Friday, January 12, 2007
Stem Cell Articles
Stem cells are cells that have the potential to grow into adult tissues and repair damage. There is a lot of misinformation out there. The controversy is over one type, embryonic stem cells. Some scientists think these are the best chance of giving us "miracle cures" of diabetes, Parkinson's disease, spinal trauma, etc. Others favor using adult stem cells, which are stem cells that have partially differentiated (matured). While theoretically less flexible, adult stem cells also are much easier to control. To date, there are some adult stem cell therapies that actually work (bone marrow transplantation for leukemia comes to mind.) Embryonic stem cells so far, after many years of animal work and some human work, have gone nowhere.
There are some interesting articles for your consideration. Charles Krauthammer, who is Pro-Choice and does not believe that life/personhood begin at conception, thinks that using embryonic stem cells is ethically dangerous.
Maureen Condic, a neuroscience researcher, wrote a detailed article in First Things this January. She essentially says that embryonic stem cell research has such formidable barriers that anyone interested in fast results should not support it. For example, using embryonic stem cells has many of the same problems with immune rejection that any other transplant could have, and embryonic stem cells in animals tend to form nasty tumors (teratomas.)
She also wrote a good basics article in 2002.
Our congresswoman, Diana Degette, sponsored the recent bill passed in the House. Prayers are needed.
There are some interesting articles for your consideration. Charles Krauthammer, who is Pro-Choice and does not believe that life/personhood begin at conception, thinks that using embryonic stem cells is ethically dangerous.
Maureen Condic, a neuroscience researcher, wrote a detailed article in First Things this January. She essentially says that embryonic stem cell research has such formidable barriers that anyone interested in fast results should not support it. For example, using embryonic stem cells has many of the same problems with immune rejection that any other transplant could have, and embryonic stem cells in animals tend to form nasty tumors (teratomas.)
She also wrote a good basics article in 2002.
Our congresswoman, Diana Degette, sponsored the recent bill passed in the House. Prayers are needed.
