Stem Cell Research

[mercer_sensei]

What are your views on stem cell research? I thought this would be a good discussion topic.

Im for stem cell research on all embryonic stem-cell lines, not just established lines that have been cloned many thousands of times. I think researching stem cells will give us a better understanding into the human genome and will give us a new method of fighting cancer and other various genetic disorders.

[Felda]

I agree with that and it could help us explore space or something cool like that or everything would turn into starwars and we would have a clone war. Honestly who wouldn't want to see millions of you going to fight millions of other you's

[kami]

I don't see what people have against stem cell research. If fetuses are aborted anyway, why not use them for the greater good? They're dead anyway, so how is it inhuman? Stem cells are amazing cells, and they could be used for all kinds of medical miracles. They could even potentially grow lost limbs back, among other things.

[mercer_sensei]

Indeed, I was under the impression that there would be many people against this, as in using aborted fetuses for research and all... however, women release an egg every cycle and what happens to that egg? It dies and gets thrown away... So why shouldnt we use these for research?

[Barzillal]

I am not against this either, which is religiously speaking I should be against it lol but no im a practical man and I see this as a new spark of a new discovery so yes

[kami]

There's nothing to debate. We're all one the same page...
Too bad, I enjoy debate.

I think just a lot of really conservative Christians are against stem cell research because of the abortion issue. The newer generations seem to be a little more open minded.

[skullreken]

Yes stem cells are amazing
in a skin cell genes that make a skin cell a skin cell are activated
in a liver cell genes that make a liver cell a liver cell are activated
In a stem cell no genes are activated but all the genes for every type of cell are present
so if we can learn how to activate these genes we could in effect grow new organs for people who needs transplants.
A fetus is not necessary for obtaining stem cells they are present in the umbilical chord I think that when everyone is born they're stem cells should be harvested and kept should that person require them in the future a transplant that comes from your own genetic material is less likely to be rejected .
A recent example of this was in Ireland where a child was able to have a full bone marrow transplant because his mother requested that is stem cells be harvested and kept in cold storage.

[wondering]

There's nothing wrong with stem cell research. Like skull said, they are in the umbilical cord and in other sources as well. Stem cell research can save lives. However, I'm particularly against embryonic stem cell research but other than that, nothing much.

[Galgalid]

I can't see anything wrong with stem cell research =)

[crystalgazer]

Yeah, I like the idea of stem-cell research too, especially since it seems that a lot of serious diseases could be eliminated because of it.

I think as well as the issue of whether embryonic stem-cell research is ethical, some people have real fears that cloning technology, once perfected, will be used unethically. However I think a lot of that speculation is really out there, while what seems more certain is that this research will lead to many benefits for mankind in the medical field.