated on and perhaps for religous reasons until it comes to their family. I don't subscribe to religion which expects God to do everything for them without helping themseves first. Perhaps God gave us these tools, these doctors, these possibilites, do you know for sure that He didn't?
If you feel compelled to help me find a transplant program, please report back your findings here so that others can be helped by the information on this topic.
If you feel offended that I have a perspective on stem cell research that you don't identify with, try to better understand what stem cells are and that they are not limited to discussions about embryos. :-)
I think we are entering dangerous territory with stem cell research. Scientists are trying to play the role of God. It scares me thinking how many scientists are trying to legalize human cloning. A few months ago I read somewhere that this one place cloned your cats so that you can have them after they died. That is awful!!!!!!!!
It makes me sick what scientists are trying to achieve in this world.
