same as cloning? why are you for it or why do you go against it? Please use your own words, I don't need to see any link. thanks
2006-10-31 03:07:04 · 8 answers · asked by mystery t 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
click here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell
2006-10-31 03:10:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
On August 23, 2006, the online edition of Nature scientific journal published a letter by Dr Robert Lanza (medical director of Advanced Cell Technology in Worcester, MA) stating that his team had found a way to extract embryonic stem cells without destroying the actual embryo. This technical achievement would potentially enable scientists to work with new lines of embryonic stem cells derived using public funding. There are currently significant restrictions on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research that limit publicly-funded research to embryonic stem cell lines derived prior to August 2001.
In the experiments, Lanza's team used a single-cell biopsy technique to pluck out a single cell when the embryo was at the 8-to-10 cell stage. This is the same stage used for preimplantation genetic diagnosis, which also requires the removal of a single cell from the blastocyst. As with times where preimplantation genetic diagnosis is used, excising a cell at this point doesn't interfere with the embryo's development and the excised cell can be used for both purposes at the same time. Using this method, Lanza and his team managed to get two stable human embryonic stem cell lines that behaved like conventional embryonic stem cell lines.
Unfortunately, in these tests, no embryos survived but Lanza states he has proven a principle.
There are also many embryos that are actually being thrown away as medical waste. These come from people who have utilized IVF and frozen the embryos for use at a later time and for one reason or another, decided to have them destroyed.
The real question about embryonic stem cell is whether you believe those 8 to 10 cells are *already* human life, or simply have *potential* to be a human life *if* all the right conditions are met.
Whether I'm for it or against it, I don't really know. Some consider it a slippery slope but getting out of the bed in the morning is also a slippery slope. It's a hard question. From what I know, I will probably vote for it tomorrow. It's one of those things that causes me to pray for wisdom.
2006-11-07 01:40:45 · answer #2 · answered by Angie M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it isn't the same as cloning. Stem cells from fetuses(- babies that have not been carried to full term) are used to rejuvenate and replace bad stem cells. People are afraid that the unborn will be devalued even further than they are now. Some people also believe that fertilization and cloning will become a part of the program in order to increase the amount of available fetuses.Which will most likely happen since people generally become greedy.
2006-11-07 17:10:44 · answer #3 · answered by MG 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A stem cell is a cell that can produce more the the same kind of cell and at least one other kind of cell.
There are adult and embryonic stem cells. Each have there own pros and cons.
Embryonic stem cells are the one that are surrounded by controversy because a human embryo is killed in order to get the cells. A stem cell researcher once told me, "I like to think of embryonic stem cells as small children. They have the potential to do anything, but they don't always do what they are told." One of the side effects of using embryonic stem cells are teratomas. This is when the cells start produce hair, teeth, bone, etc. when you want them to make muscle (for example).
Adult stem cells do not kill or harm the doner, but it is more different to get them to do the things that you want them to do. One of the cool things about them is that if a person sustains a spinal cord injury, for example, then they could donate there own stem cells to aid in their recovery. This way, the patient doesn't have to worry about the donation not being a match or going on immunosuppressant drugs.
2006-11-07 00:29:13 · answer #4 · answered by peanut509 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, as stated before, they are different.
I, personally, am for both. in stem cell research, it is ethically wrong, but it does help better those in this world whom need it. plus, if it is stem cells from the umbilical cord, then it wont kill any babies.
in cloning, it is neither ethically wrong or harmful. if people are pro-life, then why not just allow life to be created through another means?
if we clone a person, and before the person totally develops, we will have stem cells to use in science experiments. thusly, it would nolonger be as ethically wrong for stem-cell research to be performed, because the clone will be a branch identical to a person already in existance.
2006-10-31 13:53:51 · answer #5 · answered by Bandit 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stem cells are primal undifferentiated cells that retain the ability to renew themselves through cell division and can differentiate into a wide range of specialized cell types. Research in the stem cell field grew out of findings by Canadian scientists Ernest A. McCulloch and James E. Till in the 1960s.
The two categories of stem cells include embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. In a blastocyst of a developing embryo, stem cells differentiate into all of the specialised embryonic tissues. In adult organisms, stem cells and progenitor cells act as a repair system for the body, replenishing specialized cells. As stem cells can be readily grown and expanded via cell culture, their use in medical therapies has been proposed.
2006-10-31 11:19:24 · answer #6 · answered by flip103158 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as you may have read the other users who posted up their answers, stem cells are classified into 3 classes. the one which holds a lot of interest in the scientific field now is embryonic stem cells where they have the capacity to divide into almost any kind of cells in your body. it holds a lot of therapeutic potentials in terms of life long dieases, genetic disorders and such, for example parkinsons' disease.
The only ethical issues in regards to stem cell research is its potential to clone people and killing of embryos for their stem cells (although a scientist in the states claimed that he has found a way to obtain embryonic stem cells without killing the embryo).
Tonnes of pros and cons, it's basically up to you to weigh them!
2006-10-31 22:41:53 · answer #7 · answered by Andrew 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it is not the same as cloning. Stem cell research is where they take the cells from an imbro. and search it to see what conection it has with certain ailments. Such as Parkinsons dis.
2006-10-31 11:12:12 · answer #8 · answered by ruth4526 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