solking

This is a topic that I was debating on in class today. Stem cell research is being used to treat people with certain diseases but as well is viewed as murdering unborn children. Here is a link to the latest CNN article:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/08/....ap/index.html

Here is another link explaining what it is:

http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/...ab_whatis.html

Please give me your opinions and view points on this topic. All information and opinions are valuable.

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bugsbunnyz

I agree with stem cell research, for me, if there's any hope of advancing foreward, certain taboos must be overcome... But having said that I also understand the reason why certain people are against it, but I'm with the greater good on this subject.

solking

I actually agree with the topic even though it is against my religious beliefs. The latest research is actually using the umbiblical (spelling bad) cord and cell from human noses for this research. But then again what about the future. The approval of stem cell research can also lead to cloning. And with the imperfection of humans, who knows what kind of evil can arise from this. If cloning methods were ever perfected through stem cell research, any criminal could easily alter their appearance and never be caught. That's when sci-fi can become reality.

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Miroku4444

How would he alter his appearance?

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LenMiyata

Grumble Grumble Grumble

What is being discussed for 'Cloning' from stem cell research is 'Therapeutic Cloning', the production of replacement skin and internal organs for surgical replacement. As far as 'Human Cloning' (creation of a Human being), so far, no one has been able to clone any primate species, (and alot of people have tried). And if 'Human Cloning' is ever successfully done, the only thing that would result would be the creation of a human baby. The process of genetic cloning does not transfer personalities, memories, or environmental effects. (just as 'maternal twins' does not result in the creation of 'duplicate' persons...)

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solking

Well after 30 or 40 years of research the stem cells (if proven possible) could be used just like prostetics. If they are able to generate skin then the skin can be shaped in any form they wanted. Which means the alteration of face. This is just a sci-fi theory that seems to become more possible as time progresses.

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Miroku4444

Wow that could be great. You need a new heart or liver, clone one. Think of what it could do for burn victems.

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solking

The biggest problem with that is that those organs have a greater risk of organ failure. The stem cells can have a negative reaction and cause tumors and cancer as well.

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LenMiyata

Grumble Grumble Grumble
If someone is in need of a new heart or liver, I think the last thing on his mind would be the threat of cancer twenty to thirty years down the line. He'd be more concerned on just LIVING twenty to thirty years down the line.... Since no one has yet been able to clone a organ from stem cell tissue cultures, no one knows what the resulting risks actually are...

Also, using cloned tissue for cosmetic surgery would really be no different from 'plastic' surgery of today...

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solking

That maybe true. But the advances on this research would make cosmetic surgery cheaper and much easier to get a hold of. After 20 years or so people will probably have cosmetic surgery kits in their homes. No one really knows what the future holds...

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Arrianna

True. They can also get stem cells from the persons own bone marrow. I believe umbilical cord stem cells are the most usuable however. From what I understand thanks to umbilical stem cells the emergency concerning embrionic stem cell research is pretty much over, execpt for the specific scientists working on it.

I may be off on this but I get the impression that you have several teams all over the US working on this from different angles. Their funding is based on the angle they use. Since the embrionic stem cells funded by the federal government are becoming less usable those teams using that type of research are trying to get federal resrictions losened for funding.

FUNDING not legality. All they are prevented from doing is getting FEDERAL funding for new embrionic cells. There is no legal reason they can't get private funding for it, yet they can't seem to get it. I know there other researching teams using other methods who are being privatly funded. So it appears to me that the private sector has no confidence in it, won't fund it, so they're desperate for federal funding instead.

My thought? Let it die. We have a replacement that isn't controversial and works just as well. Who needs it.

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