STEM-CELL STANDOFF INVOLVES MORAL ISSUES
At first glance, the nation's emotional debate over stem-cell research seems a mere rerun of the unending dispute over abortion. Both involve the questions about protecting the development of human life, after all.
Ref. https://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1%2C1249%2C...38894%2C00.html
I am completely against abortion. That being said, banning stem cell research is not going to limit abortions. Morally, I think that if we can gain something good from a bad situation, then we have an obligation too. If a baby is going to be aborted, then why let its death be in vain, why not let its stem cells go to help the living?
From everything I have read, in order to get embryonic stem cells, it is necessary to create an in-vitro embryo, then harvest the cells, thus killing the embryo. That is why it is related to abortion. In some ways it is worse than abortion, in that the child is deliberately created specifically in order to kill it for the cells. To my point of view, this is exactly like human sacrifice of infants.
In reality, at least 40 powerful treatments have resulted from adult stem cell research, which is not objectionable in any way, as it is using such tissues as placentas and bone marrow. However, there is yet to be a single success from embryonic stem cell research. Every dollar used for ESC research could have been used in the already successful adult stem cell programs.
This is the modern version of the old fight between science and religion. Galileo said the Earth revolved around the sun the church said the sun revolved around the earth. Gelileo was placed under house arrest.
This argument has some unique considerations though; will this research advance human cloning, will it cause over population or is it just morally wrong to create life to just kill it. Science is getting too advanced, there is something to be said for natural selection. If science can save everyone, what happens when we can no longer feed ourselves or provide shelter. I am not saying this will happen overnight, but consider what will happen when all diseases can be cured. Is this something that we want? Just because science has the ability to do something does not mean it is a good thing.
California poised to be leader in stem cell research
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, created and funded by the passage of Proposition 71 in 2004, has invested $625 million in stem cell research, aimed primarily at basic science and laboratory construction. That investment, and the promise of a $3 billion funding stream over 10 years, has given universities and research institutes the confidence to create new stem cell programs. And it has attracted scientists and biotechnology companies to relocate here.
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Sounds like we will be doing a lot more testing on stem cells as this is something the our new president is for. I believe that with further research we can have better successes against diseases. Whether it proves to be adult or embryonic we will have to wait and see.
Obama to OK wider-ranging stem cell work
Federal financing limits set by Bush will be reversed
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama will announce Monday that he is reversing Bush administration limits on federal financing for embryonic stem cell research as part of a pledge to separate science and politics, White House officials said yesterday. As a presidential candidate, Obama spoke out in favor of stem cell research, so his intention to undo the curbs put in place by President George W. Bush is not surprising. Ref. Source 8