Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Abortion
Verve Pipe
13-03-2006, 18:32
Is it possible to be pro-life or for legally limiting abortion and also be for embryonic stem cell research? In such research, a woman is voluntarily artificially inseminated, and within a week, the fertilized embryo (correct terminology?) is taken out and stored for future experimentation purposes, as I've read. So if one believes that an embryo is a human life, is it possible for them to still support a form of research that would ultimately end this life? The way I see it, someone coud be for this type of research and still be pro-life/for limiting abortion for two reasons:
1) The destruction of life would be occurring for purposes of research with the intent of saving fully-developed human lives.
2) The embryo is only a week old upon being removed, and therefore has not grown to resemble a human or a cognitive being yet.
I find myself conflicted on the issue of embryo/abortion rights, so I'm interested in hearing what people with various stances on these issues have to say.
The Black Forrest
13-03-2006, 18:34
use the advanced search on this forum.
Topic has been done many times.
Von Witzleben
13-03-2006, 18:46
Stemm cell research rocks!!!
Von Witzleben
13-03-2006, 18:46
use the advanced search on this forum.
Topic has been done many times.
Like most other topics in here.
Dempublicents1
13-03-2006, 18:50
Is it possible to be pro-life or for legally limiting abortion and also be for embryonic stem cell research? In such research, a woman is voluntarily artificially inseminated, and within a week, the fertilized embryo (correct terminology?) is taken out and stored for future experimentation purposes, as I've read.
You read wrong, and I would highly suggest that you find better sources. No woman is inseminated - no one ever becomes pregnant. An egg is fertilized in vitro (outside the body) and is grown to the blastocyst stage in a petri dish. The inner cell mass, as shown in this picture (the clump of cells down and to the left):
http://www.advancedfertility.com/pics/day5blasts222txt.jpg
is then removed and the cells plated down.
The Black Forrest
13-03-2006, 19:03
Like most other topics in here.
Yes that is true.
*looks at the calendar*
Opps. I am bad. It was time for this argument to happen again. ;)
Verve Pipe
13-03-2006, 19:04
You read wrong, and I would highly suggest that you find better sources. No woman is inseminated - no one ever becomes pregnant. An egg is fertilized in vitro (outside the body) and is grown to the blastocyst stage in a petri dish. The inner cell mass, as shown in this picture (the clump of cells down and to the left):
http://www.advancedfertility.com/pics/day5blasts222txt.jpg
is then removed and the cells plated down.
Thanks for letting me know that. However, it's essentially the same thing, isn't it?
Dempublicents1
13-03-2006, 19:09
Thanks for letting me know that. However, it's essentially the same thing, isn't it?
Depends on how it is done. Sometimes, an egg is fertilized by injecting the sperm directly into it - rather different from what happens in vivo. But it is important to some people to know that a woman is never impregnanted (not that she would be after a week's development anyways - implantation usually takes ~ 2 weeks.