Stem Cell Research

[Ladyberg]

Do you think that stem cell research is ethical or not?



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Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

 

[Euryale]

Ethical.

 

[Ladyberg]

How about embryonic stem cell research? Do you find this ethical as well or do you make distinctions between the two?



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Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

 

[Randall McNally]

It depends. Currently, the debate revolves around the use of embryos that have been harvested and frozen ostensibly for IVF, but have no realistic future as humans. It's much harder to make a case against ESC research with the current state-of-affairs - with the embryos already in existence and likely facing destruction - than it would be if there were a call for embryo creation specifically for ESC.

In any case, I think this topic belongs in Philosophy & Morality.

 

[Ladyberg]

Many of the embryos that are obtained for research come from in vitro fertilization clinics where extra sperm and egg were fused together. These fertilized eggs can be implanted into another woman and given a chance at life.



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Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

 

[Milla]

Do you think that stem cell research is ethical or not?

As in nigh all things in this world, it all depends on context. I can no more make a blanket statement on this issue than I can on the question "is war right or wrong?"

 

[Randall McNally]

Many of the embryos that are obtained for research come from in vitro fertilization clinics where extra sperm and egg were fused together. These fertilized eggs can be implanted into another woman and given a chance at life.

I don't know how many women are actually seeking another's unwanted embryos. But in any case, it's up to the putative parents whether they want their frozen embryos donated or not. If they want to let other women use them, then they should be able to do so. Likewise if they want them to be harvested for ESCs.

 

[Vylo]

Yes, it is ethical.

 

[Nathan Poe]

Many of the embryos that are obtained for research come from in vitro fertilization clinics where extra sperm and egg were fused together. These fertilized eggs can be implanted into another woman and given a chance at life.

Can be, but in all likelihood, are not.

 

[Ladyberg]

I don't know how many women are actually seeking another's unwanted embryos. But in any case, it's up to the putative parents whether they want their frozen embryos donated or not. If they want to let other women use them, then they should be able to do so. Likewise if they want them to be harvested for ESCs.

Any fertilized egg is a human life and has the right to the chance of life.There is no reason that if a woman wants to have another couple's fertilized egg implanted inside of her that she should not be allowed to for one reason or another. If there are not too many women interested in such an idea, than some sort of incentive should be given to a couple who decides to take another couple's fertilized egg, like having the procedure be cheaper than if they tried to use their own.


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Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

 

[-Truth-]

Any fertilized egg is a human life and has the right to the chance of life.There is no reason that if a woman wants to have another couple's fertilized egg implanted inside of her that she should not be allowed to for one reason or another. If there are not too many women interested in such an idea, than some sort of incentive should be given to a couple who decides to take another couple's fertilized egg, like having the procedure be cheaper than if they tried to use their own.


----------
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

Or we can use them for stem cell research, being they will most likely be discarded anyway. In this way maybe saving the lives of hundreds or thousands.

 

[ProLifeJPFreeman]

Hi Ladyberg, Thanks for the invite. Hmmm Stem cell research. I am for it as long as it will not kill the embryo. I hate that word! Embryo is a stage of developement. So let me correct it. By saying Human Being created in God's Image. Wait a minute do we have his or her's permission to do research? Well now I am against it since we can not get permissin from a Brothe or Sister created in God's Image. How about stem cells from Ambilical Cords?? I am for that type of research. I really do not know allot about it. "Sometime the simplest explanations makes it easier to decide right from wrong." That Quote is by me

God Bless All
Proudly Pro Life JP Freeman

 

[ClaireZ]

Or we can use them for stem cell research, being they will most likely be discarded anyway. In this way maybe saving the lives of hundreds or thousands.

Agreed. There will never be "adoptive parents" in numbers enough to save these fertilized eggs from just being destroyed. It is better to use them to advance medical science then to see them end up in the dustbins of a lab.

 

[-Truth-]

Hi Ladyberg, Thanks for the invite. Hmmm Stem cell research. I am for it as long as it will not kill the embryo. I hate that word! Embryo is a stage of developement. So let me correct it. By saying Human Being created in God's Image. Wait a minute do we have his or her's permission to do research? Well now I am against it since we can not get permissin from a Brothe or Sister created in God's Image. How about stem cells from Ambilical Cords?? I am for that type of research. I really do not know allot about it. "Sometime the simplest explanations makes it easier to decide right from wrong." That Quote is by me

God Bless All
Proudly Pro Life JP Freeman

What does god say about surgery?

