Controversial stem-cell research
WarpDrive
12-08-2004, 13:31
As you may know, stem-cell research involves the use of cloned embryos, for medical experiments into conditions such as alzheimers.
I haven't seen any topics on this so I thought I would start one.
Dempublicents
12-08-2004, 15:57
A few corrections. Only *embryonic* stem cell research uses embryos of any kind. The lines that are currently approved in the US have not come from cloned embryos, as only one team in Korea has managed to get a stem cell line from a cloned embryo (at least, that is true if we are talking about human embryonic stem cells). Most have come from unwanted IVF embryos in the past, but ultimately scientists wish to use cloned embryos.
Scientists given cloning go-ahead
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3554474.stm)
UK scientists have just been given the green light to clone human embryos for stem-cell research. It should of course be remembered that these embryos are little balls of undifferentiated cells. Some people will object to this because they think these little balls of undifferentiated cells have souls. Others might object to it because they think it will make the pixies cry. Personally, I have nothing against it: I don't think cells have human rights.
Dempublicents
12-08-2004, 16:14
Scientists given cloning go-ahead
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3554474.stm)
UK scientists have just been given the green light to clone human embryos for stem-cell research. It should of course be remembered that these embryos are little balls of undifferentiated cells. Some people will object to this because they think these little balls of undifferentiated cells have souls. Others might object to it because they think it will make the pixies cry. Personally, I have nothing against it: I don't think cells have human rights.
The UK is pretty smart about it though - only scientists with special licenses can attempt this type of cloning. At least they're keeping an eye on who is trying it. =)
In the US, all cloning is legal, you just can't get government funding to do it. There could be a privately funded scientist out there trying to attempt reproductive cloning, and no one is regulating it at all.