I will be honest and admit that I know very little about the current stem cell debate. Yesterday, Mr. Bush vetoed the bill allowing funding and further medical research on stem cells as it “crossed a moral boundary that our decent society need to respect”.
Apparently, if they allow stem cell research, they can possibly find cures to serious illnesses like Alzheimers, Parkinson’s and diabetes.
I need to know, since I have little knowledge on this issue, what exactly makes researching this kind of research immoral? What are your opinions on this issue if it can possibly find a cure to serious diseases that may affect us or a loved one in the future?
Stem cells are found in developing fetuses. The "moral" problem is that once fetuses are used in research, it could become an industry to abort fetuses.
But yes, aborted fetuses can uncover the mysteries of many diseases.
Human stem cells (cells that can become any human cells) can only be found after a sperm has fertilised an egg and so a foetus forms.
Most Christian theology states that a soul is present from fertilisation onwards; as opposed to Islamic theology which states that the soul is there either 40 or 120 days after fertilisation.
From a Christian viewpoint, the only way to "harvest" stem cells is to commit murder.
Mehnaz, in short the answer is no. Something I've failed to understand though is why the scientists cannot use "cord blood"....the blood found in the umbilical cord is rich with stem cells...we actually had a "cord blood bank" take ours and we paid a good price to have it stored cryogenically. Cord blood is currently used in a number of ways as treatment for certain cancers etc. Anyway,when cord blood is taken within minutes of birth and frozen, it contains the same stem cells (I think) as a developing fetus.
Maybe now that the funding has been blocked, they will take that route Mama. It's a shame though. I am sure they will find a way around it so that fetuses are not harmed. It will probably just take some more time.
Oh ye who doubt the men (and women) of science.... cord blood stem cells are different from embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells, unlike cord blood stem cells, can be turned into any type of cell. Cord blood stem cells cannot, since they are not as primitive.
There are different types of stem cells, and they are not all equal in potential.
as for the whole stem cell debate, i whole heartedly go for stem cell research. the beginnings of the research have come up with such amazing results. and it’s not the end of it. other so called sources of stem cells can’t provide the same range of diversity that a zygote can provide. skin stem cells, umbilical cord cells, etc have a range of things they can turn into. a zygote can turn into anything.
the end result of this bill would be that other countries will be far ahead in this research, and US will stay behind. then, one day, it will just come up and say, oh look, we found this amazing piece of research. therefore, all credit goes to us
well i say good for the countries that see the need for this research and use what would otherwise become "toxic waste"....U.S. will see quite a "brain drain" i think when researches can continue to do their good things somewhere else. Anyway, no matter where it takes place, as long as it takes place IMHO.
Theres no doubt that stem cell research can reap enormous benefits but being the devout Christian that Bush is, he vetoed it cuz apparently it crosses some religious boundaries for him.
