Scientists hail stem cell breakthrough

[jamesrwright3]

Actually second thought I am against all use of human embryos for research
I have no problems with using adult stem cells from other areas within the body.
To destroy life is totally unethical

 

[Randall McNally]

Actually second thought I am against all use of human embryos for research
I have no problems with using adult stem cells from other areas within the body.
To destroy life is totally unethical

And your alternative to the current options (all of which are fatal to the embryo) is...?

 

[the_malevolent_milk_man]

woops, didn't see a previous post.

 

[Spherical Time]

Yes, but those embryos may be essentially useless for therapy. New embryos, containing the DNA from the patient, will probably need to be created and then those are destoyed in the process of extracting the necessary cells.

Your interpretation seems problematic, but I'm not quite sure I can explain more clearly why.

Humans can't yet create the embryonic framework, or at least per my understanding. What this means is that they probably used discarded embryos, took out the genetic information, and then used those as the therapy. Further, at the stage we're talking about, almost all of the embryo is made up of the stem cells.

I don't think "new embryos" are created for the specific patients.

 

[jamesrwright3]

Your interpretation seems problematic, but I'm not quite sure I can explain more clearly why.

Humans can't yet create the embryonic framework, or at least per my understanding. What this means is that they probably used discarded embryos, took out the genetic information, and then used those as the therapy. Further, at the stage we're talking about, almost all of the embryo is made up of the stem cells.

I don't think "new embryos" are created for the specific patients.

My explanation is not problematic
Clearly new embryos were made and utilized. They used a donor egg and genetic
material from the patients. Please read the article before making such comments.

 

[elginX]

First off I have to agree with the posts that claim most right to life people are hypocrites in regards to stem cell research. Many pro life individuals either turn a blind eye to IVF or have used IVF. One cannot have it both ways. However, I wonder how the proponents of stem cell research would feel about donating thier own embryos for research? Has that issue been addressed? Would the parents be able to consent or refuse? I can't imagine that many people would actually consent to have thier embryo/child used/killed for research. Everyone can debate the morality of the issue and focus on replacing humanist verbiage with clinical but it becomes a whole different issue when the decision is being made by a parent who has struggled so very hard to create the embryo.
My opinion? It's a terrible sin to believe in sacrificing the innocent to "benefit humanity" or to fulfill a biological desire to have a baby. Every line we cross in the name of this or that brings us closer to the end times.

 

[Spherical Time]

My explanation is not problematic

I said it seems problematic, and I was trying to explain why because I wanted a more detailed explanation.

Clearly new embryos were made and utilized. They used a donor egg and genetic
material from the patients. Please read the article before making such comments.

Well, I have, but my understanding of the actual process is different than what it says in the article, but I can't find the references that I was looking for, so I'll let the article stand.