Stem Cell Research

[Camazotz]

For those who dont know, I'll tell a little about stem-cell research. Stem-cell research is when they take a fetus(early stage of a baby before it's born) and open it up and take a liquid out of the baby's neck area. This liquid has been sucessful for help in finding cures for AIDS,cancer, Parkinsons, Alzehimer, etc.(Please note that they have not found a cure YET but are hoping that the research will find a cure) The reason it's so good for finding cures, is because you can make DNA, which can get a certain DNA to cure diseases.

Now, in taking the fetus, they kill it. The Bush Administration does not allow it. What's your opinion on this topic? Should they take and kill the fetus and find a cure? Or is it wrong to kill an innocent creature?

(Also, they would usually take a dead fetus, one that cant be born, and study it. Not an alive fetus)

[One_Chance]

It does depend. I guess its ok to take a fetus if the mother was going to have it aborted, that way it has a use.

[Hauptmann Kauffman]

I think that they should do it, as they only use aborted fetus's, etc. It can help save millions of lives, I think it would be worth it. And btw, you make it sound as if they are using fetus's close to being born. They use very young ones, that some people, including me, argue arent human beings yet, so If these fetus's can help save millions, Im al for it!

[ThatCanadianGuy]

I don't really like abortion, I mean that is WRONG to not give a BABY a chance at life when it was YOUR fucking mistake of not being safe during sex. ASIDE from that, I know that a lot of babies just miscarriage naturally. I would much rather have this unfulfilled life being used for a great purpose. If my baby died in a miscarriage, I would be happy if they used it's stem cells to help a paralyzed child walk again, for instance. People don't realize how important stem cells are.

THIS IS WHAT STEM CELLS CAN DO:

In simple terms stem cells are "blanks". This means that they can grow into ANY cell that they surround. For example, put a stem cell next to heart tissue and it will become a "heart" cell. Put it next to a paralyzed spinal cord, and new nerve tissue could form. WE COULD HAVE NO MORE PARALYSIS. Think about it; in 50 years (if we actually could do the research) we could "grow" entire limbs to replace amputee's, with NO risk of rejection of the body, because stem cells ALSO take the form of the DNA they surround (that way your body won't kill the new cells; they won't seem foreign to your immune system). So everybody think about it.

BOTTOM LINE:

Babys that should be allowed a chance at life should not be aborted for this research. Miscarriaged babies that simply couldn't be helped SHOULD be used however. At least then someone's grief of losing their BABY could be lessened when they recieve this letter in the mail : "Your miscarriaged child's stem cells have been used to let a blind man SEE again. Your loss was not in vain; someone WON the ability to SEE again".

How's that for info!!! Please rep this post if you may, I really feel passionate about this!

[byee]

This is a very emotional topic for some, because they've been misled by those who have appropriated the term 'Life' for their own purposes.

Stem cells are the basic building blocks of ALL cells, as TCC has rightfully said, they are cell 'blanks'. But, they come from fertilized eggs from In Vitro fertilization, when a group of eggs are removed from a woman and mixed in a lab with a guys sperm. One of the fertilized eggs is then planted into the woman's womb, where she carries to term and gives birth. The other fertilized eggs are eventually destroyed.

The stem cells in question are not actually 'fetuses' (a term given after about 8 weeks after fertilization), but rather a clump of massed, indistinguishable cells. It's really a fertilized egg, frozen, so it cannot develop. The entire argument surrounds what to do with these clumps of cells, that, otherwise, would be destroyed.

It's important in any discussion to remove as much of the emotion as possible, so that an intelligent, rational discussion can follow.

So, the issue is: Should these cells be destroyed, or used to treat debilitating or deadly diseases that afflict those already alive?

[ThatCanadianGuy]

With an argument like that, I think the answer is... quite apparent :D

[Makod]

Either aborted babies go to stem cell research, or this:

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m108/Makod_2006/450735460_m.jpg

[Prince Jellyfish]

Either aborted babies go to stem cell research, or this:

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m108/Makod_2006/450735460_m.jpg

You win over 9000 internets! =D