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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12 2004 12:59 AM

Stem Cell Research Breakthroughs

Submitted by proxy

Edited by Shal

Tomorrow, South Korean scientists will publish their study in the successful cloning and extraction of human stem cells. While there have been sensational stories about human cloning in the past, the Korean research will be presented tomorrow at the AAAS, and has already passed extensive peer reviews. As reported in the NYTimes (reg. req.), one of the Korean scientists involved said:

"Of course, we acknowledge that there will be controversy. But as scientists, we think it is our obligation to do this."

Stem cells can make enormous differences in cell-based therapies for many serious diseases, but also involved are familiar ethical issues of generating human embryos only in order to destroy them.

The US Government has passed laws severely limiting stem cell research. Do you think stem cell research is destroying life or saving lives? Should this research continue to be limited in the US?

Comments

Scopitone

Irvine, CA

OLD SKOOL

FEB 12, 2004 01:12 AM

Who wants to place odds on The Controversy originating from The South?

penates

Madison, WI

December 2003

FEB 12, 2004 01:16 AM

Scopitone said:
Who wants to place odds on The Controversy originating from The South?

Um, 1/1?

Neko

SUICIDEGIRL

Afghanistan

FEB 12, 2004 07:03 AM

Stem cell research is very important. While it is somewhat understandible as to why, it is a shame that the american government has restricted this research so harshly and conservative views so vehemently opose it. The way I see it, it is not only inevitable for our development as a race, it is necessary. The issues of condemnation stem mostly from religious views regarding the moral stance of the fetus- i.e. when is it a human? While it is important to discuss these issues to gain a greater understanding, it seems the american nations is sitting idly while the development surges on else where.
Korea- props to you.

legionnaire

Belgium

November 2003

FEB 12, 2004 07:07 AM

The "compromise" that the Bush administration worked out in the summer of 2001 ended up being quite a failure. They claimed that there were 60 viable human ES cell lines that could be used by researchers, so there would not be any need to generate more. However, many of those cell lines have turned out to be unavailable, and some of them are owned by private companies who charge exorbitant licensing fees to anyone who wants to use them. The net result has been a significant decrease in the number of scientists working in US research labs who are willing to work on human ES cells.

Cheers to Korea for trying to remedy the situation - let's just see how long it takes for the Bush administration to condemn them for this.

Edit: you also have to realize that embryonic stem cell research and reproductive human cloning are completely separate and different issues. Promoting one does nothing to support the other. Blame the media for constantly mentioning the two in the same breath, creating confusion and misconception about the whole thing.

[Edited on Feb 12, 2004 by legionnaire]

Neko

SUICIDEGIRL

Afghanistan

FEB 12, 2004 10:28 AM

Edit: you also have to realize that embryonic stem cell research and reproductive human cloning are completely separate and different issues. Promoting one does nothing to support the other. Blame the media for constantly mentioning the two in the same breath, creating confusion and misconception about the whole thing.

[Edited on Feb 12, 2004 by legionnaire]

Yes, they are different issues all together. but the reason it matters is because of the idea of "life" ascribed to embryonic cells. Different religions espouse different beliefs as to when life begins (i.e. judaism says that its when the baby moves inside the woumb, whereas catholicism says that its as soon as the egg is fertalized). Anything remotely resembling a fetus or on its way to becoming one is ethical grey area. Due to the fact that the current administration has apparently forgotten the separation between church and state, it matters. alot. Being prodistant, bush dissagrees, i'm sure. that is, if he even can even read the word embryo (let alone know what it is).

Neko

SUICIDEGIRL

Afghanistan

FEB 12, 2004 10:31 AM

oops, i can't spell. sorry. and for some reason its not allowing me to edit. (protestant and womb).

reanimateme

San Francisco, CA

October 2003

FEB 12, 2004 10:35 AM

Where are all the mad scientists when you need them?

bcnelson

Pasadena, CA

September 2002

FEB 12, 2004 10:43 AM

Frankly this is research that is going to set the tone for the future of biotechnology. You can't put the genie back in the bottle no matter what outdated religious beliefs you have.

All Bush managed to do was take the United States out of competition for what will be the most important medical breakthrough ever made. It's one of the reasons that despite being a Republican, I cannot vote for his right wing luddite ass.

Every tool ever made by humankind has had the potential for good and evil. But only the hand that wields it gets to determine the outcome. Refusing to take control of that tool isn't "responsible", its hiding your head in the sand so you don't have to make the really difficult choices. And usually hiding your head in the sand just means someone sneaks up behind you and kicks you in the ass.

Biotechnology is going to be available to every group in the world, ally or enemy, because the technology needed to perform the necessary research isn't restricted, is widely available. and requires fairly insignificant amounts of resources to perform compared to nuclear or other weapons research. If for no other reason than to defend ourselves, we have to be at its forefront, rather than marching to the tune of religious anti-techs who are out of step with the reality of its inevitability.

Sonntag

Atlanta, GA

August 2003

FEB 12, 2004 10:43 AM

Scopitone said:
Who wants to place odds on The Controversy originating from The South?

Jakob quickly conceals bag o' crunchy nacho cool ranch stem cells.
Appalled, yes I am shocked and appalled at such a gross, Frankensteinian manipulation of nature and life as GOD intended! Why, there is no hell hot enough for the deranged minds who would even imagine so heinous a crime!