Posted on 10/21/2005 10:20:48 AM PDT by NYer
MUMBAI, October 20, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Indian stem cell researchers are frustrated by their inability to create stem cell lines from frozen IVF embryos and are calling for relaxation of the rules to allow them to create embryonic humans explicitly for research.
More researchers who try to obtain stem cells from frozen embryos are complaining that the procedure of thawing so damages the embryo that no cells can be obtained. “Some embryos get destroyed during thawing. Some don’t make it to the blastocyst stage. And some don’t produce stem cells,” said fertility specialist Deepa Bhartiya.
“This restriction of using only frozen embryos slows down research,” said Bhartiya, assistant director at the National Institute of Reproduction and Reproductive Health, Mumbai.
Bhartiya’s is one voice among a growing demand for relaxation of the “ethical norm” that says using living embryos for medical research that ends their lives is acceptable, but specifically creating them in order to kill them for their parts is not. The reluctance of some national ethics boards, however, is based only on the shifting sands of popular opinion and not on any objective criterion such as “thou shalt not kill.” In the weird world of modern bioethics that bases itself on utilitarian principles, an “ethical norm” can be changed if there is enough demand.
Thus it is thought that allowing the creating of “fresh” embryos is only a matter of time.
“Such procedures are allowed in South Korea and the UK. India’s losing time,” said Satish Totey, the director of the stem cells centre at the Manipal Hospital, Bangalore.
>>Such procedures are allowed in South Korea and the UK. India’s losing time
Science marches on, while we are mired in theological discussions.
What puzzles me is that tho it's understandable why some people are opposed to this, they could simply choose to not partake of its benefits if the research results in cures and therapies.
As far as tangling with the bigguy, we have the powers to reason and ration and whatever we can think and accomplish is simply a result of our deity (if that floats your boat) derived gifts.
I bet some of these Indian researchers are vegan.
You are probably right, if it was a cow embryo they wanted to destroy the locals would riot.
If by killing your child or someone else's, we could obtain benefits for your future, would you think that was okay? There were some useful medical discoveries in Hitler's concentration camp experiments.
The right or wrong of a decision is the most important aspect, and the "Big Guy" has a more accurate view of right and wrong than we do. Heaven help and God forgive all of us for thinking that the end justifies the means.
Fine, the research will continue, the US won't be a leader, scientists will go overseas to do their work, other countries will take up the mantle, as they already are..
If you had Alzheimer's and a cure was available that used SC, you don't have to take it if it offends you.
Why condemn others to the same fate.
Sort of like Germany right? Folks could just opt out of the benefits of killing all the jews and ceasing their possessions for the state if they rejected the idea of the holocaust.
LOL! Lame, German analogies are simplistic.
And after all, NASA DID use the Luftwaffe's Concentration Camp experiments on live human beings as benchmarks for the Apollo missions.
It's clear that you do not understand why these people are opposed despite your statement that you do.
Why should others suffer for your beliefs.
And no one responded to me, either, if you are so opposed, then REFUSE the benefits.
Don't deny it to others. That's selfish callous disregard for others, despite all the high falutin bromides.
Please see #10. Apply, rinse, apply, rinse. Perhaps someday it may sink in.
I love how it alays boils down the "how our economy will suffer etc." Load of BS
You're the one who thinks it's okay to kill unborn children; maybe you ought to answer your own question.
Right, call me in a couple of years when Americans are flying overseas for therapies denied to them here.
And right now it's not business, it's research.
Pantload back at ya, what're you antiscience AND antibusiness.
Let's go growing embros for tissue harvesting, killing the handiacapped, mentally disabled and elderly because they are a drain on society. sarc
Don't you get it? The end doesn't justify the means. Today you say killing "embros" is ok to help your parkinsons. Tomorrow someone will want to kill you for having alzheimers or Down's syndrome...Oh wait, it's already happening in the Netherlands. Yea!
In any case, these supposed "cures" have not been proven, and desperate scientists/activists have been lying to people saying they had the cures already..."around the corner". Yeah, real scientific. Anyways, embryonic stem cell research has been going on without impedance in private labs at big and small pharmaceutical companies. The debate has only been about public monies (my money) being used for embryonic stem cell research. You now see the problem that your position would force me to contribute to what I belive is murder. Don't worry though, If the cures are really there, the pharmaceutcal companies (which I work as a scientist) will not waste a second to get them out for you. We have no control over them.
So just because they do it then we should? Show one instance where killing embryos has shown significant science applications that could not have been found in Adult Cells. Just because they kill unborn babies doesn't mean we should because of the possibilities of advanced medical science and big business.
>>The debate has only been about public monies (my money) being used for embryonic stem cell research.
Govt can be a great stimulator, Apollo/Space program spinoffs, ARPANET to Internet, the Highway System.
Needless to say, the USG has a ban on Govt research, so private companies and foreign governments are taking the lead. So be it.
You're correct, BigPharma is worldwide and that the fruits of the research overseas might be made available here.
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