Stem Cell Research

[Viktorkrum77]

This isn't a very heavily debated subject, but none the less, it is debated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do you feel about Stem Cell Research? Especially Embryonic Stem Cell Research? And it's destruction on human embryos vs. possability to save 1000's of lives in medical advancement?

[Nadril]

I'm for it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anything that has the chance of saving many, many thousands of futures lives is a no brainer.

[deloriagod]

I think stem cell research is a good thing. Many people claim we're taking away humans lives when we extract the stem cells from an embryo but we don't start counting it's age until it's born so why should we give it human rights? Honestly, what's the loss of a some embryos that can't feel anything if we could save so many people? And it's not like we're forcing people to reproduce just so we can extract the stem cells.

[VOV]

As the brother of a Diabetic I'm all for stem-cell research.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When most people hear the term "embryonic" they have visions of scientists farming fetuses and chopping them up for organs. However, the stem-cells are actually taken from eggs that have been fertilized for less than a week. They are created in a lab environment via In-vitro fertilization.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At that stage of development these "babies" are nothing more than microscopic balls of 100-200 cells. The scientific term is "blastocyst"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That lump of cells on the inside of the ball is what the scientists want.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of July 2006, there are 500,000 of these embryos in "cold storage" within the United States. The majority of these specimens will never be transplanted into a host. They will stay frozen forever. Why not use them to benefit mankind?

[blue107]

im 100% for it, i cant stand funamentalist

[Viktorkrum77]

im 100% for it, I cant stand funamentalist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Few can.

[apinagez]

I'm completely for it, and for any advance in Science.

[insane]

 

im 100% for it, I cant stand funamentalist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Few can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, because anyone not for this is a fundamentalist :roll:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honestly, we all know you hate anyone that opposes your views Viktor, there's no need to keep shoving it down our throats in every thread.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MY problem with stem cell research is where we draw the line. Like in the future, when you can just alter some of your genetics and make yourself a genius, should that be legal?

[Viktorkrum77]

 

 

im 100% for it, I cant stand funamentalist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Few can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, because anyone not for this is a fundamentalist :roll:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honestly, we all know you hate anyone that opposes your views Viktor, there's no need to keep shoving it down our throats in every thread.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MY problem with stem cell research is where we draw the line. Like in the future, when you can just alter some of your genetics and make yourself a genius, should that be legal?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In reply to your second question, that's a good debate for this thread.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In reply to your first question, I was just replying to what he said. :roll: I don't try to force my views down people's throats, if I did that, then I would speak my mind. I just love to debate. And you always need too people on complete ends of the spectrum to debate. If that person suddenly converted to my side of the debate, then it'd ruin the whole thing .

[apinagez]

MY problem with stem cell research is where we draw the line. Like in the future, when you can just alter some of your genetics and make yourself a genius, should that be legal?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I believe becoming a genius would still take people effort in their lives. It's not all about their genes.

 

 

 

Also, big modifications like those are still pretty sci-fi. Who knows if by the time those come real the world will be a most socio-economically equalitarian place, making opportunities for everyone alike.

[Barihawk]

I don't particularly like it, but I can live with it saving lives. Maybe I will change my mind if they find a cure for diabetes or something.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, scientists have real problems when it comes to taking things too far. I agree with Insane, and really do not want to see this turn into metagenetics where we can design genious supermen. Think Khan Singh :P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Blue...believing in something just because it ticks off your "enemies" is not always the best plan.

[xxsheepxx]

 

 

im 100% for it, I cant stand funamentalist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Few can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, because anyone not for this is a fundamentalist :roll:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honestly, we all know you hate anyone that opposes your views Viktor, there's no need to keep shoving it down our throats in every thread.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MY problem with stem cell research is where we draw the line. Like in the future, when you can just alter some of your genetics and make yourself a genius, should that be legal?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sure, that would be awesome! Like in that movie, GATTACA.. But I doubt you could do it to yourself, but perhaps your kids, and maybe their kids, and eventually you could selectively evolve your descendants..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But then again there'd be overpopulation if not enough people died. But that brings again the topic of saving people with stem cell research. Hmm.

[BlueTear]

 

 

 

MY problem with stem cell research is where we draw the line. Like in the future, when you can just alter some of your genetics and make yourself a genius, should that be legal?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First of all, the most likely results of stem-cell research does not involve targetted genetic manipulations. In fact, I'm not sure it would lead to that at any point of research. A stem-cell is a cell that can divide itself "indefinitely". At it's very basic form, like the ones in blastocytes, a single cell can be made to form any of the celltypes in an adult human. In practice, if we advance it far enough... You have a faulty heart? Rather than sitting around waiting for someone to die and leave a heart for you, we grow you a new one in a lab. Faulty kidney? Grow you a new one in a lab. Thumb fell off after frostbite? Grow you a new one in a lab. There's a whole host of diseases and conditions out there that could, in theory, be cured or alleviated using stem cells for tissue regeneration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't really see how fiddling with the human genome - an entirely separate field of research, unless I slept through some important biology class somewhere? - would be affected by the tissue regeneration research on steam cells. "altering some of your genetics" and growing yourself a new heart or curing cancer aren't quite the same thing?

[Anesthesia]

There are, and always will be, people who try to hold back the development of medicine. From back in the days when it was illegal to dissect cadavers (and medical pioneers stole them) to the people protesting stem cell research and animal testing today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One thing that time has shown is that these barriers are always overcome.

