Stem cell research?

if you could cure all those diseases, parkinsons, altzhimers, or cancer or aids, but it was in a 'grey area' what should we do?

There is very little "Gray area".

First off, the cells used are from embryos that are composed of less cells than the brain of a housefly.

Second, the embryos that are destroyed in stem cell research are often taken from the leftovers of IV fertilization.

I personally know a whole lot of Christians who have had IV fert. with no qualms about the doctor simply throwing those leftover embryos in the trash. Yet they don't want us using those cells to cure horrible diseases.

It's insane to me.

morals are relative. Science is not. Morals will go away. Science is here to stay. Eventually, stem cell research will prevail.

It's not a gray area to me. Opposing stem cell research is morally indefensible.

All righteousness should prevail.

I hope that the stem cell research ban is lifted with the coming of the next president. We are already woefully behind! A stupid decision by a stupid president to appease his constituents. I sincerely doubt Bush would even be able to explain stem cell research, but he had no problem signing on the dotted line.

You said it. "Grey" area. curing diseases is not a grey area.
Now if in order to do stem cell research, it were necessary to kill babies, that would be another matter. But that is definitely not the case.

Embryonic stem cells should not be used UNTIL a way can be found to harvest a few from an embryo without killing the embryo. If a technology could be build to do so, the use of the harvested embryonics would be morally permissible.

Cultured adult stem cells bear no moral weight of protection as they come from an entity that has already aquired and enacted its potential as a human.

Do it. With stem cell research there is no grey area though. Just people making a problem where there isn't one. Say no to jesus

use them,many are wasted at egg banks anyway or abortions

New stem cell lines are spawned from fetuses that have been aborted; fetuses are not aborted FOR stem cell research. As such, stem cell research should be maximized. There is too much potential at hand for the research to be thrown at the window because a few say it's immoral.

Quality of life is much more important than quantity of life.

100% use the cells for the cure. the christian bias against it is just the way the church has always been... looking to control.

and the early term fetuses are NOT a human life and should be used if necessary.

I would go to a country w/ no laws about stem cell research

I do not think the Church has anything against Stem Cell Research. It is embryonic Stem Cell Research that is the problem. They do not like the destruction of human life for research. There is plenty of material available in cord blood and in placenta and other areas to get Stem Cells and now that they have found the connection with the placenta and amniotic fluid Stem Cells there is no reason to continue pushing for the other.

Stem cells are also found in amniotic fluid, it is not necessary murder the unborn to acquire them, but some have an agenda, to perform abortions even when not necessary.Nothing less than bloodthirsty.

I think the ban should be lifted. Its not a gray area for me. Not only that we are could fall far behind other countries that do allow the research to continue.

You're right in all those diseases you mentioned.

I think what everyone else said so far is very true. Science is here to stay. Years ago you can get yourself killed for stepping on someone elses shadow because you just "killed his soul".

I think this president is quite stupid. I'm not attacking his spiritual beliefs but if he claims he's doing it for a moral standard I give you this: If one of his loved ones or friends was on a deathbed and had 2 years to live and the only way a cure would be found for that disease would be through stem cell research do you REALLY think he would even be concerned with morality?
I dont think so.
In addition to that people who give up their egg and sperm to have invitro fertilization donate the rest of the eggs and sperm to stem cell research. There is nothing wrong there. So why ban it?

I hope this next president is more of a THINKER than a pompous brain dead leader.

Sorry if i sound bitter but in 1995 I wound up in the hospital due to acute pancreatitis. They removed 90% of my pancreas and it left me diabetic. Now im on insulin after all these years. I've been told that stem cell research can help certain organs especially pancreas regrow what ive lost.

Bottom line is that morality gets thrown out the window when it comes to a loved one at the end of their rope.

I hope stem cell research and the medical benefits from it come about way sooner than later. We really do need it as you can see.

Thanks for asking this question.

What grey area? Do it. You should give money to this and cord blood research, instead of your church or what ever. You evolved from a cell and that single cell holds the answers to most of the diseases. You know your DNA! People are scared to admit science will prevail over faith because science is tangible.

here is a clue you need to heed. like 5 days a week and a little time show me your $$ AND ILL CORRECT YOUR CRIME NOW WHICH WAY IS NORTHand loose the T becouse the answer is looking at you and me........ seriously speaking by the way make your minds UP on the color grey. becouse its in the blue.........in which you seek and the blue ispeak of is the BLUEyou drink...trymoisterizing the desert first...............

One of the most important things to realize about stem cells is that the embryos they use are either expired or scheduled to be terminated anyway. There is no possible chance of them ever becoming life. Since they're going to die anyway, you may as well harvest some cells to cure all kinds of cancer and diseases to improve the quality of life. The "grey" really gets washed away with the reality of how it works.

Other countries where stem cell research is unrestricted have really accomplished some amazing things... Japan especially has performed some marvels. There was a man who had lost most of his jaw when doctors had to surgically remove cancer (from smoking), but stem cells were able to make his jaw grow back. The regeneration potential with stem cells is very promising. We may be able to regrow limbs with such treatment.

They've also been able to sever the spinal cords of rats and regrow those spinal nerves with stem cells! This applied to humans would mean nobody would need a wheelchair again!

Also scientists have used stem cells to make women's breasts naturally larger (much safer and nicer than silicone injections)...

Then there's the diseases like parkinsons, alzheimers, and so on. Stem Cells are by far the most promising field of biology and medicine today (possibly ever) so the restrictions placed by silly religious groups is just a terrible travesty...

This is my thinking on the subject: Don't culture embryos specifically to get their stem cells, but salvage the cells from other sources, such as cadavers, miscarriages, etc.