The Stem Cell Crusade

[Hyun]

It's all over the news now. South Korean scientists have announced that they had created stem cells that actually match the people who would be in need. The method known as therapeutic cloning had excellent successful rate, and seems like the new road to the future.

This was government funded, and that has been a great factor in helping this come to a success. The cloning itself is heavily resented by government and the Korean scientists alike, as it is deemed very difficult with various negative factors.


It's only a matter of time now, and the people with horrid diseases like Lou Gehrigs would now be able to live a better life. The last ultimate plan for this project is to create a stem cell bank to supply people worldwide.

 

[Bobby]

Only if we can get President Chimp to take off his Bible glasses

 

[$teauA]

god I hate bush

 

[Vagegast]

Well, Bush isn't really prohibiting stem cell research. He's just taken away the government funding for it which was symbolic at best anyway.

I wonder what Mrs. Reagan would say to the Chimp....

 

[Joe Star]

Stem Cell Crusade

I like the sound of that man

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Well, Bush isn't really prohibiting stem cell research. He's just taken away the government funding for it which was symbolic at best anyway.

Really, just symbolic? There don't seem to be many multi billion dollar private medical research funds out there. I think government research in medical technology is incredibly vital. I mean hell, even the drug industry gets major government funding and they make soooooooooooo much money it's not really even necessary.

 

[Sir Calumn]

I'm not a big fan of Stem Cell Research, while I would love it if we were able to find better cures and treatments for genetic diseases I am really worried about where it will all lead - I really dont like the idea of any type of designed babies, it can only lead to problems, and if this takes us closer to that then I think it should be abandoned right away.

 

[Virgo]

I'm not a big fan of Stem Cell Research, while I would love it if we were able to find better cures and treatments for genetic diseases I am really worried about where it will all lead - I really dont like the idea of any type of designed babies, it can only lead to problems, and if this takes us closer to that then I think it should be abandoned right away.

throw the bible down the well (8)

 

[Joe Star]

I really dont like the idea of any type of designed babies, it can only lead to problems, and if this takes us closer to that then I think it should be abandoned right away.

Reminds me of gattaca. Yep thats a scary 1 but it seems inevitable at the rate things are going.

 

[Virgo]

you have no f*cking clue what stem cell research is about if you're relating it to predesigned babies

 

[Sir Calumn]

I dont really, but I thought it was something along the lines of creating new embrios to harvest tissue and cells from which are then supplanted into defective embrios? Or is that something else? Anyway, if it is what I think it is, while the main issue of controversy is the idea of creating embrios purely for the purpose of harvesting, something which I dont have any morale issues with, it is also a step towards 'pick and choose' cells, genes and tissues. Or am I thinking of something else entirely?

 

[Virgo]

Ok I always sucked at Biology but those cells harvested from the embrios are supposed to be something like "generic growth cells", which means they aren't programmed yet hence they can be used to treat lots of diseases on sick people not defective embrios.

This isn't supposed to have anything to do with genetic manipulation. (Not that I think there's anything wrong with it)

 

[ShiftyPowers]

I think genetic manipulation is probably not the route we want to go, but this doesn't really have anything to do with that. Stem Cell Research can lead to a point in the future when there are no organ waiting lists because everyone can get a kidney or liver right away, that's a future I want to live in.

 

[Hyun]

you have no f*cking clue what stem cell research is about if you're relating it to predesigned babies

Sums up what I would've said, this is for cures not predesigning babies.

Stem cells are building blocks that has not been molded into any form yet. It is ridiculous to use this technology to create a life, as the result would be hideous and unhumane.

The federal government funding for the U.S. passed the HoR, and it seems that Bush's veto won't stop the Senate from doing the same.

 

[Vagegast]

Really, just symbolic? There don't seem to be many multi billion dollar private medical research funds out there. I think government research in medical technology is incredibly vital. I mean hell, even the drug industry gets major government funding and they make soooooooooooo much money it's not really even necessary.

Privately funded stem cell research was $208 million in 2002 alone while the government's funding was something less than $30 million.

The funding isn't the problem here anyway, it's that he's banned research on "lines" that weren't discovered in 2001. The 78 lines that were allowed to be used in research are now contaminated and unusable. Now both the House and the Senate wanna extend funding but I'm not sure they will allow research on nonexisting lines. Anyone know?

EDIT: Oh yeah, if Bush vetoes this (this would be his first ever, right?) there's basically no chance of it getting a 2/3 majority to override it