Continue on adult stem cells

You can take adult stem cells (ASC) from bone marrow, the olfactory bulb in the brain, and various other places, but those cells are not as useful as embryonic stem cells (ESC). ASCs are only multipotent, and can only form a few kinds of cells. Also, ASCs don't always completely mature into the specialized cells that scientists intend them to become. In fact, there is a chance that those immature cells can turn into cancer. For these reasons, ESCs are the far better choice for research and hold the most promise to help humanity.

One other thing I forgot to mention earlier: They're not fetuses at that point of development. They are called blastocysts, which are mostly hollowed-out balls of cells.

I'm glad you don't support In vitro fertilization either. That kills far more unborn than stem cell research ever will. Or wait, you didn't mention that - maybe you should clarify.

^^ i am with jbeach... really think about the implications of what your saying next time...

We're being Freeped. Look at the clips from Lesliedawn, Darino and Stephanielh on all the topics the GOP drives home to their religious right footsoldiers: gay rights, abortion, and now global warming. They are all in the same white room with flourescent lighting, whiteboards and a strip to hang papers from on the wall. They have the same accent. The audio has the same live quality suggesting tile flooring. It looks like a classroom inside a mega-church somewhere. Well at least the three of them are clearly the least popular people posting on this site. It keeps them away from electioneering where they can cause real damage.

lol, thats cool you noticed that. your right, it is probably some church, they think they can sway arguments by spouting there half-logic and half-religion views on here. thats funny that you noticed though.

It's very obvious that when one reverts to name calling, one doesn't have a good defense. I'm just here to share my views and be diplomatic in response because the Bible is diplomatic on these issues. I'm not ashamed nor threatened. Where do you get your authority? Why would my views be a threat? Have you considered the fact that you may be wrong? Or is there such thing as "wrong" in what you believe? I believe in the authority of the scriptures, the imminent return of Jesus Christ and His reign and sovereign authority over all and in all. I want to be on this side of truth because it's unchanging, steadfast, and immuntable...I serve a God who says He is Truth, the Way and Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Holy One....no one has ever made those claims, no one....And been right. He is Truth....that's my hope, that's my salvation, that's my story....What an awesome eternal God that makes Himself known...Have you experienced the real and personal Jesus Christ...He will change your life.

"You don't need to use stem cells from fetuses to do stem cell research" Huh?
Stepahnielh, you need to brush up on your 'science'.
Stem cell research does NOT use cells from a fetus, which is two months into a pregnancy. I believe you are confusing fetus with the term embryo, which refers to the first 2 months of the pregnancy. You should also know that it is not an embryo until it is IMPLANTED in the uterine lining. The stem cells you are attempting to refer to are obtained PRIOR to implantation, and are therefore not embryos EITHER, they are blastocysts. The term "embryonic" (in the sense of stem cell research) means 'early' and is a totally different word than "embryo", which gets the name from the fact that it is "early" pregnancy. Embryonic is an Adjective, Embryo is a Noun. I wonder about your 'values' when you consider that hundreds of thousands of fertilized ovum (eggs) will be wasted when not used to implant in the mother's uterus to cause pregnancy, that COULD be used to potentially find cures for suffering humans through embryonic (early) stem cell research. Do you value those blastocysts more than you value an already born life?

i like how she ignores all of the factual information (see Ccash man's response), then says that we have no argument, and were just name callers. Thats right, we are name callers, we are calling you illiterate.

Are you telling us that you have a PhD in biology? Or did you just chose to believe some preacher's crock of bovine digestive byproducts?

Did you say the bible is diplomatic and nice? Have you read it? It's full of wars, disasters, rape, murder, human sacrifice, etc. Ignorance is dangerous, and blind faith in a single document of highly questionable origin is a good definition of ignorance.

Since when have researchers impregnated women for the purpose of aborting the fetuses for the purpose of stem cell research? The answer: NEVER. This nightmare scenario is a distortion of the facts cooked up by radical anti-abortion fringe groups for the expressed purpose of triggering an emotional reaction, prejudicing public opinion against stem cell research before the facts can be made clear.

There are currently something like 400,000 blastocysts, not embryos, sitting in cold storage in fertility clinics across the United States. They are not embryos. They are called embryos because that is a term more commonly recognized by the public at large. Each blastocyst consists of approximately 100 cells which have been fertilized and begun to divide, but have yet to differentiate, meaning that there is no heart, no lungs, no brain or spinal cord, just a group of cells so new that they haven't even begun to serve a specific purpose in the formation of human life. This is what makes these cells so promising as research material - they have yet to differentiate, so they can be adapted for use in most any part of the body. All of these blastocysts have been abandoned by the couples whose sperm and eggs were used to create them - either one of the many other blastocysts the couple made was succussfully implanted in the woman and developed into a viable fetus, or the couple gave up on the process after several attempts failed to produce a child. At any rate, these blastocysts are left frozen in storage where, over time they will deteriorate and then be thrown away. For all the talk of "snowflake babies" and claims of thousands of couples willing to adopt these fertilized cells, there are fewer than 300 such snowflake babies in existence - that is less than one in a thousand. The vast majority of these fertilized cells are doomed to slow deterioration in cold storage. If these blastocysts are never going to be given the chance to develop into a child, isn't it better for their existence to have served some purpose? If using these bunches of cells for research truly is murder, then are the couples who contracted to have them created, but then failed to have each and every one of the blastocysts implanted guilty of murder? And what about the 70% to 80% of eggs which are fertilized inside a woman's body through the natural process of fertilization, but which fail to implant themselves in the uterus and are flushed out of the woman's body during menstruation?

