What is Stem Cell Research? Are You For It Or Against It?

Question

Here in Missouri we vote for it or agaisnt it Nov 7th and I don't know how to vote because both sides (for it or against it) have commerials that are very misleading! Micheal J Fox is on one commerial pleading for our help while the other commericals say they will clone and steal women's embryo's! Please tell me what is true!

Answer 1

Great question. I'm in Missouri too, and after studying all the mess of materials I'm definitely voting no. Here's a summary of what's going on:

The people trying to pass the amendment want to be able to do SCNT, somatic cell nuclear transfer. There is no reasonable way to say that this isn't cloning--the National Institute of Health agrees, and basically all scientists agree except the ones in MO who want to have the amendment to protect their right to do the research.

For the purpose of permanently protecting the research and the procedure (which is now legal), the creators of Amendment 2 have managed to define cloning as "to implant or attempt to implant" a blastocyst (early embryo) in a womb. That's why it will say "ban human cloning or attempted cloning" on the ballot. It bans bringing a human clone to term and giving birth to it--but it constitutionally protects the process of creating a clone and then destroying it by harvesting its cells.

The amendment says on the first page that scientists won't pay women for their eggs. So Danforth was telling the truth on that ad (only because he specified the page, basically!) Later in the amendment it says that fertility clinics will be able to pay women for their eggs, and then turn around and sell them to people who want to use them for cloning. So the fact that scientists won't be allowed to pay women for their eggs is a mere technicality--they WILL be paying women for eggs, just using fertility clinics as the middleman. Many prominent feminists who are very strongly pro-abortion have come out against both cloning and paying women for eggs--you don't have to be pro-life to recognize that this is a very bad idea. I am a 25-year-old woman living in the city of St. Louis on $15,000 a year...and let me tell you, we're the ones they're going to be coming after. And the pro-cloning people are not going to play up the fact that this procedure is painful, incredibly invasive, and has a significant chance of leaving the donor infertile or otherwise scarred for life. Several dozen women have died from this procedure in the US, and it is only taking place on a very small scale because so few women are willing to do it. And it's not a small point, since the research that they want to do will require millions, literally, of eggs.

The amendment is a huge lie. They know that 8 out of 9 people in Missouri are against human cloning, and that the UN as well as Canada, France, Germany and several other nations are already against it. So they've redefined the words and spread around a horrible goulash of propoganda to try to confuse the issue enough to have their way. I hope this answers your question. And I hope this absurd subversion of the truth and of the true democratic process will fail bigtime on November 7.

Answer 2

I read Andrea Ps comments and I am with her. There are not enough restraints on embryo research. I am all for using cord blood for stem cell research. This is a great source of cells. The fetal research is frightening to me. I did research on abortions and found some disturbing information about research that was done to see what crosses the placenta. Fetuses that were aborted were kept alive with an artificial placenta and tests were done to see what crossed the placental barrier. I was shocked by this information and wondered why it wasn't well known. Until specific protections are in place for fetuses that are kept alive for medical research, I could never be in favor of it. There is plenty of cord blood wasted every day that could serve the same purpose and there is no fetus involved. Just ask yourself why do they want fetuses when cord blood has the same cells...

Answer 3

I do not live in your state, so I cannot comment on the commercials you are seeing – both for and against stem cell research.

In my opinion, if I lived in your state, I would vote YES on the research.

I believe we fund many avenues in research of different things, cures and etc. I have an illness (that I wouldn’t wish on anyone) and like many thousands of people in this world, I believe the possibility of a cure lies within stem cell research.

In my opinion, throwing away unused embryos is like throwing away another chance to maybe cure one person of their affliction.

I have heard folks claim that those embryos are babies, if this is the case, explain why they are allowed the harvesting of so many eggs, then fertilizing all the eggs whereby making them embryo’s, and then freezing them, and not using all of the embryos, but instead throw them down the drain? Are they not doing the same thing? Throwing a chance at life away?

I respect both sides of this issue, this is my opinion and my thoughts on the issue. Great question - thank you allowing me to voice my thoughts.

Answer 4

Stem cell research will use the unused fertilized embryos from in vitro fertilization, the ones that would be destroyed anyway. The mother has to give her permission first. The cells can be used to generate cells of any type - skin cells, liver cells, brain cells, etc. By developing these new cell lines, the possibility exists that diseases like cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's could be cured. There will be no cloning, no stealing embryos. I have Parkinson's and am in favor of the research.

Answer 5

I'm for it. The Michael J. Fox ad is the correct one. The one that says they will clone & steal a woman's embryo's is full of crap. It's not about cloning & there is no theft involved. Stem cells are taken from fetus' that have been aborted. That's it. Yes, it IS human tissue & yes, there can always be abuse of the system. Stem cells are used because there is no genetic match needed to donate. Complete strangers, of totally different races can be "used" & there is no complication.

Stem cell research & donation are necessary for lots of diseases, like Parkinsons & Alzheimers. MJF suffers from Parkinsons.

Answer 6

stem cell research is when they take cells that can virtually grow into any thing, stem cells, and use them to grow insulin cells for diabetes, a new heart for cardiac patients and different hormones that can be used in the human body. It is very useful, for stem cells from embryos are the only cells that can keep growing for eternity, theoretically. I am 100% for it because i think that when you are born you are 0 days old, right? so for those 9 months in your mothers stomach you are not technically alive. If the mother gives consent, it should be legal.

Answer 7

THE MEDICAL RESEARCH WILL TAKE THE LEFT OVER EMBROS FROM THE FERTLIZATION CLINICS AND DO STEM CELL RESEARCH WITH THEM. OUR PRESIDENT IS AGAINST THIS BECAUSE HE SAYS ITS KILLING A HUMAN. IF THE EMBROS ARE NOT USED FOR RESARCH THEY WILL BE THROWN AWAY. NOW I ASK YOU ARE THEY ANY DEADER IF USED TO CURE SICK PEOPLE OR IF THEY ARE FLUSHED DOWN THE DRAIN INTO THE SEWER? TO MY WAY OIF THINKING THIS IS THE DUMBEST THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN A PRESIDENT DO.

Answer 8

Im not 100% sure... something having to do with testing on the embryos. I see nothing wrong with it, usually they are testing on baby fetuses that are already dead. Id rather them do that, than test on live animals.

Answer 9

by all means [vote for it] !!!