Stem Cell Research and YOU!
 

So, there already was a stem cell thread, but that was about politics more than stem cell research in itself. Obama seems more stem cell friendly than his predecessor and although such research goes on in many countries, it's nice to see support for this research again in the US.

If you don't know what stem cell research is, I can do a quick, simplified summary. An embryo in the earliest stages of development is little more than a lump of cells. The cells haven't been given a job yet - and a job could be to be a skin cell, a muscle cell, blood cell, brain cell, liver cell - you get the idea. At that point before the cell has been given a job, it has the potential to become any cell in the body. It is a stem cell. As our bodies develop, we lose our stem cells as they develop into the kind of working cells our bodies consist of. Stem cell research is research into producing such stem cells to use them to replace damaged cells in the body. The best source for such stem cells is aborted fetuses which is where the ethical dilemma comes in.


So the question is how do you feel about it? Does it excite or infuriate any of you?


Me? I'm very excited of course :D I have quite bad hearing loss, particularly in my right ear, from exposure to loud sounds and there was an episode with a rifle shot that was just a bit too close to the ear which I don't want to get into details about, but .. there's good reason to believe my and other's hearing problems will be curable by stem cells in a couple of decades time if not earlier. :)

I'm actually assuming there'll be stem cells treatment for alzheimer when I get old although I could probably benefit from a stem cell injection in the brain now already. :p:

I say bring it on. My uncle was recently re-diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia, after being in remission for 15 years. And once somebody has passed the 5 year mark of being cancer-free, the chances of the same cancer recurring are pretty slim. But if it does come back it can be pretty serious. His doctors have said that if stem-cell technology was widely available 15 years ago, the cancer would probably never have come back. My uncle is getting a bone-marrow transplant right now and the doctors want to try and use some stem cells (from what I understand).

I think this technology is amazing and I support the research efforts because I know that scientists and medical doctors will be able to treat (and possibly cure) a lot of chronic conditions. I understand the ethical dilemma behind it though - that stem cells are coming from embryos and the umbilical cords of unborn fetuses - but there are a lot of people who liken this to a healthy person's organs being donated after their death.

I'm definitely all for stem cell research. Morally/ethically, I don't think utilizing stem cells for research is any worse than a guy masturbating and throwing his happy sock into the trash bin as far as potential for life is concerned. The potential for saving lives and improving the quality of lives weighs more to me when compared to what's being lost.
That said, I'm eager to see the progress that's made during my lifetime provided we don't have anyone in power with some fanatical moral dilemma about killing a couple cells while they discuss how they're going to shut the program down over a steak fillet.

I honestly support this, it could save so many peoples lives, and better those of others. :)

It's a wonderful thing that could benefit society in many important, groundbreaking ways and if it's not utilized to the fullest possibilities, it's a waste.

I think it could be really beneficial.
I want to see what other people have to say as well, since I'm not well educated in this subject.

I support stem cell research. An embryo is "non-sentient," lacking a structured and "wired" brain, and so using embryo cells does not bother me.

I also support a woman's right and choice to have an abortion when the fetus has not yet developed substantial brain wiring and thus presumably awareness, although I would like to reduce the incidences of unwanted pregnancies, such as through improvements in contraception methods and increases in contraception use by both women and men.

I wanna know who voted against.

^Just click the vote number and it will show you who voted which way.

True... I'm used to just seeing the voters right off the bat. I don't know why this is different.

Anyway, I really just wanted the person who voted against to input his opinion in the thread as to why he voted that way... Interested is all.