Thread: Stem Cell research

They can make as many fetus milkshakes as they want, for all I care. Advancements are being made daily, and they're saving and improving many lives.

I agree with Jimmy. I would have voted it as fantastic were it not for the living forever chaser..!

I think if something like this has the potential to reverse paralysis, restore sight and hearing and maybe even allow for growing organs for transplant then I think its a great idea.

If a child gets kidney failure, and the stem cell research allows for him to have another kidney grown, with no risk of rejection and allows them to have a full life, how could you possibly argue that this is a bad idea?

Thats why I'm on the organ donor register. If I get written off in some horrible accident (God forbid) then I'd want to be able to help someone else get better.

I've read some articles where doctors were talking about harvesting an individuals stem cells from the placenta and umbilical cord after birth and storing them on ice in case they are ever needed, which removes the moral objections some people have to stem cell research.

I guess I could have broken it down further: adult stem cell research, and embryonic.

The Jonathan Swift reference was indeed in regards to the embryonic 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 Oglethorpe

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.

.

How can that not be seen as the begining of a human life?

Isn't that exactly what makes embryonic stem cells so valuable--that they are human cells? You can't use monkey cells, or mice cells, you have to use human cells.

So, where else can you get human cells, if not from a human organism?

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.