Skin Cells Converted to Stem Cells( Another Lib argument gone)

WASH POST ^ | Aug. 22, 2005 | Rick Weiss

[radar101]

Scientists for the first time have turned ordinary skin cells into what appear to be embryonic stem cells -- without having to use human eggs or make new human embryos in the process, as has always been required in the past, a Harvard research team announced yesterday.

The technique uses laboratory-grown human embryonic stem cells -- such as the ones that President Bush has already approved for use by federally funded researchers -- to "reprogram" the genes in a person's skin cell, turning that skin cell into an embryonic stem cell itself.

[Incorrigible]

Bump

[DarkSavant]

One step back for Frankenscience... thank God

[Question_Assumptions]

NARAL is deeply saddened. They were so hoping to use stem cells to make people like abortion.

[Frank_Discussion]

To be honest, from what I understand, we would not have known about stem cells in the first place if they had not used embrionics first. Or am I wrong?

I don't think using embrionic stem cells is ethical or moral, but if they were the original way we found out about the applications we should wonder at the sacrifice.

[jbstrick]

Science has known about stem cells for a LONG time. Simply because of studying human and animal development.

[Frank_Discussion]

But was it started from studying embryos or not? If not, that's great. If so, I'm glad we're finding to ways to get away from embrionic stem cell research, and we should use the hard-won knowledge wisely.

[Zeppelin]

The same could be said about nuclear power. We now have nuclear power plants, but only after we realised the power through use in weapons.

[trubluolyguy]

This doesn't matter, embryonic stem cell argument has nothing to do with health and finding cures to disease. It has everything to do with abortion.

[Paleo Conservative]

To be honest, from what I understand, we would not have known about stem cells in the first place if they had not used embrionics first. Or am I wrong?

I don't think using embrionic stem cells is ethical or moral, but if they were the original way we found out about the applications we should wonder at the sacrifice.

Animal embryo research can get all the information needed from studying embryos.

[Red Badger]

Now if only we can take those a turn them into brain cells for those poor unfortunates over at DU!......

[TheDon]

The technique uses laboratory-grown human embryonic stem cells

Not really.

[SuziQ]

Terrific! Now maybe they'll start looking more seriously at the efficacy of using adult stem cells and cord blood cells.

[ElectricStrawberry]

Not in THIS world...not anymore. Us biologists are leaving the animal-cell work due to lawsuits coming from adverse reactions to animal by-products. Sure, animal cell-line work can get us to a point, but if we're gonna ultimately use something we've found ON a human, we have to make it with human cell-lines. So....we MUST work on human cells if we are going to attempt to cure a human disease. That's just the way research is going and it is a correct line of thinking.

This new Harvard study shows promise in furthering that research without those that have strong religious convictions protesting about abortion and arguing over conception...or maybe not.

[ElectricStrawberry]

You're kidding right? So, the work I'm currently doing is all for abortion? Thanks for letting me know what my boss hasn't told me yet.

Yes, we've known about stem cells for a long time...but it's a fairly short amount of time that we've had the molecular abilities to actually attempt to cure disease with anything stemming from them.

[Frank_Discussion]

I know. I'm more supportive of nuclear weapons than abortions for science, though.

[Frank_Discussion]

True enough.

[Les_Miserables]

We now have nuclear power plants, but only after we realised the power through use in weapons.

Not too sure about that. Nuclear Reactors and small power plants preceded bomb development. In fact they were precursers. The bomb's development was accelerated for obvious reasons but the energy potential was reaqlized earlier. I thought stem cells were first understood while studying mice (maybe mice embryos but still mice.)

[trenton1776]

Hurray. Now they can have their stem cells. Now they can get funding to study them. Now they can run lots of experiments. Now then can show us the cures that have been promised.

Except they almost certainly won't. Name 5 diseases that have been cured in the last 20 years with hundreds of thousands of health care workers, tens of thousands of studies, and trillions of $$ spent.

OK name two.


Other than surgical advances, antibiotics and vaccinations, (all of which are old technologies) what real medical cures do we get for all the hype and money? Year after year we are asked to run for the cure, donate to some disease foundation, and support Jerry's kids. Still, no cure in sight. Now it's stem cells. They are going to grow new organs, cure Alzheimer's, and so much more.

Yeah, right. I'll believe it when I see it.