[transhumanist]

Nonsense. Embryonic stem cell research has suffered not from a lack of Federal funding, but from the puritanical mindset of people who believe that a non-viable group of sixteen or thirty-two cells is somehow a "person", and thus an entire line of potentially fruitful research is held back.

Vitalism as a theory to explain human consciousness has been discredited. It's simple superstition, and we cannot permit superstition to halt medical research.

You give embryonic stem cell research the same opportunities to be explored that adult stem cell research has had, and THEN make comparisons.

[TitansAFC]

Actually, it is only the Federal funding of Embryonic Stem Cell research in question. Private funding is and has been permitted and will still be even now.

Puritanical mindset or not, it is the entitlement mindset, that mindset which believes the taxpayer should pay for such research because said research is "entitled" to taxpayer money, that bothers me more.

Let them raise their own money, as several research entities already are. I don't support it, but at the very least I'm not paying for it....

[Wonder Warthog]

"Embryonic stem cell research has suffered not from a lack of Federal funding, but from the puritanical mindset of people who believe that a non-viable group of sixteen or thirty-two cells is somehow a "person", and thus an entire line of potentially fruitful research is held back."

Gee, if not impinged upon by outside force, that "non-viable group of sixteen or thirty-two cells" WILL become a person. THAT is a fact of chemistry. So, yes---human life begins at conception.

I'm sure you would be MUCH happier over at the Democratic Underground. They consider human life just like you do.

[muawiyah]

If the problem of immunological rejection could be overcome for transplanted embryonic stem cells (or their "products") it's conceivable that the problem could be similarly overcome for transplanted stem cells from another adult.

There could be substantial advantages in "transplants" ~ for one, we'd already have an idea of how the stemcells so derived ought to perform.

Taking it a step further, we might find some people have superior stem cells. They could serve as a source for millions of others. In fact, some of them might have such superior stem cells that it could be argued that everyone should benefit from them now.

Only that same "puritanical mindset" will keep us from taking that adult with the good set and flensing, filtering and decanting his full content of stem cells into devices that can be used to pass them on to more deserving adults.

BTW, you undoubtedly have a superior set. Can we put you on the list for a contribution, should that time come?

Hmmmmm?

[Clint N. Suhks]

the puritanical mindset of people who believe that a non-viable group of sixteen or thirty-two cells

What makes them "non-vialble"? Are they not adoptable? Why is it "puritanical", is it not possible for non-Christians to believe your religion of moral relativism is objectively base and repugnant?

[BlessedBeGod]

Embryonic stem cell research has suffered not from a lack of Federal funding, but from the puritanical mindset of people who believe that a non-viable group of sixteen or thirty-two cells is somehow a "person", and thus an entire line of potentially fruitful research is held back.

That's right. It's an elephant.

*rolls eyes*

[reasonmclucus]

Scientists are just as likely to support superstition as anyone else. Unfortunately many scientists are trying to use science as a substitute for religion - a set of beliefs that are accepted without question or examination. Many once believed that there were no adult stem cells. Many also believed that no new cells were produced in the brain. Science has since shown that adult stem cells exist and they can even produce new brain cells. Unfortunately, many so-called scientists are reluctant to accept the new facts.

[AnnaZ]

Embryonic stem cell research has suffered not from a lack of Federal funding, but from the puritanical mindset of people who believe that a non-viable group of sixteen or thirty-two cells is somehow a "person", and thus an entire line of potentially fruitful research is held back.

These folks might disagree with you:

Snowflakes Frozen Embryo Adoption Program

Embryos preserved in frozen storage offer great hope for life and for families facing fertility challenges. When a family has been successful in having a child through in vitro fertilization, embryos are often cryo-preserved, resulting in the question of what to do with them. These frozen embryos can be the hope of a child for an infertile couple. Embryo adoption shares this wonderful hope with others.

In 1997, Nightlight began the Snowflakes Frozen Embryo Adoption Program, which is helping some of the more than 400,000 frozen embryos realize their ultimate purpose – life – while sharing the hope of a child with an infertile couple. In addition to your physician, you need to trust the people you choose to help you in these important decisions.

[MHGinTN]

"... mindset of people who believe that a non-viable group of sixteen or thirty-two cells ..." Define 'non-viable', or shut the hell up with your lickspittlist defense of cannibalism. [HINT: if placed in the correct selected environment, you too are completely 'non-viable'. Would you like to participate in a 'trial to test that premise'?]

The harvesting (read stripping) of stem cells from embryos occurs when there are one-hundred or more cells built by the embryo-aged individual. This allows the 'harvesters' (read cannibals) to differentiate the inner cell mass --that builds the body for use in the air world-- from the embryo's cells building the placenta and umbilicus. You see, when the 'harvester' fails to eliminate cells building the placenta and umbilicus, the cells harvested can build placenta and umbilicus in the brain of the recipient of the cannibalized cells. In fact, this is exactly what has happened to the poor soul into whom Chinese 'researchers' injected embryo stem cells ... killed him, too.