Obama Reverses Ban on Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research

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Here's the link.

...and the news conference

Finally, it appears we have what can best be described as a logical policy for stem cell research. The embryos that are destroyed in this research come mostly from fertility clinics and were going to research or to the dumpster. They were never going to become human beings. I prefer the former use.

Is there really a rational argument against this, when the decision boils down to a lab or a dump?

 

Finally! I am so glad this has happened... unfortunately, it may be too little, too late for the people I know who need some of the possible benefits from stem-cell usage.

 

What I'm confused about is less the moral implication and more the practical reliability. Last I heard (and I'll admit this was a few years ago), embryonic stem cells had a nasty habbit of turning into cancer rather than healthy cells mimicing their surroundings. At that point, most serious stem-cell researchers considered embryonic stem-cell research the least promising type available. Has this changed?

 

Yes it has. Very much so. Stem cell research has evolved leaps and bounds in a relatively short time. Besides, even if the mimicry isn't perfect, the only way it can be improved is by doing more research and refining it. Considering how much promise the entire field holds, I think this is definitely the way to go.

 

I think the blanket ban on all stem cell research was stupid. On principle, I see the worry that the research could be seen as encouraging or condoning abortions, which is something that many Americans do not want to do, but dammit there's people suffering and there's a lot of genetic material out there that will just go to waste for nothing. Research away, my scientific friends! Save some lives. One day I or someone I love might need the tech that can be developed.

 

Yes, I think there will be several. I am quite concerned about how the transfer will take place going from clinic to research. There is a huge potential for unethical practices in this area. Selling embryos for profit would quickly harm this entire direction of research.

 

Well said, LKD. The Obama Administration has been careful to stress that any practices intended for harvesting embryos (i.e., abortions) will be strictly prohibited and enforced. From what I understand, the only stem cell lines that will funded by this policy will be from embryos scheduled by fertility clinics to be destroyed anyway (which happens daily) and I believe they will actually have to be donated by the owner. So aside from the "all life begins at conception" arguments, most should be pleased with this new policy.

 

I believe that life begins at conception, and I'm still pleased. Lots of babies spontaneously abort and lots of abortions are medically necessary. Plus, it is my understanding that lots of stem cell research can be done with the genetic material found in the cord (dammit, the name escapes me, I'll call it the "belly button" cord for now)

Maybe there is a lot of room for shady or unethical practices, but that can be said of any research -- it's hardly a reason to deny people the chance at a new lease on life. There's other methods for dealing with underhanded slimeballs.

 

Umbilical.

As for oversight, I completely agree, and it appears the administration does too. We'll have to see how tough they are on enforcement, but so far it looks like a bright future. Even if embryonic stem cells don't yield nearly the promise some are hoping for (and they very well may not), at least now we'll know and be able to responsibly move on. Aka, progress.

 

I'd be concerned about that too. However, as DR said it won't fund research for embryos that are harvested from abortions, and it's also still completely illegal to sell (or buy) an embryo. The only way they can get embryos are from people who donate them without being compensated.

 

they may very well be compensated on down the line from the research that is being done with their embryos

 

I'm not sure that anyone here has a problem with the decision

 

wasnt it on the news the other day that scientists had found a way to extract stem cells without killing a fetus? beginning of march sometime?

 

It was, but they aren't considered quite as good for research purposes.

EDIT: We totally need a shrugging smilie.

 

A Japanese scientist has also found a way to revert normal cells to pseudo-embryonic stem cells, though it's still in the development stage (a few years away from anything commercial) and I don't know how close to embryonic he actually got.

 

NOG, the reversal of normal cells to embryonic-like is almost identical in some ways to what happens with cancer cells (loss of specialisation, high frequency of division, and so on). I remember reading about that scientist you mentioned, and there were still some problems with the procedure (some of the cells were turning cancerous and they weren't sure why), but if they can get it to work more reliably then we'd have a potentially limitless supply of stem cells to use in research, without any ethical dilemma attached. Then everyone's happy

 

Yes, and at the same time, that may solve the cancer problem with embryonic stem cells (which these are meant to replace) turning cancerous, so it would not only remove the ethical problem, but a practical one as well.

 

If you ever needed a reason to support stem cell research, woohoo here's a doozy.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article5993187.ece

What else is there to say?

 

I'd be quite worried about controlling the growth, both in volume and rate, and especially at making sure it's even. Just imagine the possible nightmares!

 

Of all the...

It's not even been a month, and they've already found a way to introduce sex into the equation?

Amazing.