What's wrong with stemcell research?

Question

I mean I have to admitt that I don't know much on the topic. But it seems to me that science through invention has given us every wonderful thing we use daily, computers, cars. And Science has rid us of lots of diseases, can save some with cancer. So why not use stemcell's to further our knowledge and ability to heal?

And I've posted this here in Religion to get kind feedback from you. From what I gather our President has blocked this medical miracle of knowledge from happening because of religion or something?

And did we as the US not invent most things in this world? From our nukes to the car, the phone, electricty? Why would we sit back on this?

Does anyone really believe that fetuses would be harvested for this? Or what like the government is going to pay woman to abort? OH wait this is about a woman choice huh? and wether she should have one! Okay I get it now...

Answer 1

There is more than one kind of stem cell. The controversy is over EMBRYONIC stem cells, not adult stem cells. The federal funding for embryonic stem cells is a trickle, but the research is allowed to be privately funded. California is investing billions in it because they realize the potential. The interesting thing about the ban on funding for embryonic stem cell research is that scientists have now figured out a way to make adult stem cells change to an embryonic state, and they have also figured out how to "harvest" a single cell from a "blastocyst" (very early stage embryo) WITHOUT KILLING IT - it doesn't even harm it. The controversy should be considered dead because of this, but in the science world sometimes the news spreads very slowly to the general public.

Answer 2

The issue is not the use of stem cells, it is the publicly funded use of embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cell research is NOT illegal. It has so far not proven to be as valuable as adult stem cell research. With all the ruckus that is going on about it you'd think that a cure for everything was about 2 days away and the government made it illegal just so you couldn't get your hands on it.

Again, the issue is public funding of this research. The research itself is legal and is being done privately on a small scale with very limited results. Is someone comes up with strong evidence that the miracles promised are able to be realized, much much more resources will be dedicated to it.

Answer 3

Stem Cells are derived from human fetus's. The fetus must be dead and in a sense, sacrificed in order for the stem cells to be obtained. Many religious groups feel as though this act goes against human dignity and hold that even human fetus's have a soul and should not be harvested for cells.

After all, every human fetus is biologically already a human being, in the sense that they have a full set of 32 chromosomes. The only thing actually lacking for them to be "fully formed" is time. Keep in mind, every single one of us was in that stage of development at one time or another. I think we (as a society) lack the capacity to say at any given point in time: "here is a human being" or "this is not a human being" Is a baby 5 minutes from being born any less human than a baby five minutes out of the womb? It is a slippery slope...

However, stem cells can be harvested from adults and other sources such as umbilical cords. Most religious groups have no objection whatsoever, from harvesting stem cells this way.

Answer 4

Just for the record the stem cells that researchers are now banned from using come from fertility treatment for infertile couples who want a child. There are usually multiple blastocysts produced in the procedure. The extra blastocysts are presently mostly just discarded now. If researchers were allowed to use them they could potentially improve the lives of many. Note they are using blastocysts---not babies nor even embryos. This stage of development consists of a cluster of divided cells. Since they are currently only being discarded anyway it makes me wonder if fundys want to ban fertility treatments for couples trying to have a family as well.

Answer 5

There's nothing wrong with stem cell research.Embryonic stem cell research is the real issue.Adult stem cell research is gaining ground in the field.It's time for the research to shift gears and get away from embryonic research.But see,the media it not going to tell no one that.That goes right back to another question I answered concerning how the media affects the way people live,and think.The media is not the free and true media it was long ago.The media now feeds off the bad stuff.

Answer 6

There are different types of stem cells that can be used for research. It is the ones from embryos that I personally have a problem. The fact that so many are pushing for using embryo stem cells when other types of stem cells have proven to be much more reliable and much more promising..but more difficult to get. So, they are willing to use the less promising stem cells at the price of killing babies. Just shows the rapid decline of the value of life. Why is it ok to kill one to possibly save another? Especially when the one that being murder is a baby.

Answer 7

There is nothing wrong with stem cell research. What is wrong is the termination of human lives in order to get the stem cells. There are many other sources of stem cells, and the use of these other stem cell lines for research has no moral implications at all.

Answer 8

I for one am VERY happy your chimp in the white house has blocked it.
That means that Canadian researchers are going full-tilt.
While the US steps backwards into the dark ages, the rest of us make quantum leaps forward.

Edit;
Thanks fireball for making my point for me. Anyone stupid or gullible enough to think that stem cells ONLY come from embryo's (which by the way are not babies yet) is only demonstrating their profound ignorance on the subject.

Answer 9

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Nothing. Some of the true loonies, on this board, insist it's killing babies. Frozen embryos are not babies. If the research discovers cures for diseases, these lunatics will be first in line for treatment for themselves and their loved ones.

Answer 10

Nothing at all, as long as you do not use it as an excuse to kill unborn children. There are great strides in Stem Cell research using adult stem cells and core blood cells. No problem there.