Future of Stem Cell Research. - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Cheese · 03-11-2005, 07:44 AM

I was watching a program on this topic yesterday on CBC. Some of the top scientists are suggesting that this is the way most serious diseases and injuries will be repaired in the future. Of course at issue is how the stem cells are acquired, most now thru aborted fetuses, which is an issue all unto itself. It has also been suggested that a fertilized egg cell can be created in a petrie dish thru the cloning tecnique, allowing scientists to remove the needed strands for stem cells needed in this process.
Im being very simplistic in this, as I am really uneducated in the scientific processes, however, these scientists were suggesting that in some Asian countries they have taken all of these steps to the point where it is now simple to create these cells and are progressing rapidly on using the process for finding cures. It was even suggested that human clones have indeed been created.

Where do you stand on this? Are you totally aghast at the idea of stem cells being removed from aborted fetuses or created in dishes via cloning techniques?

Personally Im all for it if it is regulated properly, as I suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis and would dearly love a cure for this nasty disease. Im sure there are others on this board who suffer from other diseases, or have family members who would love to have a disease shut down.

Stem Cell Research

photon · 03-11-2005, 07:53 AM

A company I've invested in in Calgary is doing research into using stem cells to repair damage after a stroke, but they do it using a person's own existing stem cells and without surgery! The results they've had with animals are very impressive.

http://www.stemcellthera.com

Cowperson · 03-11-2005, 08:26 AM

I have no problem with it at all.

I don't view it as an ethics issue.

It appears to be a religious issue, although the religious side would say religion and ethics are one and the same thing.

Cowperson

Frank the Tank · 03-11-2005, 08:26 AM

I couldn't be more for it. My brother has his masters in biology, so he is a big influence, plus watching my grandfather die from Parkinson's and my moms best friend die from MS, well, lets just say that I'd do anything to reverse those two events i my life and this is the first step.

@theCBE · 03-11-2005, 08:48 AM

I'm all for it ...

The ethical/religous issues are real and cant' be ignored

but the idea that we would prevent this research from moving forward because we haven't yet resolved these issues its crazy. Stem cell research can and probably will revolutionize the whole medical field and with the rate that diseases are progressing we should be heavily backing stem cell research

the issues will sort themselves out .. in this case the positives far out weigh the potential negatives

V · 03-11-2005, 09:04 AM

I really don't know enough about this to weigh in, but...

I'm completely against abortion. But that can wait for another day. As far as I know, religious people have a problem with this research because they use aborted fetuses, right? Well, I can't imagine people are getting abortions strictly for the use of stem cell research, so I don't see a problem. Do they have other issues with this research?

MrMastodonFarm · 03-11-2005, 09:06 AM

I'm not expert in the issue but I am all for stem cell research. I have no problems with it whatsoever.

habernac · 03-11-2005, 09:14 AM

no problems with it at all.

Cheese · 03-11-2005, 09:15 AM

More info...

Genetics Bill

Some info on what is happening within the Stemcell Network

Network

I simply dont buy into the Religous aspect of right or wrong when it comes to this.

Cheese · 03-11-2005, 09:24 AM

Heres a beauty from an article on the link above...

Smith explained that the presentations describe techniques that enable dentists to coax existing teeth into repairing and regenerating themselves, and techniques where dentists can "start from scratch."

Growing new teeth

Gotta think Hockey players would love this technique.

Neeper · 03-11-2005, 09:40 AM

I am all for it as well. But it will never be regulated properly, internationally anyways. Sometimes religion makes me mad.

MrMastodonFarm · 03-11-2005, 09:42 AM

Great links Cheese, I think when I am done reading them I am going to e-mail them off to my mother. Of course, she will e-mail me back links concerning the radio group Focus on the Family, but.. that is neither here nor there.

octothorp · 03-11-2005, 10:04 AM

I'm all for stem cell research. As a quick scan of the responses so far shows, I don't think there's much need to debate it.

