People are HONESTLY concerned with 150 cells from a blastocyst when one of the greatest opportunities in modern medicine is at our doorstep?
There is immense research potential here, folks. Embryonic cells are pluripotent UNLIKE adult stem cells, and that makes embryonic stem cells MUCH more valuable to the research. And whether you like it or not, women ARE going to abort. It's legal and no one can stop that. Why throw a roadblock in the way of immeasurably significant research because you personally don't "like" the way that the cells were LEGALLY obtained???
I don't understand why anyone would object.
By the way, when's the last time anyone introduced an initiative or a bill that would prevent fertilization clinics from destroying the "extra" embryos that aren't implanted?
2007-02-25 20:08:37 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Serena, what do you think I'm hoping stem cell research is going to accomplish? It's going to SAVE and PRESERVE life. ONCE AGAIN, you can't do anything to prevent a woman from aborting. You just can't. ONCE AGAIN, what's the problem with using legally obtained tissue for medical research?
And I'd love it if we could get embryonic stem cells in a way that everyone can agree on... let's do it! But I don't see opponents jumping up and down to support obtaining embryonic stem cells in ANY way.
2007-02-25 20:20:24 · update #1
The Last Ent Wife, when's the last time anyone buried 150 cells? We "stand on the graves", metaphorically speaking of course, of all those who have donated their bodies to science. You want to tell me I'm a horrible person for not feeling bad when we use 150 cells? You do that. It's a blow I'll have to "take for the team", I guess.
2007-02-25 20:59:18 · update #2
Ent Wife...
Are you trying to tell me that you oppose embryonic stem cell research because you've had a miscarriage? Or are you trying to imply that I think abortion is a great thing and that I throw a party every time an abortion takes place? I'm sorry that happened to you and I'm not a big fan of abortion in the first place... but...
I don't know how many times I can say it! It's LEGAL to abort. It's LEGAL to create embryos and then destroy them. This may disgust you. This may ignite a sense of moral outrage in you. BUT... no matter how much it offends you, IT'S LEGAL.
And you're willing to prevent what is probably the most significant research of our time, research on LEGALLY OBTAINED TISSUE (call it a baby if you'd like), because you are ANGRY about abortion???
2007-02-25 21:35:16 · update #3
Religious folk seem to object because they have been told it is a potential life being destroyed--which of course is utter rubbish as they destroy embryos--as you noted in you question-that aren't implanted or after a certain time limit.But never fear---there are many brilliant minds around the world who realize the wonderful potential of embryonic stem cell research--and are not hampered by religious embalmed prejudice and will eventually provide mankind with miraculous cures--and--more power to them!!!
2007-02-25 20:29:58 · answer #1 · answered by huffyb 6 · 4⤊ 3⤋
ZC, I think the problem is a lack of understanding in what these stem cells are more than anything. When someone wants to promote a political agenda, they'll stir up fear and anxiety in the laity who are either ignorant or too lazy to educate themselves as to what is really going on.
What these people really do not understand is that this blastocyst has no real chance of becoming a baby from the petri dish. These cells are just cells.
I have personally had two miscarriages, both while a practicing christian. While I did mourn the loss, at that time, I saw it as God's will.. perhaps protecting me and the child in some way.. that life just wasn't viable. Even looking at this now from pagan eyes, I still say that it was nature's way of handling the inviability of the fetus. Even then, if it were possible, I would've donated those cells to science in the hopes of helping someone else.
Isn't that what we do with organ transplants? Donate tissue and organs from bodies that are not able to sustain life anymore so that those that can may live a healthier life?
I honestly believe it's a lack of education that causes people to be against stem cell research. They just do not understand the issue well enough.
2007-02-26 07:39:19 · answer #2 · answered by Kallan 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In the US it is perfectly legal to make 100 embryos in order to produce one baby. I have always found it funny that people are more resistant to embryonic stem cell research than to artificial insemination.
Oh.. and you have your details wrong. There is no abortion like procedure done in obtaining embryos. The issue of embryonic stem cell research has more common with organ and body donation than to abortion.
