I really don't see why each and every aborted foetus isn't sent to the lab rather than thrown into the garbage. I also have a sneeking supsicion that most folk against stemcell research don't suffer from debilitating conditions themselves. From what little research I've done, it looks like stem cells could be used to repair the damaged areas of my own spinal chord ("cord"?) as well. I'd gladly clone the cells of a non-conscious being, or harvest ones that are already going to the trash, if it means actually regaining some quallity of life again.


A friend I had used to debate me on the matter of stem cells from embryos, saying that "the potential for life is there, so you're taking someone's life away". But the way I see it, if you clone the cells yourself for the stemcells, then that means they never would have existed were it not for the science, and the "potential" never existed in the first place. I don't consider potential to mean "it can become life", I consider to mean "this was well on the way to becoming a human being". But we never could come to an agreement on that, and really it's such a moral issue, as opposed to an empiracle/utilitarian one, that I don't think you can really prove your side no matter what you say.


Besides, isn't every man that masturbates committing genocide? My God, I'm worse than Stalin and Hitler combined!
Seriously though, I feel that people arbitarily draw the line of where "potential" exists. A fertilized egg is said to have potential for life because it can grow into a human being, given the opportunity. But situationally, the potential was never there. Likewise, you might as well extend that to sperm which has the potential to fertilize an egg.


In my view, a human being exists when there is some spark of consciousness, or even just brainwaves. Not that I'd call 1st or second trimester abortion something to be done lightly, but I believe a person is not a cluster of cells, they're an individual with their own thoughts, feelings, containing that first spark (or many billions) of neuronal energy that is ready to absorb information and expand. Then you get religion, neuro-science, and general ethical debate coming in and confusing the hell out of the issue! It's all very subjective I suppose.


Anywhooo.... Suffering = Bad
Cures = Good
Gandalf_The_Grey Reviewed by Gandalf_The_Grey on . stem cell research..your take? whats your stance on stem cell research? did you know scientists can now synthesize their own line of stem cells? also did you know adults carry stem cells as opposed to infants? they are just degraded and not as productive as young ones. they can also be found in the amniotic fluids of a mother or the umbilicle cord. i dunno...its just fascinating to me. stem cells could help in the race to find the cure for cancer. they are highly regenerative. Rating: 5