Stem cells

[Sabazi]

What do you think about the use of stem cells in medicine?

[Protostar]

Well, besides from what I read the pro's and con's of stem cell research, I can say that I met a guy in the waiting room at the neurosurgeons office who said they took his OWN stem cells and put them in his spine and it saved his life.
So, there's one thing to say for this fascinating research and development!

[Mezurashi]

I support science and the advance of knowledge...Having said this I am also aware and somewhat pessimistic about the greed inherent in the corporate science world.

The negativity around stem cell research may seem overblown and even a 'fundamentalist' in nature, but the protestors are the ones keeping the greed mongers from rampaging around doing crap none of us are told about.

Not all corp's are evil and greedy, but I can't help but assume that most of the People (as individuals) might just be greedy and unaware of the dangers the spin offs from stem cell research might result in.

To help those in need, I'm all for that -- but I'm against the ideas of creating tailored RNA cocktails for non-health threat issues (like losing freckles, building muscle mass, changing one's body odour, etc.). Unfortunately the Big Money is to be made catering to the individual vanity of rich idiots (i.e. Botox, Collagen, etc.) and so I believe it's likely the majority of 'stem cell research' will end up being for Vanity purposes.

But I'm a cynic...today...

[DontBeAfraid]

(like losing freckles, building muscle mass, changing one's body odour, etc.).
what is wrong with those? I hate my freckles and wish I was bigger.... And if I smelled better as well that would be quite nice.

[Keeblergiant]

I totally agree with stem cell research, I mean, why wouldn't you extract stem cells from embryos that haven't experienced--and never will--the joys of life in order to save someone who has a life and people he loves?

[Protostar]

I think that the real issue should be where the stem cells come from.
Some asshole will grow fetus'es for that reason. That is the horror of this particular incidence. So where does the material come from? If it could be synthesized it would have been.

[DontBeAfraid]

Its a new science proto.... If it can be synthesized it will. You dont start out with all the knowledge.

[Keeblergiant]

Some asshole will grow fetus'es for that reason.

I'd grow a fetus to extract stem cells from...hell, I'd abort a pregnant women for 'em (if I was doing research on them, of course).

[Defiant Noquisi]

I'd grow a fetus to extract stem cells from...hell, I'd abort a pregnant women for 'em (if I was doing research on them, of course). The ethics of it is the big arguable question. We spend so much more on finding cures instead of fixing the problems that create them. It should be the other way around.

If they could aquire the stem cells through current abortions without any compensation whatsoever going to the woman, (this could keep "fetus farms" from being created) then Im all for it.