2007-02-26 17:30:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
What makes embryonic stem cells "pluripotent" also makes them extremely unstable, sometimes causing tumors and uncontrollable spasms when implanted. Adult stem cells (bone marrow being the best source for stem and progenitor cells) are very stable and have the ability to differentiate into multiple cells within a body system (nervous, circulatory, etc.). In addition, adult stem cells have actually produced dozens of successful treatments and cures (leukemia, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, etc.). Embryonic stem cells have not produced a single treatment or cure. Not one.
Anyway, in response to your question, the reason some people object is that they consider the 150 cells from a blastocyst an unborn child.
2007-02-26 04:39:21 · answer #4 · answered by Idle Chitchat 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Since you asked-
Yes I do find it offensive to cause life by fertilizing an egg, then take that life and stem cell for research
It may be legal, but legal doesn't mean moral
2007-03-04 19:19:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
In Australia,it's legal to clone embryos just to harvest their cells.Is that the type of society you want to live in ? Where human life is destroyed for a type of research which is by far overrated,when we can use the stem cells from the umbilical cord? Why is it so hard for some to understand that many people believe in preserving life?
2007-02-26 04:15:15 · answer #6 · answered by Serena 5 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Most people arent objecting to the research. It is using the aborted tissue they object to or creating an embryo, aka a life, in order to just kill it for the cells. Why does any of the cells have to be taken from aborted fetuses or embryos used for fertilization???? Why can't people just donate naturally miscarried fetuses for the research. There is a line you cross when you deliberately create life just to destroy it for research. That is the line most people dont want to come close to. I am all for the research. I hope they continue to do PRIVATE research on stem cells. I just want to make sure we dont come close to that amoral line of creating life just for research. Just use naturally miscarried stem cells. There are PLENTY out there. Then the issue will be no different then using donated organs or tissues from accident victims or other dead people.
There is also the issue of gvt using taxpayers money to do any kind of medical research. The Constitution does not give the federal gvt authority to go into private medical research and it should not be doing it. Medical research should be privately funded. It is unconstitutional for the federal gvt to be funding any kind of medical research. Keep it in the private sector. They tend to do it best.
2007-02-26 04:22:24 · answer #7 · answered by cadisneygirl 7 · 3⤊ 4⤋
>>>People are HONESTLY concerned with 150 cells from a blastocyst when one of the greatest opportunities in modern medicine is at our doorstep?
There is immense research potential here>>>
Not true. Research from ADULT stem cells -- which don't involve killing, as fetal stem cells do -- has proven very useful for dozens of medical conditions.
But the amount of progress yielded by fetal stem cell research is zero.
Pushing fetal stem cell research isn't about science or medical cures. It's about liberals and secularists protecting their sacrament of abortion.
A preponderance of fetal stem cell research will only lead to more slaughter of innocent unborn babies.
.
2007-02-26 05:59:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
Maybe those who oppose would have to have their arm or leg cut off. We would see then how much would they oppose to the opportunity of having their own arm regrown from stem cells.
It's easy to oppose finding the solution to other people's problems. The same with aids. All those "Better-than-thou" believers who say aids is a punishment for homosexuality or whatever...
I'd like to see if they still thought that way if their three year old prickled himself with a thrown away syringe needle on the playground and get infected....
Opposing to stuff like that is nothing but sheer hypocrisy. The moment they needed it, they would fight for it with the same fervor as they now fight against it.
2007-02-26 04:21:42 · answer #9 · answered by Ymmo the Heathen 7 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Yes, I agree completely. And now they can get stem cells from the embryonic fluid at no risk to the actual fetus....and people still object! Why is this?
And yes, stem cells CAN actually now be gotten from the embryonic fluid without harming the actual embryo. So how many unborn children have to die to get stem cells....ummm...lets see now...let's try....NONE!
So, why do people still object to it?
2007-02-26 04:14:51 · answer #10 · answered by Skippy 5 · 5⤊ 2⤋