Comments on: Eliminating the Stem Cell Controversy http://www.amyshah.com/stem-cells/eliminating-the-stem-cell-controversy/ Biomedical Engineering Blog Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:45:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Napka’s Top Science » Eliminating the Stem Cell Controversy http://www.amyshah.com/stem-cells/eliminating-the-stem-cell-controversy/#comment-807 Napka’s Top Science » Eliminating the Stem Cell Controversy Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:34:45 +0000 http://www.amyshah.com/stem-cells/eliminating-the-stem-cell-controversy/#comment-807 [...] read more | digg story [...] [...] read more | digg story [...]

]]> By: ern http://www.amyshah.com/stem-cells/eliminating-the-stem-cell-controversy/#comment-792 ern Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:28:50 +0000 http://www.amyshah.com/stem-cells/eliminating-the-stem-cell-controversy/#comment-792 wrlang is wrong. Pluripotent stem cells aren't "human life" and no opponents of embryonic stem cell research consider them so. The issue is destroying the embryo to collect the stem cells. No stem cells on their own are an embryo, and so they aren't human life. There are no opponents to the use of adult stem cells. In fact, you'll find that religious opponents of embryonic stem cell research are the biggest boosters for adult stem cell research. There is no (and has never been) any religious opposition to adult stem cell research. One correction to the article above: the decision by President Bush in 2001 was about federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Those 60 lines can be researched using federal funds. It is not illegal to do research on other stem cell lines, only to use federal dollars to do so. The idea that embryonic stem cell research is illegal except on those 60 lines is a myth. wrlang is wrong. Pluripotent stem cells aren’t “human life” and no opponents of embryonic stem cell research consider them so. The issue is destroying the embryo to collect the stem cells. No stem cells on their own are an embryo, and so they aren’t human life. There are no opponents to the use of adult stem cells. In fact, you’ll find that religious opponents of embryonic stem cell research are the biggest boosters for adult stem cell research. There is no (and has never been) any religious opposition to adult stem cell research.

One correction to the article above: the decision by President Bush in 2001 was about federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Those 60 lines can be researched using federal funds. It is not illegal to do research on other stem cell lines, only to use federal dollars to do so. The idea that embryonic stem cell research is illegal except on those 60 lines is a myth.

]]> By: wrlang http://www.amyshah.com/stem-cells/eliminating-the-stem-cell-controversy/#comment-319 wrlang Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:08:08 +0000 http://www.amyshah.com/stem-cells/eliminating-the-stem-cell-controversy/#comment-319 If you read the anti-stem cell blogs you’ll see that the religious fanatics that created the controversy are arming up for the next battle. Since pluripotent stem cells (PSC) can become any tissue, they are human life. Even if these doctors are successful, the controversy will not end. The controversy is always misrepresented as being solved by getting PSC from somewhere other than an embryo. The real controversy is that a large portion of America feels it has the right to impose their religious beliefs on everyone. Solving the correct interpretation of the controversy will solve all the issues, not just one. In addition, no one I know of is working on a cure for diabetes. Since diabetes is caused by the immune system attacking the insulin producing cells, the only way to cure it is to stop the immune system from attacking the cells. Who is working on that? Everything is going towards creating insulin producing cells that will subsequently be attacked by the immune system. Hope that helps. If you read the anti-stem cell blogs you’ll see that the religious fanatics that created the controversy are arming up for the next battle. Since pluripotent stem cells (PSC) can become any tissue, they are human life. Even if these doctors are successful, the controversy will not end. The controversy is always misrepresented as being solved by getting PSC from somewhere other than an embryo. The real controversy is that a large portion of America feels it has the right to impose their religious beliefs on everyone. Solving the correct interpretation of the controversy will solve all the issues, not just one.

In addition, no one I know of is working on a cure for diabetes. Since diabetes is caused by the immune system attacking the insulin producing cells, the only way to cure it is to stop the immune system from attacking the cells. Who is working on that? Everything is going towards creating insulin producing cells that will subsequently be attacked by the immune system.

Hope that helps.

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