[Tigra00]

 

 

im 100% for it, I cant stand funamentalist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Few can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, because anyone not for this is a fundamentalist :roll:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honestly, we all know you hate anyone that opposes your views Viktor, there's no need to keep shoving it down our throats in every thread.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MY problem with stem cell research is where we draw the line. Like in the future, when you can just alter some of your genetics and make yourself a genius, should that be legal?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sure, why not?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Science is to benefit us all. If somehow we could make everyone geniuses, they'd start doing it in a heart beat. The only difference between one genius and another is their ways of thinking. There have been many geniuses, but a select few, like Einstein, used their way of thinking to come to their brand-new theories. A normal genius will only know what's in a book.

[Tigra00]

Oh, and I wonder how many anti-stem-cell research people eat eggs in the morning. Or is a chicken's life not worth saving and a human's is? :P

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The way I see it - until abortion is illegal, we should be using those embryo's for something, right? I mean, if we don't, then not only is it a waste of "life", it's also a waste of potential and other's lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have no idea why people are even against stem-cell research, they should be against ABORTION first, then stem-cell research. Which both, by the way, have uses to even the most die-hard fundamentalist. If a fundamentalist were raped I'm sure she wouldn't want to keep the baby...I'm told that even Christian's support abortion of products of rape. And even the most die hard fundamentalist can fall down some stairs and severe their spinal cord.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stem cells are AMAZING. They can absolutely replace anything you "broke". It's really cool. When I first heard about stem-cell research and I saw that mouse that had a severed spinal cord that they fixed using stem cells, I was pretty impressed. I mean, the mouse was walking almost normally, if I recall right, and who knows, if it's still alive today, maybe it can walk just fine.

[Mercifull]

Surely to be against stem cell research is imorral in the eys of God because to be against it is basicly to be FOR human suffering.

[bull912000]

Well, we should go sparingly on this and take only what we need... Or better yet, have couples donate them for the purpose of research.

 

 

 

However, the people against it do have very good reasons. I don't know... this is tougher than the "Do you beleive in god" thread. Shame it was locked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back on topic... I think it is the over all debate of is it worth saving a life or creating another.

[transcript80]

Of course, I am PRO-stem cell research. Hey, else I wouldn't have a job!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, extreme caution should be applied.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1: Stem cell treatment is severly overrated. Yes, it has HUGE potentions, but as for now, the uses are severly limited. There are no wonder therapies yet. That is, of course, why research is needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2: The embryos used for getting the stem cells are "left over" embryos from IVF treatment. They are not "farmed" or "merchanted" in any way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3: Apart from stem cell treatment, tissue engineering (growing complete organs) is highly Sci-FI. We can tissue engineer skin grafts (burn wounds) but that's pretty easy. A liver or so is a completely different thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4: Get your facts right about genetic modification vs. stem cell treatments. Treatment with stem cells has NOTHING to do AT ALL with genetic engineering/modification. So no creation of geniuses using stem cells.

[Lionheart_0]

=D> I'm finding this very funny how all the people who are pro for stemcell research jumped on this topic, and have presented such good arguments, its not possible to argue back!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyways, I'm for it. We need to know how to heal everyone of anything, and one way is through the regeneration of tissues.

[insane]

Science is to benefit us all. If somehow we could make everyone geniuses, they'd start doing it in a heart beat. The only difference between one genius and another is their ways of thinking. There have been many geniuses, but a select few, like Einstein, used their way of thinking to come to their brand-new theories. A normal genius will only know what's in a book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aye, but this isn't a benefit to everyone. Someone who can't afford a procedure that makes them smarter is going to get screwed by someone who can. The rich will get richer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

@BlueTear: I'm not sure if stem cell research and this topic are relevant - I do have a friend in 2nd year biomed and he said that in his medical philosophy class they were discussing how far we could take stem cell research, and this came up.

[pro28]

Where would you get the embryonic cells for research?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sure, there are some in fertilization clinics; but, scientists know that there aren't enough. Not to mention that frozen cells are fragile and can be easily damaged. For scientists to make any real progress, they need a constant supply of fresh cells. Where would they get that supply?

[lawrencekill]

im 100% for it, i cant stand funamentalist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well if fundamentalists want to stop animal and stem cell research and such, why do they take vaccines and medicines that have been tested on these animals before?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Dialog begins*

 

 

 

Oh I'm a true fundamentalist, looks at vaccine records...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It says here you've taken over 100 shots of medicine that came from animal research...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So..., why the hell you use medicines that came from animal research if you're a fundamentalist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uhh..., I didn't know.

 

 

 

*Dialog Ends*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think it's funny how fundamentalists use medicines that have been proven safe from animal testing, but still oppose against it.

[Barihawk]

I am really getting sick of the generic blanket "one-size-fits-all" statements about "fundamentalists." I don't even know what the heck you guys are describing about that word.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am a Christian Fundamentalist, however I could care less about vaccines for animal testing. After all, those vaccines save millions of lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If some good can come from Stem Cell, then whatever. As long as the embryos are obtained in an ethical way, I am fine with it.

[lawrencekill]

I am really getting sick of the generic blanket "one-size-fits-all" statements about "fundamentalists." I don't even know what the heck you guys are describing about that word.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am a Christian Fundamentalist, however I could care less about vaccines for animal testing. After all, those vaccines save millions of lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If some good can come from Stem Cell, then whatever. As long as the embryos are obtained in an ethical way, I am fine with it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ops, I guess I thought of fundamentalists as describing someone else, since it was used in a certain context.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the definition:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a movement in American Protestantism that arose in the early part of the 20th century in reaction to modernism and that stresses the infallibility of the Bible not only in matters of faith and morals but also as a literal historical record, holding as essential to Christian faith belief in such doctrines as the creation of the world, the virgin birth, physical resurrection, atonement by the sacrificial death of Christ, and the Second Coming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was thinking of the definition of people who don't like animal testing or stem cell research no matter what. I don't know what they're called...