 

[Ladyberg]

Embryonic stem cells have not have any real success while adult stem cells are already being used to cure such things as Gunther's disease, Hunter syndrome, Hurler syndrome, Acute lymphocytic leukaemia and many more problems occurring mostly in children. It also turns out that embryonic stems cells can also be more dangerous than adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are not very controllable right now, giving tumors to the injected rats (see sources below).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell_research

http://www.noon71.us/merit.html

The bottom line here is that embryonic stem cells have not have any real success yet, while the successes of adult stem cells are being ignored. Since adult stem cells are already having such success, it is possible that adult stem cells have even more potential. It has also been demonstrated that bone marrow stem cells can differentiate into different types of cells, which could lead to many more cures.

Also, is it worth the death of many lives for only the potential for saving or helping other lives?



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Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

 

[Randall McNally]

Any fertilized egg is a human life and has the right to the chance of life.There is no reason that if a woman wants to have another couple's fertilized egg implanted inside of her that she should not be allowed to for one reason or another.

Well, yeah, there is a reason: property rights. Plus, if you start treating embryos as full humans, then you implicitly give the state ultimate authority over them. That should utterly terrify non-socialists.

If there are not too many women interested in such an idea, than some sort of incentive should be given to a couple who decides to take another couple's fertilized egg, like having the procedure be cheaper than if they tried to use their own.

I have to strongly question the ethics of a plan that seeks to bribe couples into not having their own biological offspring. Money can be unfairly manipulative and should be kept as far away from this issue as possible.

 

[Ladyberg]

Well, yeah, there is a reason: property rights. Plus, if you start treating embryos as full humans, then you implicitly give the state ultimate authority over them. That should utterly terrify non-socialists.

A fertilized egg is indeed a human life. Here are some of the basic biological qualifications for life:

1) Reproduces
2) Has highly ordered structure
3) Energy utilization (Metabolism)
4) Growth and development
5) Response to the environment (stimulus)
6) Possession of a genetic program

Now, having listed the six main characteristics of life, doesn't a developing fertilized egg meet these requirements? A fertilized egg reproduces by means of cell division, and thus also is growing and developing as a result of cellular division. A fertilized egg is also highly ordered in its structure, receives nutrients from its mother (metabolizes), and responds to its environment. And last, but not least, a fertilized egg contains the complete genetic information of a full-grown adult human (which makes the fertilized egg human). If a fertilized egg is a human life, then it cannot be considered simply as property.

I have to strongly question the ethics of a plan that seeks to bribe couples into not having their own biological offspring. Money can be unfairly manipulative and should be kept as far away from this issue as possible.

It is a lot better than simply not giving the embryo a chance at life. In vitro fertilization is a very expensive procedure and if a couple cannot afford it, taking on another couple's fertilized egg when it is cheaper is a great way to allow them to have the procedure and to give the embryo a chance at life.


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Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

 

[ClaireZ]

A fertilized egg is indeed a human life. Here are some of the basic biological qualifications for life:

1) Reproduces
2) Has highly ordered structure
3) Energy utilization (Metabolism)
4) Growth and development
5) Response to the environment (stimulus)
6) Possession of a genetic program

That is a definition of Life, but not human life. A snake, a gorilla, a dog, and a bacteria all also have these qualifications. Human life requires much more than this.

 

[-Truth-]

A fertilized egg is indeed a human life. Here are some of the basic biological qualifications for life:

1) Reproduces
2) Has highly ordered structure
3) Energy utilization (Metabolism)
4) Growth and development
5) Response to the environment (stimulus)
6) Possession of a genetic program

Now, having listed the six main characteristics of life, doesn't a developing fertilized egg meet these requirements? A fertilized egg reproduces by means of cell division, and thus also is growing and developing as a result of cellular division. A fertilized egg is also highly ordered in its structure, receives nutrients from its mother (metabolizes), and responds to its environment. And last, but not least, a fertilized egg contains the complete genetic information of a full-grown adult human (which makes the fertilized egg human). If a fertilized egg is a human life, then it cannot be considered simply as property.

It is a lot better than simply not giving the embryo a chance at life. In vitro fertilization is a very expensive procedure and if a couple cannot afford it, taking on another couple's fertilized egg when it is cheaper is a great way to allow them to have the procedure and to give the embryo a chance at life.


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Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

The same can be said for plants.





There is a biggie that a fertilized egg can not do though. It can not survive on its own.

 

[Ladyberg]

That is a definition of Life, but not human life. A snake, a gorilla, a dog, and a bacteria all also have these qualifications. Human life requires much more than this.

Yes, the definition that I provided is the definition for all of life, but the thing that makes the fertilized egg human is that it has the full genetic makeup of a human being.


----------
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.