Stem cell Bank - good or not quite good enough?

[MrBishop]

WASHINGTON - The government plans to open a "national bank" to better grow the only embryonic stem cells eligible for government-funded research, holding firm against critics who want Bush administration restrictions on the controversial cells lifted.

Source

There are a limited number of stem cell lines available for use in research and those are the ones going to be banked and grown for use 'by GVT-funded researchers' only.

Because the limit placed by Bush calls for the use of stem cells culled before Aug 9, 2001 only, the choices are limited...in addition, there was precious little stem-cell research before 2001. The family of cells available aren't prime either.

The bank would try to reduce shipping costs from $5000/sample to a few hundred dollars (making it more accesible). In addition, it would regulate the conditions under which the stem-cells would be grown, thus making for a stronger control group.

All these are good things...but does the limit on whom has access to this research material make this a good idea, but not good enough?

 

[ResearchMonkey]

Oh, so your saying they are looking into other ways to grow stems cells in a lab other then to harvest then from a fetus? (or placentas and umbilical chords)

What a novel concept!

[/sarcasm]

The goal is to replicate cells using your DNA with-out growing a viable fetus. Like growing the sheets of human skin that they have been doing for years. (I would love to have a leather jacket or bed spread made from my own skin).

That is cool aint it bish? Stem cell research advances and will overcome the moral issues of destroying a fetus.

 

[MrBishop]

Oh, so your saying they are looking into other ways to grow stems cells in a lab other then to harvest then from a fetus? (or placentas and umbilical chords)

What a novel concept!

[/sarcasm]

The goal is to replicate cells using your DNA with-out growing a viable fetus. Like growing the sheets of human skin that they have been doing for years. (I would love to have a leather jacket or bed spread made from my own skin).

That is cool aint it bish? Stem cell research advances and will overcome the moral issues of destroying a fetus.

Actually..they want to grow stem cells in a lab harvested from fetusus/placentas/umbilici prior to 2001 same source. Skin cells can be grown from adult stem-cells, as can a few other things, but the older the stem-cells are, the less uses can come from it. THe closer to the beginnings of life/cell reproduction that they can harvest, the more they can do with it.

For instance...in 2003, they cured a rat with a severed spinal column, using 6-8wk old stem-cells taken from abortusi. After 6 weeks...the rat could walk again. (Seen in Pop Sci Magazine - Top 100 discoveries of 2003 *no link).

The scientists who did this had said that they would be ready for human trials in 2005. Now, they need permission to access the stem-cells they were using to reverse the paralysis in the first place. All non-authorized stem-cells have to be destroyed...becuse they're now illegal. What a fuckin' waste! No permission...no continued research and application. I guess that Superman may never walk again.

There really shouldn't be the moral issue of destroying a fetus at all. The fetus needed for the optimal stem-cell growth comes from cells taken within the first 2-4weeks of growth. Most women don't even know they're pregnant by then and aren't seeking abortions.

The optimal stem cells would have to be 'grown' using donated sperm and ova, or donated but unused fertilized ova taken from fertility clinics. This has it's own moral issues, of course.

I've always been fascinated by stem-cell research (I say always, but it's only been 5 years or so)...and yes...it is cool!

 

[ResearchMonkey]

There is by far more ethical issues of using a fetus at all.

Again the goal, the holy grail, is to produce stems in the lab w/o use of a fetus.

We know so little.

I am all for stem cell research, I think its an amazing front. I would love to live to be 178 years old.