Should stem cell research be banned?

[Solace]

There has been much debate on whether or not stem cell research should be made permanently illegal. In other words, stem cell research would never exist in America. I believe it shouldn't be, because it opens the door for research, including research towards finding a cure for several diseases. In fact, I read an article the other day in which a man was cured of some disease thanks to stem cell research, I don't have a link to the article though. What are your thoughts on stem cell research?

 

[The Mark]

I think there are several types of stem cells out there - those I've heard of are "adult stem cells" (from an adult human?) and "embryonic stem cells" (extracted from an embryo?).

Of the two, I believe I heard somewhere that the embryonic ones allow for more options, as they are somehow less “set in their ways”, if you will, as opposed to adult stem cells.

The morality of it is another story – I’m not sure as too the procedures involved, but it seems very likely that an embryo would be destroyed in the process – and for some people, that is enough to ban, at least, embryonic stem cell research.

 

[Kandahar]

I think this debate is pretty much over, with the forces for technological progress triumphing. Now that the cat is out of the bag, there is absolutely no way that any future president or Congress will ban it. Stem cell therapies have the potential to be one of the most promising medical developments on the horizon, offering us everything from the ability to grow new organs/tissues in the laboratory, to the ability to replace our aging cells with younger and healthier cells, to the ability to regenerate lost limbs/teeth/hair. This is just too much potential to go to waste.

Furthermore, it is incorrect that an embryo must be destroyed to obtain embryonic stem cells. That was true when the stem cell debate was at its apex...ten years ago. But there have been lots of advances in the technology since then, and it is now possible to coax adult cells back into their embryonic state, so that no embryos are destroyed.

 

[The Mark]

I think this debate is pretty much over, with the forces for technological progress triumphing. Now that the cat is out of the bag, there is absolutely no way that any future president or Congress will ban it. Stem cell therapies have the potential to be one of the most promising medical developments on the horizon, offering us everything from the ability to grow new organs/tissues in the laboratory, to the ability to replace our aging cells with younger and healthier cells, to the ability to regenerate lost limbs/teeth/hair. This is just too much potential to go to waste.

Furthermore, it is incorrect that an embryo must be destroyed to obtain embryonic stem cells. That was true when the stem cell debate was at its apex...ten years ago. But there have been lots of advances in the technology since then, and it is now possible to coax adult cells back into their embryonic state, so that no embryos are destroyed.

I understood it was easier to use embryos in research - but perhaps no longer.

 

[Solace]

I think there are several types of stem cells out there - those I've heard of are "adult stem cells" (from an adult human?) and "embryonic stem cells" (extracted from an embryo?).

Of the two, I believe I heard somewhere that the embryonic ones allow for more options, as they are somehow less “set in their ways”, if you will, as opposed to adult stem cells.

The morality of it is another story – I’m not sure as too the procedures involved, but it seems very likely that an embryo would be destroyed in the process – and for some people, that is enough to ban, at least, embryonic stem cell research.

If the mother is going to have an abortion anyway, then what's the difference? Atleast this way the unborn baby's life wasn't sacrificed for nothing.

 

[The Mark]

If the mother is going to have an abortion anyway, then what's the difference? Atleast this way the unborn baby's life wasn't sacrificed for nothing.

Those who oppose embryonic stem cell research often oppose abortions on the grounds that they believe it's baby murder, or some such.

The two are closely tied, I think.

So it's not a contridiction, really, to say no embronic stem cell research, if you're would not allow most abortions anyway.

I think...

 

[SheWolf]

I thought the debate was really about federal funding..

 

[SheWolf]

I thought the debate was really about federal funding..

Oh.. but that is stem cell research, we are talking about stim cell research so I don't know.. :shrug:

 

[The Mark]

I thought the debate was really about federal funding..

Well, people who disagree with it wouldn't want their tax monies helping research it.

I'm not sure if there was ever an actual ban on it, although I think there once was, here in the US and perhaps other areas of the world.

 

[American]

Well, people who disagree with it wouldn't want their tax monies helping research it.

I'm not sure if there was ever an actual ban on it, although I think there once was, here in the US and perhaps other areas of the world.

Let's clear something up a bit. It was all about federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, not just any old stem cell research. The only contention was over embryonic stem cells. All other research using federal funds was supported and never in contention.

 

[MaggieD]

There has been much debate on whether or not stem cell research should be made permanently illegal. In other words, stem cell research would never exist in America. I believe it shouldn't be, because it opens the door for research, including research towards finding a cure for several diseases. In fact, I read an article the other day in which a man was cured of some disease thanks to stem cell research, I don't have a link to the article though. What are your thoughts on stem cell research?

