MrBishop
Well-Known Member
Stem cell research - In the face of extraordinary advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
human diseases, devastating illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and diseases
of the nervous system, such as Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease, continue to
deprive people of health, independence, and well-being. Research in human develop-mental
biology has led to the discovery of human stem cells (precursor cells that can give
rise to multiple tissue types), including embryonic stem (ES) cells, embryonic germ (EG)
cells, and adult stem cells. Recently, techniques have been developed for the in vitro
culture of stem cells, providing unprecedented opportunities for studying and under-standing
human embryology. As a result, scientists can now carry out experiments aimed
at determining the mechanisms underlying the conversion of a single, undifferentiated
cell, the fertilized egg, into the different cells comprising the organs and tissues of the
human body. Although it is impossible to predict the outcomes, scientists and the public
will gain immense new knowledge in the biology of human development that will likely
hold remarkable potential for therapies and cures.
Stem cell research has a huge potential for good. This may include the repair of damaged nerve cells in the paralysed, the healing of the blind, cures for mental illness, lab-grown skin for burn victims, cloned hands,arms,fingers etc... Cloned organs for self-transplants (Grow your own heart from your own tissues in order to replace the one that you have which doesn't work) etc etc...
We're talking HUGE potential here.
You would think that the matter would be pushed through to legality ASAP, but that isn't the case. Why?
1) Human cloning - people are afraid of the potential for cloning a whole human being for nefarious reasons
2) Pro-lifers - They don't like the fact that the best source for stem-cells are aborted foetuses.
3) The law - governments are jumping around and being afraid. Afraid of the potential for good vs. evil? No...afraid that they'll piss off the wrong people and NOT get re-elected.
Opponents of the new rules for government-funded stem-cell research are right that the rules are irrational. The rules forbid government-funded researchers to extract stem cells from human embryos, but they allow those researchers—on alternate Tuesdays when the wind is from the northeast and at least three members of five different review boards have dreamed of a fish—to use stem cells extracted by others.
Opponents of stem-cell research believe that "a microscopic clump of cells" (the New York Times' description of an embryo at the stage when stem cells are removed) has the same moral claims as a fully formed human being. Proponents believe that a clump of cells has no serious moral claim compared with people who "feel want, taste grief, need friends" (Shakespeare's description of a human being). No one believes that a clump of cells is just a clump of cells in private hands but becomes a full human being in the hands of a government grantee. You don't absolve yourself of murder by hiring a hit man.
Comments?
http://www.aaas.org/spp/sfrl/projects/stem/report.pdf
human diseases, devastating illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and diseases
of the nervous system, such as Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease, continue to
deprive people of health, independence, and well-being. Research in human develop-mental
biology has led to the discovery of human stem cells (precursor cells that can give
rise to multiple tissue types), including embryonic stem (ES) cells, embryonic germ (EG)
cells, and adult stem cells. Recently, techniques have been developed for the in vitro
culture of stem cells, providing unprecedented opportunities for studying and under-standing
human embryology. As a result, scientists can now carry out experiments aimed
at determining the mechanisms underlying the conversion of a single, undifferentiated
cell, the fertilized egg, into the different cells comprising the organs and tissues of the
human body. Although it is impossible to predict the outcomes, scientists and the public
will gain immense new knowledge in the biology of human development that will likely
hold remarkable potential for therapies and cures.
Stem cell research has a huge potential for good. This may include the repair of damaged nerve cells in the paralysed, the healing of the blind, cures for mental illness, lab-grown skin for burn victims, cloned hands,arms,fingers etc... Cloned organs for self-transplants (Grow your own heart from your own tissues in order to replace the one that you have which doesn't work) etc etc...
We're talking HUGE potential here.
You would think that the matter would be pushed through to legality ASAP, but that isn't the case. Why?
1) Human cloning - people are afraid of the potential for cloning a whole human being for nefarious reasons
2) Pro-lifers - They don't like the fact that the best source for stem-cells are aborted foetuses.
3) The law - governments are jumping around and being afraid. Afraid of the potential for good vs. evil? No...afraid that they'll piss off the wrong people and NOT get re-elected.
Opponents of the new rules for government-funded stem-cell research are right that the rules are irrational. The rules forbid government-funded researchers to extract stem cells from human embryos, but they allow those researchers—on alternate Tuesdays when the wind is from the northeast and at least three members of five different review boards have dreamed of a fish—to use stem cells extracted by others.
Opponents of stem-cell research believe that "a microscopic clump of cells" (the New York Times' description of an embryo at the stage when stem cells are removed) has the same moral claims as a fully formed human being. Proponents believe that a clump of cells has no serious moral claim compared with people who "feel want, taste grief, need friends" (Shakespeare's description of a human being). No one believes that a clump of cells is just a clump of cells in private hands but becomes a full human being in the hands of a government grantee. You don't absolve yourself of murder by hiring a hit man.
Comments?
http://www.aaas.org/spp/sfrl/projects/stem/report.pdf
Pro-choice/Anti-Abortion agnostic
Ms Ann Thrope gots balls?