Thread: Stem Cell research

Stem cell research and the results we got from it aren't meant to make us live forever.
They can help people with serious diseases to have better life, as long as it lasts.

I voted fantastic, though I also have no desire to live forever.

I am all for doing the research to find a cure. I do not see the moral implications. The problem with the naysayer argument (unfortunately a religion-backed one which means there will inevitably be blind followers) is just a result of people being afraid of the unknown. Could this one day lead to such advanced developments such as cloning? Maybe. But I'd draw the line well before that, and not for moral reasons. For economic, sustainment, global population reasons. Oh and because anybody with lots of money could clone him/herself a million times and take over the world


Sorry for taking that jab at "religion" again, but we know there is skepticism in the "Church" and so I feel it's very pertinent to the way some people may answer the poll question.

Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

I am all for doing the research to find a cure. I do not see the moral implications. The problem with the naysayer argument (unfortunately a religion-backed one which means there will inevitably be blind followers) is just a result of people being afraid of the unknown. Could this one day lead to such advanced developments such as cloning? Maybe. But I'd draw the line well before that, and not for moral reasons. For economic, sustainment, global population reasons. Oh and because anybody with lots of money could clone him/herself a million times and take over the world


Sorry for taking that jab at "religion" again, but we know there is skepticism in the "Church" and so I feel it's very pertinent to the way some people may answer the poll question.

Do you think there are no moral implications to embryonic stem cell research?

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Do you think there are no moral implications to embryonic stem cell research?

I knew this was coming. I agree that it is a VERY touchy subject, but only because of the "popular" way of thinking in the world.

I tend to look at these things from a purely scientific standpoint. We are talking about embryos that are not used in in vitro fertilization, but similarly cultivated for the stem cells.

The same "con" argument is used in abortion debates: when is the embryo considered a human being, and when that life is terminated, is it immoral?

I certainly value human life. The way I've lived my life to this point (without going into details) would certainly support this. However, the embryo is cultivated in as inhumanly (read: not inhumanely) a manner as possible.

Scientifically speaking, we take a sperm cell and an egg cell, and allow them to become fertilized in a dish filled with nutrients that mimics a womb/fallopian tube/whatever. If that activity to you is the beginning of a human life, then we will never agree on the subject. That act, coupled with the culturing of the stem cells that can adapt to a number of various applications, is a biological remedy which the field of medicine has discovered.

It can be very useful. It can help save lives. It can help improve the quality of life of disabled or terminally ill human beings. There is no consciousness, no pain, and in my mind, nothing immoral about it. There is no "soul" which can be measured (21 gram urban myths aside), so we can leave that argument at the door.

Not that it drives my point home any, but I read somewhere (sorry I don't have a citation) that there are something like half-a-million embryos in the United States which are dedicated to stem cell research. They are either used immediately and discarded, or frozen cryogenically for future use. I think the future is here, ladies and gentlemen, and I'm glad for it.

Hope that answers your question.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Do you think there are no moral implications to embryonic stem cell research?

I do, I think that preventing the use of embryonic stem cells that would be tossed in the dumpster because of cultural and religious beliefs is definitely immoral.

difficult to answer the survey because it did not specify what kind of stem cell research. I support, enthusiastically, the use of adult stem cells because they have had great success in growing tissue in organs and whatnot. There have even been great strides in using a patient's own skin cells to draw stem cells from that researchers have been able to grow lung tissue with. (Reader's Digest article, "Stem Cell Stunner" March 2008). The article pointed out that there is a huge advantage over embryonic stem cells because, by using the patient's own cells there is no risk of rejection.

I do not support or can condone in anyway the use of embryonic stem cells. The last I have heard about the subject, there had still not been ONE major breakthrough or development in using these cells for any treatment. There is nothing that a scientist can do with embryonic stem cells that can not be done infinitely more successful with adult stem cells.

Anyway that's my opinion for what its worth.