Each year we legally throw away 1.3 million embryos at abortion clinics and hospitals throughout the United States.

Why not embryonic stem cell research?

 

[AGENT J]

I voted no
no logical reason to ban it that Ive read or heard

 

[digsbe]

Embryonic stem cell research should be banned. Adult stem cell research should continue on. Being a student of molecular biology I believe that adult stem cell research is more promising and more affective when it comes to treating patients. There would be no organ rejection and no immoral aspects to the therapy.

 

[Barbbtx]

I thought the debate was really about federal funding..

I am against federal funding of it, just as I am against federal funding for abortions.

I see nothing wrong with using left over embryo's from fertility clinics (with parents permission) but I don't think we should fund something that creates human life just to destroy it.

 

[liblady]

There has been much debate on whether or not stem cell research should be made permanently illegal. In other words, stem cell research would never exist in America. I believe it shouldn't be, because it opens the door for research, including research towards finding a cure for several diseases. In fact, I read an article the other day in which a man was cured of some disease thanks to stem cell research, I don't have a link to the article though. What are your thoughts on stem cell research?

yes, stim cell research should be banned, but i support stem cell research.

 

[VanceMack]

Let's clear something up a bit. It was all about federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, not just any old stem cell research. The only contention was over embryonic stem cells. All other research using federal funds was supported and never in contention.

And it needs to be stressed...universities, states, private institutions have NEVER been banned from conducting and funding embryonic stem cell research.

What SHOULD be made criminal is the false hope and promises that have been issued. People actually believe that with stem cell research, Superman could have flown again. We dont KNOW what we may yet know. But until we know (and the research SHOULD continue, but with private funding...believe me...if it will be successful and profitable, the drug companies will be involved), people ought to at least be HONEST about what all it has 'cured' or 'will' cure.

 

[The Mark]

And it needs to be stressed...universities, states, private institutions have NEVER been banned from conducting and funding embryonic stem cell research.

What SHOULD be made criminal is the false hope and promises that have been issued. People actually believe that with stem cell research, Superman could have flown again. We dont KNOW what we may yet know. But until we know (and the research SHOULD continue, but with private funding...believe me...if it will be successful and profitable, the drug companies will be involved), people ought to at least be HONEST about what all it has 'cured' or 'will' cure.

Personally, I'm waiting for the genetic research that figures out how to slow aging down.

I suppose stem cells MIGHT play a role in that.

 

[Le Marteau]

I don't understand how anyone could possibly be against stem-cell development -- there is no risk, no harm, and great benefit.

 

[AGENT J]

I don't understand how anyone could possibly be against stem-cell development -- there is no risk, no harm, and great benefit.

I agree, dont know about no risk or no harm but im all for it and its "potential" is a GREAT thing

 

[VanceMack]

I don't understand how anyone could possibly be against stem-cell development -- there is no risk, no harm, and great benefit.

As long as YOU or private researchers are paying for it I dont see anyone against it. As to the benefit...well...we'll see...

 

[earthworm]

Of course not.
No vote, of course.
But I do think that English should be taught, and to a high level.
Had I done the editing, "stim" would have been caught. And I see so much of this.
Solace, I suspect you are one of the anti-progressive creations, not a true/real man..
More of a "polling device".
Much like a Scarecrow or a Navy Pride.

 

[Kandahar]

You guys are just rehashing the stem cell debate from 2001. The science of stem cells has progressed at a breathtaking rate since then. It is no longer necessary to destroy embryos, making the whole bioethical debate a moot point.

 

[earthworm]

Personally, I'm waiting for the genetic research that figures out how to slow aging down.

I suppose stem cells MIGHT play a role in that.

YEAH!
Maybe Moses did live to be 900..
Silly response, I know.
But, aging should not be a "disease", and if we could live longer and healthier, its would be great.

 

[Le Marteau]

As long as YOU or private researchers are paying for it I dont see anyone against it. As to the benefit...well...we'll see...

Why don't you want the government to spend money in such an empirically-proven useful field?

 

[VanceMack]

Why don't you want the government to spend money in such an empirically-proven useful field?

Oh...I dont know...off the top of my head...

1-Its outside of the scope of the federal government and

2-14 trillion dollar debt. Bankrupt federal government. Current spending will put us incapable of paying even the interest on our debt in just a few years.

Does **** like that even matter to you?

There are private universities, businesses, and other entities that are and should be doing the research for this.