Comments on: Embryonic Stem Cell Research is back in the US – But is it Morally Wrong?

By: emorgan

emorgan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:11:12 +0000

I am very very pro-life and passionately against the entire practice of abortion, and it seems to me that most people in the pro-life community by default are against stem cell research. I however do not see a moral objection to creating something good, as in possible cures for disease, as a result of someone that has extra cellular material that was created in the process of them creating life, not destroying it. I think alot of people in the pro-life community would have you think aborted fetuses are being used for this, when thats not the truth.

By: Patricia Payne

Patricia Payne — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:53:12 +0000

Just from reading the comments on this one site, it is obvious there is a real need for education on embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells do not come from embryos or fetuses, they come from the zygote,(which is a precursor of a embryo or fetus). The zygote will never be an embryo, fetus, or a baby/human without having a uterus to implant.
Once people can understand this and the fact that the zygotes used for stem cell research would be destroyed if not used. Maybe then they can get past saying it is murder, or it is taking a life to use embryonic stem cells for research.
No, it is not wrong in my opinion. What better way to utilize them than to improve the quality of life for those with debilitating deseases?

By: Randall Bliss

Randall Bliss — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:56:19 +0000

No, Its not wrong and Its as simple as that. Its a science to learn about and treat illness. As with any insturment it has the potential to be used in many ways. Stem Cell is nothing to be afraid of, and won’t lead to evil or the end of the world. So many people in our world are filled with fears to the point they fabricate the idea that new things are a danger to our society and life as we currenty accept it.

By: sarah

sarah — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:26:54 +0000

Yes, I know ALL the cells used for stem cell research do not come just from fertility clinics. Umbilical cord blood is full of blood stem cells, capable of becoming any type of blood cells, and with a little prompting, can be used for other types of needed stem cells. People bank their infant’s cord blood because it can be frozen and used if the child develops a type of cancer or other life-threatening disease. If the parents choose not to do that, it is discarded or donated for stem cell research. Some adult cells can also be used, but the gold standard is infant zygotic stem cells, the kind that are in discarded fertilized eggs. An aborted fetus has cells that have already differentiated into organ systems, so they are not a good source of stem cells for research. You were right to say that fertilized eggs, ova and sperm are all only “potential life.” Ask any woman who has been through several rounds of fertility treatment – a fertilized egg does not a baby make. It has to properly implant into the uterus, grow a placenta and begin to develop normally into a viable pregnancy – that is where God makes the miracle! Anyone can mix sperm and eggs in a test tube and come up with fertilized eggs, but only God can make a baby!

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:15:06 +0000

to denise – No you are incorrect – umbilical cord blood stem cells are “multipotent” – meaning that they can be coaxed into becoming a number of different human cells. Embryonic Stem Cells are “pluripotent” – meaning that they can be guided into any of the over 200 different types of cells in our body.

The newest and most promising branch of stem cell research is the new IPS (Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells). These are genetically derived from skin cells and seem to act just like Embryonic Stem Cells in the lab. Only these would be better for transplantation, due to the fact that a patient’s own skin with his/her DNA could be turned into transplant tissue. This would eliminated GVHD (graft verses host disease) which often can kill the patient.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:02:59 +0000

I just completed my thesis documentary film on the Stem Cell research debate. I interviewed Dr. James Thomson from UW-Madison for the doc. He is the scientist who discovered how to grow embryonic stem cells in laboratory environment. He is also the co-discoverer of the new IPS (Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells), which are skin cells that have been genetically altered back to their embryonic stem cell state. According to Dr. Thomson, they act exactly like embryonic stem cells in the laboratory – thus far.

During the production I had the opportunity to interview over a hundred people on streets in four different cities. It amazed me that there is such confusion, misunderstanding and downright lies about this research. In my documentary I sought to clear up some of the misinformation and provide the audience with the facts regarding the embryonic stem cell’s origins, alternatives and research purpose and goals.

Embryonic Stem Cells used in research come from left over IVF procedures. They do not come from aborted fetuses. Women typically have eight to ten eggs removed for fertilization in a Petri dish. The zygotes (fertilized eggs) are incubated for seven to ten days – the same amount of time that a zygote needs to develop into a blastocyst as it travels through the fallopian tube down to the uterus. Once the incubated eggs have reached the blastocyst stage, doctors remove then grade them. They choose the best ones, usually two to four and implant them into the woman. They freeze the remaining six to eight blastocyst in case the couple needs to try again or wants to have more children. It varies, but often times couples are left with the difficult decision of what to do with the remaining frozen blastocyst. In actuality, they are left with only three options: donate to science, donate to other couples or have the blastocyst destroyed. This is the point of contention in this debate. It is not about aborted fetuses – its about those three options. This is the only place that embryonic stem cell researchers get their cells. We are not talking about chopped up aborted fetuses tissue here. That is one the major misconceptions out there about this research.

My goal with the thesis documentary was to provide the audience with the opportunity to decide for themselves what to do with the remaining frozen blastocyst. There are too many other docs out there that feed you lies, mislead you and misinform you or worse try to pull on your heart strings to get you sympathetic to the cause. Personally, I am OK with whatever you chose to do. You have a right to your opinion, but you should try to make that decision based on the facts.

The film is entitled “Lines in the Sand”. It will air on Montana PBS this November and then in other States over the coming months. Or you can buy a copy from me. Just email me at mvlfilms@aol.com.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:49:31 +0000

Check the facts, man. While I was never crazy about Bush and voted for Obama, I am relatively certain that Bush only restricted the FUNDING for embryonic-stem cell research. It was never banned outright. Under Bush’s executive order, federal funding could go only to the existing stem-cell lines, whereas new lines would have to continue to be funded by private and state funds. I also think that there was no funding for embryonic research at all prior to this, although I am not certain. It is true that Congress twice passed a bill to extend federal funding for embryonic reserach, and Bush twice vetoed this. Obama issued an order that for the first time, allowed federal funding for all potential embryonic stem-cell lines.

By: Kandy

Kandy — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:36:27 +0000

I think that research should continue in this field, but how are these scientist are going to obtain all the “material” they need to accomplish their work?

Perhaps this will be an excuss for many women to terminate their pregnancy. They will have the perfect “alibi” to feel good about killing their babies in the name of science.

By: Gloria

Gloria — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:27:25 +0000

The problem that I see, with all these facts, is how many thousands of embryo’s will the scientist need in order to keep this research going on? and also I will like to know, if these embrionic “materials” will be used to help in the cure of all kinds of terrible diseases, and if this “cure” would be available to all kind of people of different economic status?

By: denise

denise — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:50:28 +0000

I thought umbilical stem cells are superior to embryo cells. Stem cells are being stored and donated every day at every hospital in America from the umbilical cords of healthy term babies after delivery. NO life has to be detroyed in the name of science or medicine. Embryonic Stem Cell Research is old news. The future is in umbilical cord blood banking!