Posted on 10/28/2006 6:59:07 PM PDT by wagglebee
Stem cell research is one of the major issues in many campaigns across the country in this election year, and it is being demagogued like few others.
In the interest of truth in politics it's worth noting that there are two kinds of stem cells research – one involving embryonic stem cells (ESC) and the other using adult or cord-blood stem cells.
The overwhelming number of candidates, Republican and Democratic, favor research on stem cells gathered from adult and core-blood sources. But many, mostly Republicans, oppose ESC research because harvesting the cells requires killing a living human embryo, and in many cases result from cloning human embryos for the sole purpose of harvesting the stem cells from the embryos killed in the process.
All across the country, Democrats and their lackeys in the media distort the issue by portraying those opposed to embryonic stem cell research as being opposed to all stem cell research, refusing to draw the crucial distinction between the two types.
In addition to this dishonest tactic, proponents of ESC research inevitably claim that it is the form of research holding out the most promise as an effective means of curing a host of serious physical and mental disorders, while either ignoring or downplaying the incredible results now demonstrated in adult and core-blood stem cell research.
Moreover, a great falsehood been spread that President Bush and fellow Republicans opposed to embryonic stem cell research have attempted to ban it outright, when the truth is that all they have done is to seek to deny it government funding. Those who want to pursue it are free to find other sources of revenue, which - if the promises made on its behalf were credible - would be readily available from sources such as drug companies.
Such funding is not forthcoming, and for very good reasons.
Think about it this way: there are about 70 to 80 million baby boomers right now on the cusp of reaching the age where they will be susceptible to Alzheimer's disease.
With that many people just in the U.S. facing the threat of falling prey to Alzheimer's disease, wouldn't you think that if there were an answer to the problem - as the use of embryonic stem cells has been widely touted to be by its proponents - that the drug companies would be falling all over themselves to throw money at those wanting to do ESC research and come up with cures that would make them hundreds of billions in profits?
The fact that the drug companies have turned their back on ESC research should tell you something. One reason is that there is absolutely no basis for the claims that ESC holds a promise to cure all sorts of ailments from Alzheimer's to Parkinson's, or even spinal cord injuries. It's all smoke and mirrors and most of it is based on a single source -- the thoroughly discredited claims of South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk, who has been convicted of falsifying his research data.
One damning result of the ESC research that has been done is the fact that when the cells are injected into lab animals many grow brain tumors – some malignant and fatal. Thus far, that is the sole fruit of ESC research – fatal brain tumors. Drug companies aren't interested in funding that kind of outcome. There's no money in producing brain tumors.
In contrast to the dismal results of ESC, research on adult and cord-blood stem cells has produced real results, helping to cure such maladies as sickle cell anemia, lymphoma and juvenile leukemia. As a result funding is no problem here.
Claims that the president and his party are opposed to stem cell research fall flat on their back when you recall that last year Congress overwhelmingly passed - and the president signed - a bill funding the saving and storage of therapeutic core-blood stem cells and providing $150 million to fund storage of the cells.
That's the truth of the matter.
"And what specifically is the advantage or significance of E Stemcells proliferating for a year or more in a lab without differentiating? That is a GOOD thing? WHY??"
It's good that you don't claim to know everything ... unlike those that are absolutely certain that nothing will ever come of ESC research.
"Perhaps if ESC proponents could point to ANYTHING substantive even on a theoretical level,... "
Perhaps what ? Why would researchers care if you take them seriously or not ? Since your objection to the research itself appears to be based on your religious beliefs, would ANYTHING said in support of it change your mind ?
Lets turn it around ... just what would it take for you to support it ? If they guaranteed a cure for MS ? AIDS ? Cancer ?
Would THAT make you drop your religious objections ?
We seem to be down to haggling over the price ...
No opposition to ESC due to my "religious beliefs"---while it's true I am drawn to Pro-life positions more than pro-choice positions, with all the package-deal political affiliations that implies (the very people I hate, Leftists), the only "religion" I practice is Zen Buddhism, which is more about mental health than anything else.
I can't speak for anyone else's opposition to ESC, but obviously the largest dimension of it has to do with "religious beliefs".No, my opposition to it is POLITICAL, for all the reasons I enumerated on my other posts on this thread, and my other posts elsewhere. The only way the Left can EVER hit on ANYTHING of value politically would be ACCIDENTALLY, and I don't think they have done that here.
And in answer to another of your questions I bypassed:
"why should researchers care whether you take them seriously or not?"
Oh, OK --- I don't think the government should be funding ANY medical research, so we found one place to agree.
Is that your total objection to ESC research ?
Any privately funded research would be fine ?
OF COURSE privately funded research would be fine!
Just DON'T EXPECT TO GET ANY! Even from George Soros, who is interested in splashier issues. Let HIM put his money where his cockeyed mouth is, if indeed he believes in issues like this. Guarantee you, NOT ONE of the Hollywood Left Move On, Air AMerica millionaires will put a penny into it: they want US to fund their folly. That is the issue, also!
The ESC research interests/lobby shouldn't expect to get off scot-free from Catholics/ProLifers,etc. who DO object to the use of embryos WITH OR WITHOUT those other objections and considerations mixed in; they will still have problems with it, just not as many or as from as many sources and directions. The problem with this "issue" is precisely this: that it presents itself as an impregnable WHOLE, full of linkage everywhichway, and you dare not hit it ANYWHERE for the political danger inherent in it.
bump
Looks like they may be finding what was causing the tumors and a way around it -
http://www.isscr.org/science/asiapacific.htm
"To the question of tumor formation caused by the contaminated immature hESC, Thomas Okra answered that they have developed a new method to eliminate the immature hESC by antibodies against telomerase and subsequent complement mediated killing, to enrich for the mature lineage committed cells."
Here's some clinical trials starting on paralysed
http://stemcell.uci.edu/facts/research.cfm
"Hans Keirstead has injected hESCs into paralyzed rats and significantly increased their mobility, work expected to result in the first clinical trial using human embryonic stem cells in 2006."
U.S Private company
http://www.geron.com/pressview.asp?id=744
"Menlo Park, CA — February 22, 2006 -- Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) announced today the presentation of studies showing that cardiomyocytes differentiated from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) survive, engraft and prevent heart failure when transplanted into an infarcted rat heart. The results provide proof-of-concept that transplanted hESC-derived cardiomyocytes show promise as a treatment for myocardial infarction and heart failure."
"Menlo Park, CA — April 26, 2006 -- Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) announced today that it has been granted U.S. Patent No. 7,033,831, covering the production of insulin secreting cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).
Nope nothing there --- don't look behind the curtain ...
You win---it's just a matter of time before we can save rats from Heart Failure. And I don't mean DEMOCrats.....
But seriously, thanks for the info. I am not afraid of knowledge. I just have my doubts due to my entire life's experience with the Left and their pet "causes" and their strategies for getting attention directed to their causes.
I'm just surprised that Michael Reagan or his producers can't find this stuff -- or just don't want to.
It annoys me when our side seems to be using the same tactics as their side, distorting or hiding the truth.
See you around, my FRiend ...
Adult stem cell research started in the 60's
Embryonic stem cells were first isolated in 1998.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of two papers reporting the first isolation of mouse ES cells.Human stem cells were first isolated in 1998.
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