Freeze the Fluid?
Scientist have discovered yet another type of stem cell. This new type is found in amniotic fluid and perhaps holds the most promise of any stem cell to date. Current stem cells that do not come from embryos were once labled unipotent since it was thought they were only capable of becomming peticular types of cells. Embryonic stem cells were labeled pluripotent since they have the capability to become any type of cell in the human body. Now the label of unipotent for adult stem cells is blurring. Since they have been used in regenerative therapies, and have even helped repair spinal chord injuries among many other amazing accomplishments. I have made this point several times and won't bore you with more of the same. Except that I kind of have to, because this latest type of stem cell is even more pluripotent that other types of adult stem cells in that it has already been grown into different types of cells like heart tissue.
At a heart research conference in November, Swiss researcher Simon Hoerstrup said he managed to turn amniotic fluid stem cells into heart cells that could be grown into replacement valves. Hoerstrup has yet to publish his work in a scientific journal.
Making it very promising to quickly be used in tissue replacement therapies. Don't be surprized when you hear that not only should you be freezing your babies chord blood, but now the amniotic fluid as well.
Nonetheless, Daley said, the discovery shouldn't be used as a replacement for human embryonic stem cell research.
Of course not, why stop being controversal. I am not the type of person that makes claims that God is trying to send a message with this or that (like people usually do with natural disasters and such), but I have to wonder here. We keep getting discoveries that show us non-embrionic stem cells are or will perform miracles. Yet the embrionic stem cell doesn't accomplish squat! If you are an athiestic scientist, at least let statistics rule rather than the promise of a failed pursuit in embrionic research. Go with what works. I wonder where stem cell research would be today if every dollar and effort put into embrionic stem cell research was put into adult stem cell research?
"While they are fascinating subjects of study in their own right, they are not a substitute for human embryonic stem cells, which allow scientists to address a host of other interesting questions in early human development," said Daley, who began work last year to clone human embryos to produce stem cells.
Notice he doesn't say that ESC research will save lives or some breakthrough will be made. I watch this subject as close as I can. I have noticed this shift in what scientists say about ESC research now. The late ninties we had to kill embryos because it was going to give us spare livers and noone would die of heart failure anymore. Now, with years of research on ESCs and not one usable discovery to treat any disease, scientist have made a shift in why we need to conduct this research. And yes folks it has come down from saving lives to learning about early human development.
If you think a blastocyst is not even life so you don't care if we kill them. Keep this in mind, many of us do think they are life, since we all started out as one. With absolutly no advantage to this research, are you just doing it to piss off the rest of us. Thats good science?
At a heart research conference in November, Swiss researcher Simon Hoerstrup said he managed to turn amniotic fluid stem cells into heart cells that could be grown into replacement valves. Hoerstrup has yet to publish his work in a scientific journal.
Making it very promising to quickly be used in tissue replacement therapies. Don't be surprized when you hear that not only should you be freezing your babies chord blood, but now the amniotic fluid as well.
Nonetheless, Daley said, the discovery shouldn't be used as a replacement for human embryonic stem cell research.
Of course not, why stop being controversal. I am not the type of person that makes claims that God is trying to send a message with this or that (like people usually do with natural disasters and such), but I have to wonder here. We keep getting discoveries that show us non-embrionic stem cells are or will perform miracles. Yet the embrionic stem cell doesn't accomplish squat! If you are an athiestic scientist, at least let statistics rule rather than the promise of a failed pursuit in embrionic research. Go with what works. I wonder where stem cell research would be today if every dollar and effort put into embrionic stem cell research was put into adult stem cell research?
"While they are fascinating subjects of study in their own right, they are not a substitute for human embryonic stem cells, which allow scientists to address a host of other interesting questions in early human development," said Daley, who began work last year to clone human embryos to produce stem cells.
Notice he doesn't say that ESC research will save lives or some breakthrough will be made. I watch this subject as close as I can. I have noticed this shift in what scientists say about ESC research now. The late ninties we had to kill embryos because it was going to give us spare livers and noone would die of heart failure anymore. Now, with years of research on ESCs and not one usable discovery to treat any disease, scientist have made a shift in why we need to conduct this research. And yes folks it has come down from saving lives to learning about early human development.
If you think a blastocyst is not even life so you don't care if we kill them. Keep this in mind, many of us do think they are life, since we all started out as one. With absolutly no advantage to this research, are you just doing it to piss off the rest of us. Thats good science?
posted by Jim Fisher at 8:38 PM
5 Comments:
Jim:
Thank you for sharing your blog. You have a no-nonsense style to your writing, and yes, we are on different sides of the "politicial spectrum" but your talent and passion speak volumes.
Please feel free to stop by my blog at literarywarrior.blogspot.com should you wish to check out my writing and experiences.
Thanks again. I will follow your postings on blogspot, as your work is so honest and real.
Be Well....
LiteraryWarrior
Thankyou for the kind compliments Warrior. I will check out your blog.
Excellent post. You're exactly right -- no matter how promising other sources of stem cells prove to be, scientists and the wider liberal community just aren't willing to give up the "promise" of killing unborn children. It sickens me to no end. Science fiction plots throughout the ages have warned us about using science to cheat death at the expense of other human beings -- and now that the bridge is before us, we rush ahead in a mad sprint.
"And yes folks it has come down from saving lives to learning about early human development." I noticed this myself when I read the article. How minor can a cause be and still justify killing unborn children? As low as you want, apparently, since they're not real human beings. We might as well make killing the unborn a new sport, a form of art, a way to pass the time. Hook up medical equipment to the internet and let people pay for the privilege of controlling the abortionist's tools inside the womb, ripping unborn children to pieces. "Strike a blow against evil pro-lifers by tearing an embryo apart from your own keyboard." Why not? If they're not real human beings, what's wrong with making some profit off them?
It's insidious.
Your exactly right Mike. lets watch the shift in what scientist say embrionic stem cell research will accomplish over the next five years. I know you are exaggerating to make a point, but lets just see where this research takes us. Meanwhile, I honestly believe that some scientist may intentionally slow the progress of adult stem cell research because of worry they will be forced to stop killing embryos.
"Meanwhile, I honestly believe that some scientist may intentionally slow the progress of adult stem cell research because of worry they will be forced to stop killing embryos." That would be just like them -- anything to keep us from sliding down the slippery slope of believing that embryos are real human beings. Where would we be if scientific progress flew in the face of our politics?
Thank you for tracking this important issue so closely.
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