I think much of the religious concern really springs from a fear about knowing too much about how we're created. Science has done nothing but debunk religious belief, and our own code is one of the few areas where there's still a miraculous quality. For the more literalist believers out there, they simply don't want to hear about all these medical innovations that will take the luster off some of their beliefs. But most of the Christians I know have a much more realistic perspective to it, and realize that science and religion are not necessarily at odds with one another.

Claeren · 03-11-2005, 10:16 AM

I think a lot of the opposition comes from the far right where it goes well beyond just an abortion issue and has more to do with the fact that only god can create life and that this is 'unnatural'. The whole idea of cloning, stem cells, genetics, etc creeps them out because it brings into question what a 'god' really is. I mean, when man can create their own Adam and Eve - or repair a damaged parapelegic Adam and Eve - the religious are left with a lot of hard questions and if there is anything the religiously devout do not like it is hard questions.... lol...

That said i am all for it.

Claeren.

Mike F · 03-11-2005, 10:22 AM

I'm completely for it.

What I'd like to see is for the forms parents fill out when applying for artificial insemenation to include an option for those parents to either give or waive consent to have their unused fertilized eggs used to generate stem cells.

It would be the same as the options parents have to choose whether or not to donate their childern's organs should they die at a young age.

Tower · 03-12-2005, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cheese@Mar 11 2005, 02:44 PM
I was watching a program on this topic yesterday on CBC. Some of the top scientists are suggesting that this is the way most serious diseases and injuries will be repaired in the future. Of course at issue is how the stem cells are acquired, most now thru aborted fetuses, which is an issue all unto itself. It has also been suggested that a fertilized egg cell can be created in a petrie dish thru the cloning tecnique, allowing scientists to remove the needed strands for stem cells needed in this process.
Im being very simplistic in this, as I am really uneducated in the scientific processes, however, these scientists were suggesting that in some Asian countries they have taken all of these steps to the point where it is now simple to create these cells and are progressing rapidly on using the process for finding cures. It was even suggested that human clones have indeed been created.

Where do you stand on this? Are you totally aghast at the idea of stem cells being removed from aborted fetuses or created in dishes via cloning techniques?

Personally Im all for it if it is regulated properly, as I suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis and would dearly love a cure for this nasty disease. Im sure there are others on this board who suffer from other diseases, or have family members who would love to have a disease shut down.

Stem Cell Research

Many have linked RA with foods people are eating.

Cheese · 03-12-2005, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tower+Mar 12 2005, 05:32 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Tower @ Mar 12 2005, 05:32 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Cheese@Mar 11 2005, 02:44 PM
I was watching a program on this topic yesterday on CBC. Some of the top scientists are suggesting that this is the way most serious diseases and injuries will be repaired in the future. Of course at issue is how the stem cells are acquired, most now thru aborted fetuses, which is an issue all unto itself. It has also been suggested that a fertilized egg cell can be created in a petrie dish thru the cloning tecnique, allowing scientists to remove the needed strands for stem cells needed in this process.
Im being very simplistic in this, as I am really uneducated in the scientific processes, however, these scientists were suggesting that in some Asian countries they have taken all of these steps to the point where it is now simple to create these cells and are progressing rapidly on using the process for finding cures. It was even suggested that human clones have indeed been created.

Where do you stand on this? Are you totally aghast at the idea of stem cells being removed from aborted fetuses or created in dishes via cloning techniques?

Personally Im all for it if it is regulated properly, as I suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis and would dearly love a cure for this nasty disease. Im sure there are others on this board who suffer from other diseases, or have family members who would love to have a disease shut down.

Stem Cell Research

Many have linked RA with foods people are eating. [/b][/quote]
No link to foods at all....many different thoughts about RA, but food isnt one.

I have seen a Naturopath at various times and he has even suggested that nothing can be done by simply changing diet. Im sure the 2-3 million Canadians afflicted and millions more world wide with it would be all over that if it was the case. In fact...most people think RA is a disease of the elderly...which is also false. Most people who get the disease are younger.
Atheletes usually end up with a form of this, or if they have major joint damage get Osteo Arthritis. There are over 100 types of Arthritis...including Crohns, Fibromyalgia, Lupus etc all falling in this category.