Stem Cell research!

President Obama has made a big decision today, march 10th 2009 which could result in scientific breakthroughs in the near or not so near future. The decision to lift the ban on stem cell research has made the researchers of the University of Miami Stem Cell Institute very happy.
The study of stem cell research is definitely a controversial topic. Many people believe that stem cell research can result badly or is "in-humane" whilst others believe that stem cells can be beneficial to the human race.
I personally do not believe that stem cell research is in-humane. I can not seriously say that sacrificing something that is not even born for possible millions of men and woman's lives is in-humane. On the contrary, I believe it to be in-humane to not use something that could save millions of people a lot of pain and suffering.
On the other hand, if I think about it, it would be in-humane to deny any human of his/her right to feel the wonderful feelings of life.
I guess my stance on this issue is that i have no stance. I would like to know how others feel about this. I encourage everyone to reply to this post on your stance on Obama's decision. Tell me your stance and why you feel this way.
Thanks to anyone who read my post, I hope it was worth your time.
PS:This is my first post on lockergnome so i would appreciate and take consideration in any advice anyone can give me about my writing skills. I am always ready for improvement.

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Permalink Reply by Dangerouspowerz on March 10, 2009 at 3:02pm: Stem Cell research is definitely needed because the knowledge we could gain will save a lot of people. The new medicines that we might discover might finally cure some of the many disease we have.

I also agree on you with: "I believe it to be in-humane to not use something that could save millions of people a lot of pain and suffering." If we can save a lot of people then we must do it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by travis on March 10, 2009 at 4:06pm: Yes, sometimes i lean toward this side of the argument because I find it hard to care about something that does not have feelings. But do you also think it could be cruel to deny the future person of his/her life?Thanks for the reply by the way =); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jada L. on March 11, 2009 at 9:49am: How is it cruel to benefit from a blastocyte that is going to be destroyed anyways. It is a group of 24 cells nothing more. think of it this way if you had a wart would you remove it? well that wart has more cells in it then a blastocyte. They are not a fetus or embryo until it has three things met. 1. a heartbeat, 2. a brain, and 3. a nervous system. none of these things develop until the 9 -12 week of development. when the blastocyte is frozen it halts this, and they remove the stem cells while it is frozen. I hope this clears things up for you.
Jada; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by travis on March 11, 2009 at 11:05am: yes, well I'm not fully educated on the subject so I'm glad to have it explained a little more.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrew on March 10, 2009 at 7:17pm: Being a scientist and aspiring microbiologist/immunologist, I've done a fair amount of research on the topic, and as such, have a bit of insight.

First off, to generalize it as "Stem Cell Research" is a problem, as there are two individual schools of thought regarding stem cells. They are Embryonic and Adult. From a scientific standpoint, you have to look at which of these is bearing the greatest results. Every inch of real research points to Adult Stem Cell Research being the more influential of the two. As of last count, there were 72 specific and independent treatments created using Adult Stem Cells. Through the use of Embryonic Stem Cells, there have been ZERO treatments and/or therapies derived. As a point of fact, tissues created using embryonic stem cells have a high rejection rate, or, if they do take, have a high chance of being tumorogenic or cancer causing.

Also, Adult stem cells, regardless of the source (usually placentas, bone marrow, or umbilical cord blood) can be used to treat spinal cord injuries now, whereas the research regarding Embryonic stem cells is at least a decade away from doing that very same thing.

Just my 2 cents. I'll try to find the paper I wrote regarding this subject.

Oddly as a side note, as I started reading and responding to this thread, the song The Great Debate by Dream Theater came on, which covers the topic nicely.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by travis on March 11, 2009 at 11:08am: I am quite sure that the news article i read was on adult stem cells. I read it on google news; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sharif Hala on March 10, 2009 at 7:34pm: The topic of Stem cell has been so controversial even between scientists themselves. About 2 years ago an Asian scientist submitted fake stem-cell research that stunned the world. This incident may was shameful but it showed how much the world need this science and anticipate a move such as president Obama’s move. I am very happy to hear his opinion that I am thinking of moving to Miami to join the research group since my background is medical molecular genetics.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by travis on March 11, 2009 at 11:13am: That makes 2 people who have background on this topic so far =). Where have you received this information regarding to the Asian scientist? You have made me interested.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by chip.black on March 11, 2009 at 3:54am: It shouldn't be a surprise that results from embryonic stem cell research have fallen behind research on adult stem cells, because there's been a federal funding ban on embryonic stem cell research since 2001. At the time, George Bush said he would allow research on 60 lines of embryonic stem cells that existed at that point, but only about a dozen have been actually made available. Obama's decision should go a long way toward fixing that.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by travis on March 11, 2009 at 11:15am: We should hope that the decision does catch the united states up. I am not actually from the U.S but Canada will no doubt be effected by Obama's decision.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrew on March 11, 2009 at 4:00am: With the amount of private funding Harvard's received for their stem cell research, they've had the ability to continue. It's the fact that embryonic stem cells have, as of yet, to prove a use in medicine, and are, in fact detrimental. Adult stem cells however, have proven useful.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Eric L. on March 11, 2009 at 7:54am: I am happy with the government's backing of the research. I think they should have done it sooner, although I know the reason why... The Bush..... The one that had his own agenda and didn't care about the American people, it didn't surprise me that Bush push this threw. At least now we have someone in office that give a shit about the people of the country he's running.

--Eric; ▶ Reply to This