Posted on 04/23/2009 4:06:15 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Researchers have announced a breakthrough that could end the ethical debate surrounding stem-cell research. The groundbreaking technique would allow the conversion of adult cells into an embryonic-like state. Researchers have been competing in recent years to reach just such a discovery, which would allow them to perform their work without using the controversial embryonic stem cell lines.
Scientists at the the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego believe the key to their success is converting the cells by using recombinant proteins, which eliminates subsequent genetic alterations that typically occur during later stages. "Instead of inserting the four genes into the cells they wanted to reprogram, the scientists added the purified engineered proteins and experimented with the chemically defined conditions without any genetic materials involved until they found the exact mix that allowed them to gradually reprogram the cells," researchers said in a news release.
President Barack Obama recently eased limits on taxpayer-funded embryonic stem cell research, with the government ruling that researchers had to use cells culled from fertility clinic embryos that otherwise would be thrown away. Scientists are trying to harness stem cells -- "master" cells that can morph into any type of cell in the body -- to create replacement tissues and better treat, possibly even cure, ailments ranging from diabetes to Parkinson's to spinal cord injury.
Culling embryonic stem cells -- which can propagate indefinitely in lab dishes -- destroys a days-old embryo, a technique strongly opposed by many on moral grounds. The Bush administration limited taxpayer-supported research to a small number of embryonic stem cell "lines" or groups already in existence as of August 2001.
The spirit of death is afoot.
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AND I thought I was the only one who could see that! Shame on me!
It has never been about research. It has been about killing the unborn and making it palatable. If they truly were interested in stem cell research they would acknowledge that there have been tons of breakthroughs with adult and umbilical stem cells and nothing but disasters on embryonic stem cell research.
Now liberals have to save face since the embyronic stem cell research has been permitted and they know it won’t produce results, so they will “find” an alternative and blame us for not allowing embryonic stem cell research to go forward and say they are doing it to appease us.
The scary part is why? What plans do they now have for those embryos??????
The “debate” is not about stem cells. It is about the medical establishment and ultimately the government having the power to determine that some, unapproved, classes of human beings can/should be killed and used for the benefit of approved classes. The government is to determine who is an acceptable human being, not God or anyone else.
It is Bush’s fault he forced this issue and God love him.
I remember reading 1 ~ 2 years ago that there were already 80 effective procedures in place using adult stem cells vs 0 for embryonic stem cells.
Why would you want stem cells from another person that will guarantee rejection issues? It's like buying Chevy auto parts for your Ford. I'm sure Chevy makes fine auto parts, but Ford parts are designed to fit and work on your Ford, they don't have to be forced to fit.
The debate was not about all types of stem cells, only embryonic stem cells. Bush never banned embryonic stem cell research like the liberals claim. He only banned federal funding of embryonic stem cells.
Many disease related charities have been working on treatment/cures via stem cells and doing so with private funding. The research projects with the best results have used adult stem cells. JDF (Juvenile Diabetes Foundation) is one of the most prominent charities that are doing embryonic stem cell research. MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) has many research projects using adult stem cells and potential treatments could be in the near future.
The way democrats and the liberal scum parse words, they tried to paint his action as a complete ban on stem cell research and or ban on embryonic stem cell research, neither of which was true. But then democrats and liberals lie all the time, so who would know when they might say something true without knowing the actual truth? Democrats keep getting elected because their voters actually applaud their lying!
The groundbreaking technique would allow the conversion of adult cells into an embryonic-like state.Is this particularly new?
My husband is struggling with Parkinson’s and will never EVER accept any treatment that comes from the destruction of an embryo.
He says again. NO MATTER WHAT, no embryonic stem cells, EVER. It is morally wrong.
Good for him!! I’m sorry he has to make that decision.
And cause more cancer in patients. Some fix.
Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life,
And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters.
I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion,
Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death
by the Resurrection of Your Son.
I am ready to do my part in ending abortion.
Today I commit myself
Never to be silent,
Never to be passive,
Never to be forgetful of the unborn.
I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement,
And never to stop defending life
Until all my brothers and sisters are protected,
And our nation once again becomes
A nation with liberty and justice
Not just for some, but for all.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen!
The whole point is power, and as Orwell said the purpose of power is power.
It never mattered that ESCs have no medical use at all. The only thing they cared about was showing the fundies who’s boss. Rubbing their noses in it.
Trying to solve the moral dilemma is just beating your head against a wall. For an encore why not invent a cheap clean fusion reactor and try to sell it to an environmentalist?
“No. This will NOT end the debate. THEY LIKE KILLING THE UNBORN.”
I suspect you are wrong about this. Even though they are willing to sacrifice the baby, the reason for the push to use fetal stem cells instead of adult stem cells is all about the money.
Adult stem cells are problematic when it comes to developing a treatment that can be mass marketed. Even though adult cells work better, the treatment has to be designed for the individual, or else the body of the patient will reject them. There’s less big profits to be made by the drug companies with adult stem cells.
What they really want is a product that can be sold to MANY patients, not just one.
Induced pluripotent stem cells? I used ipsc as a keyword when it hit the news.
The left doesn’t win by winning debates. That’s difficult. Much easier to silence people.
Hey, if this works and they can use geezer stem cells, I’m all for it. Plenty of Democrats to chop up for those experiments. I just don’t like the idea of creating someone strictly for the purpose of chopping them up. They should have the privilege of growing up, voting and paying taxes first!
“Hey, if this works and they can use geezer stem cells, I’m all for it.”
What I’m saying is that it doesn’t matter if it works or not. (adult stem cells already work) If it has to be customized for the recipient (in other words, if the cure can only be used for the donor, the drug companies will not be interested in it.
IIRC, there was an earlier paper that didn't use viral vectors or genetic material, e.g. plasmids.
Promotion of Reprogramming to Ground State Pluripotency by Signal Inhibition
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