>As for the 60 genetic lines, it is said that less
than
>50% are ready for research. Also, proponents of stem
>cell research say that many more genetic lines are
>necessay to make significant discoveries.
That is good to know. Hopefully, countries like India
(and you mentioned Israel), China, France etc will
probably be able to advance rapidly in this field.
Maybe then the US will think again.
--- Rajib Das <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> What Bush essentially did was to find a middle path
> that could satisfy both lobbies. He said the
> government would provide federal funding for all
> existing embryonic stem cells - adding up to 60
> genetic lines - and deny it to any new stem cell
> generation. Why? Because, these stem cells have been
> already generated and so he or his government is not
> responsible. And why not, any more? So as to satisfy
> the fundamentalist Christian lobby with the message
> that no new embryos were being killed.
>
> The lines, as I mentioned, are genetic lines. Since
> embronic stem cells have the potential to develop
> into
> adult cells of any kind, the more the genetic pool
> available, the more versatile the research can be.
>
> As for the 60 genetic lines, it is said that less
> than
> 50% are ready for research. Also, proponents of stem
> cell research say that many more genetic lines are
> necessay to make significant discoveries.
>
> The stem cell political debate is essentially a take
> off on the abortion political debate. If you noticed
> Bush / Kerry debates, Bush has a single point answer
> to this issue - you are either anti-abortion or
> pro-abortion. Kerry has a nuanced view - he supports
> pro-life but on certain conditions wants the girl to
> choose - like when her life is in danger.
>
>
>
> --- ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > Thanks Rajib, that was a pretty good explantion.
> >
> > I was discussing about this a few days ago with a
> > right-leaning friend of mine, and he kept pointing
> > out
> > that Bush has allowed some 70 odd existing lines
> of
> > stem cells. And that these were 'more than enough'
> > for
> > any future research. These were inexhaustible and
> as
> > such embryonic cells were unnecessary.
> >
> > So, (you may know this) what are these 'lines'?
> >
> > I agree that stem cells should not have been an
> > issue
> > at all. And yes, it is surprising how the most
> > advanced country in the world could be held ransom
> > to
> > to such levels of ignorance.
> >
> >
> >
> > >embryonic stem cells are UNDIFFERENTIATED cells
> > that
> > >are not adult cells but can grow into any - in
> > other
> > >words, they are not yet a human being that can be
> > >killed. Moreover, one source for most cells for
> > >research are SURPLUS embryos donated with
> specific
> > >consent in situations such as invitro
> fertilization
> > >when these cells are felt no longer required. In
> > >other words, these would, in any case, have been
> > >thrown away.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- Rajib Das <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> > > As far as I understand, and I am a layman,
> > embryonic
> > > stem cells are UNDIFFERENTIATED cells that are
> not
> > > adult cells but can grow into any - in other
> > words,
> > > they are not yet a human being that can be
> killed.
> > > Moreover, one source for most cells for research
> > are
> > > SURPLUS embryos donated with specific consent in
> > > situations such as invitro fertilization when
> > these
> > > cells are felt no longer required. In other
> words,
> > > these would, in any case, have been thrown away.
> > >
> > > Obviously it is felt that these embryonic stem
> > cells
> > > are important for discovering cures for many
> > > diseases
> > > such as Parkinsons etc.
> > >
> > > A stem cell, as per fundamentalist Christians,
> is
> > > the
> > > equivalent of an unborn baby. Since there are
> > tonnes
> > > of such types in the current administration (or
> it
> > > finds tonnes of supporters), the administration
> > has
> > > the position that embryonic stem cell research
> > > should
> > > be banned. Never mind the fact that the
> embryonic
> > > stem
> > > cell is not yet an adult cell and that the
> supply
> > > comes from sources where such cells would have
> > been
> > > destroyed anyway.
> > >
> > > I am flabbergasted this issue finds ANY space in
> > > political debate let alone a central space. That
> > too
> > > in a developed country, that supposedly has
> > > universal,
> > > secular adult education. I believe Western
> Europe
> > > (another Christian region) has no such
> > compunctions.
> > > My cousin was in Israel involved in Stem Cell
> > > Research
> > > - so I assume the Jews don't have much of an
> > > objection
> > > either. India has no problems on this account so
> > the
> > > Hindus don't object too. The Arabs, I am not too
> > > sure,
> > > are aware of stem cell research :-). So it is
> > here,
> > > the new bible belt, that such issues find any
> > > credence.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- Tilok Hatimuria <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > >
> > > > O'Ram da:
> > > >
> > > > Aapuni thikei koise. Hema tu xosai poetic.
> > Gotike
> > > > cell-gila daam thoka bostu
> > > > hoboi.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >Also, should ethics even be an issue when
> > > > >hESCs are drawn from frozen embryos?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Yes, yes. Indeed ethics are of importance.
> Only
> > > > problem is with the question
> > > > of what is more ethical? Is it more ethical to
> > > > declare war on a country not
> > > > at war with us, on false pretenses, or is it
> > more
> > > > ethical to prohibit
> > > > destruction of fertilized human embryos to
> > harvest
> > > > Hemar poetic cells? Is it
> > > > more ethical to prevent playing God or saving
> > > lives
> > > > with embryonic stem
> > > > cells or is it more ethical to go kill
> innocent
> > > men,
> > > > women and children
> > > > along with all those that are branded
> > 'terrorists'
> > > -
> > > > never mind if they
> > > > really are or not. Is it more ethical to gloat
> > > over
> > > > shock-and-awe over
> > > > destruction of the innocent with the guilty
> > while
> > > > expressing shock over
> > > > Godless scientists working on embryonic stem
> > > cells?
> > > >
> > > > These are complicated issues. Hypocrisy of
> > course
>
=== message truncated ===
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