I've always found the research creepy, but it's hard to ignore the possibilities. As long as it doesn't involve preventing a child from being born (and as far as I'm aware, no research has even come close), I'm all for it.
We already have that. Non-embryonic stem cell research has produced around 70-odd therapies to date... embryonic has, last I checked, produced none.
That's because embryonic stem cell research has not been tried in humans, and only minimally in mammals.
But, the theory is that embryonic stem cells have ability to turn into any cell of the body, whereas adult stem cells do not have that ability.
If this is scientifically true, I support embryonic stem cell research.
And the embryos come from extra embryos which are used for in vitro fertilization. A couple can choose to donate the extra embryos for research.
This is a hypothetical. Let's say that stem cell research did not involve the use of embryos but involved something else which had the same potential and success as embryonic stem cell research. There would no embryos or human life destroyed in the use of stem cell research.
Would you support or oppose stem cell research?
If these stem cells can be manipulated, turned into many different cells for the sake of improving well-being, this needs to be done. These chains the more zealous in our country have on scientific progression need to be cut.
I support stem cell research regardless of where the cells come from.
Really?
Let me paint you a picture. What if... you were a single child and you wanted to have a baby brother or a younger sister to play with. You then find out your mother is pregnant because you hear them speak about it... then, they go and kill your baby brother in order for him stem cells to be harvested for scientific research.
How would that make you feel? Would you still support them regardless of where they came from?
Really?
Let me paint you a picture. What if... you were a single child and you wanted to have a baby brother or a younger sister to play with. You then find out your mother is pregnant because you hear them speak about it... then, they go and kill your baby brother in order for him stem cells to be harvested for scientific research.
How would that make you feel? Would you still support them regardless of where they came from?
I think he meant whether they came from embryonic stem cells or adult stem cells, it doesn't matter. And the way you have described it here certainly is not how they get embryonic stem cells.
I don't understand why these people are stopping us from reaping these scientific benefits. Imagine if certain cells could be manipulated in order to cure certain diseases and disabilities?
There needs to be more of a push to break these chains.
For the former, people would obviously agree. For the latter, most people would agree, but never underestimate the limitations surrounding the assumptions of the non-disabled. There are plenty (certainly not all) of disability categories where it is a grave insult to promote the cure.
Plenty of disability categories where it is a grave insult to promote the cure? What to do you mean?
If you were to somehow use our scientific knowledge to proclaim that "we can end Autism" and the media and the streets cheer, you have possibly (and I say "possibly" because it is more of an individual matter than many might credit) indicted the millions that have it and the many of those who view it as central to their identities, something they have come to accept and even love. The same had been experienced by the Deaf community many times over, and still is a problematic proposition.
I definitely agree with you to a certain extent. However, in your example, autism is a spectrum disorder, so someone who had Aspergers would be different than someone who had a more severe case of autism.
But, consider something like say, cystic fibrosis. I can't imagine many people who have CF who would say that they wouldn't want to change anything about them if they had the opportunity.