My only sibling, my older sister, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis shortly before her third birthday. It is a hereditary disease which primarily effects the lungs which constantly produce thick mucus - it's like having pneumonia every day of your life. My sister had to sleep in plastic tent filled with a damp fog of saline mist which thinned the mucus in her lungs and allowed her to breathe. Twice a day my sister would lay on a slanted board with her head facing the ground while my mother clapped her chest, sides and back for thirty minutes to an hour to help my sister cough up the mucus so she could breathe more easily for a few hours. By the time my sister hit her teens, one to two week hospital stays every six to nine months were common. Little by little sections of her lungs became permanently damaged and scarred, further reducing her ability to breathe. She also suffered damage to her heart, liver, pancreas and kidneys. Shortly before her twentieth birthday my sister entered the hospital where over the course of two weeks she slowly suffocated to death as what remained of her lungs shut down.

It's easy to deal in moral absolutes when you don't have any skin in the game. But there is a difference between "life" and "potential life". That difference becomes crystal clear and theoretical "slippery slopes" lose their significance when one is faced with the real life suffering of fellow human beings.

Right on!

wow. beautifully put Tommy

Well said Tommygun.

Personally, I do not support the fact that you are letting your religious dogma morph your opinions for you. In fact, all of your videos talk about how God is going to help us someday. So by saying the same thing that christians have been saying for 25,000 years, you are holding alive this unevolved lifestyle. Embryo's really are only considered POTENTIAL babies. They are not anymore of a life than a plant, or a fungi. Not a human. These stem cells can save livies if peoplelike you would let us research them. Don't let your pastor brainwash you. It's ridiculous how you really have no proper basis for your opinions and for that I do not give you the credit because ultamately these are not your opinions, these are your bible's.

Why is the theraputic cloning in the least bit controversial? When did an egg cell become an a human life in and of itself the same with sperm which are being used in promising research, why is that controversial? Also the new gene therapy aproach is a true breakthrough the scientists are holding thier breath though as they are worried about the specific genes inserted in the cells. Some of them are genes closely associated with cancer. One breakthrough allready proven to provide a potential cure, that is the breakthrough that concerns me more out of the two. Lets be honest if it has stem cell or cloning in its name it gets labeled controversial. Lets look for solutions, these are so terribly exciting! Lets hope we persue both! These are both great ideas as far as I am concerned.

I will give you pitty points the fact that you try to sympathize your belifes in stem cell research. By say that we shouldnt kill a live being you are still harming the being taking anything from it. Basicly its like saying hey lets rip your leg off and give it to the one legged hobo on the corner asking for change.. dose it hurt you ? yes!

theysovague VERY well put

The scientists receive embryos that have been frozen put in storage and are no longer wanted. Now rather than stuffing them in a biohazard bag and shipping them off to be incinerated why not use them to save lives.

you are using your religion to back up your argument - mistake. maybe you have a child that is very sick with a rare disease, or even yourself - and your life is given a time limit. the only way to really help this rare disease is by stem cell research...a whole new perspective comes about. before you make a religious argument - look at it from the other side - the side where it could potentially be you in need of that science. God can't get you through something like that - science and research can.

wow tommy i have deep respect for you

every hair on your body has stemsels to regenerate the folicle when removed it can be treated as any stem sell and "told" what to grow into so 1 sientist in a lab could provide a lifetimes orth of working stemsells for the lab.

I partially agree...but define a living being....when does one become a person?

Iam sorry but i dont agree with u

Interesting...
Yes, it is up to the viewer to investigate and inquire about the topic being discussed, before passing judgment on the subject.
Yes stem cells are revolutionary and yes they are created with embryonic development. Stem cells are being developed and tested in laboratories now. Where do they get the cells that they are testing and modifying?

Does anyone know what is done with the afterbirth that surrounds the millions of babies that are born worldwide?
Why do I ask about this which is discarded? Because it contains the very cells that we are speaking of, that is why.
There are many arguments about the use of genetic material from individuals, without knowledge and or consent, that are only valid in certain nations of the world.
Why are we so disturbed by what we willingly discard?

my opinion my not count but many people who don't support esc research tell you it is ok to flush the nused fertilized eggs, why is that not abortion? I really believe in God and i believe he has a way of giving us knowledge and abilities to use when the time is right. I wonder what he would say to an anti stem cell research person when he asked why we didn't use the flushed eggs?

Why do they think it right that they take the hopes of millions away? Talk about unjust and unGodly!

I agree with Stephanie. As long as a person's stem cells are obtained from one's own body, fine, go for it! We should not "mess around" with nature by creating a being via unnatural means, in order to obtain a small portion of that being as an attempt to help another person live a little longer. We are all terminal; we will die of something someday, and although I have no problem with trying to provide quality of life for one's remaining days, months, or years, it's absolutely wrong to "create" a being, knowing THAT PERSON will not be allowed to live, rather a portion of his/her body will be harvested before allowing him/her to die.