Stem Cells - yae or nay?

Tellox

So, today while leaving for work, I saw a giant poster reading (paraphrased): "Stem cells have never been proven to hold any medical relevance. Ban stem cells". Following me almost crashing my bike in anger, I got into work and did a quick look up on why these billboards are appearing everywhere. Eventually, I found the following: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0210/1233867929764.html

€60,000 pumped into anti stem cell posters. From what I've seen, every poster also skews the truth in a large way. The main one they're flaunting is that there are 65 cures derived from adult stem cell research. David Prentice's opinions are debunked in the following article: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/1129987/DC1

Albiet Stem cells have long been in debate, I've found that every "serious" conversation I have around them often degenerates into Creationism vs Science. While I believe there should always be a moral ground when it comes to scientific research, I don't believe that "God will be mad" is a strong enough excuse to ban research on what is more than likely the largest medical breakthrough waiting to happen.

So boards, I ask you - Stem cells, yae or nay?

---

Mod edit:
This thread is about stem cell research and not about abortion.
If you would like to discuss abortion, then I suggest you go to the humanities forum.

Jesus Juice

No

Yaaaaay stem cells!!

ScumLord

I'm a big fan of steam cells, 12", with sweat onion sauce (I had to try it yesterday, it's lovely) lettuce and peppers.

Fad

No

Yay for stem cells.

I'm almost tempted to vote yes in the lisbon re-vote (thats happening isnt it?) because youth defence support the no vote. They are asshats of the highest order!

Turd Ferguson

Stem cell smoothie FTW

General Zod

No

Yes.

Stem cell recearch, either from embryo or adult, is an incredible oppertunity to make huge gains in the treatment of many conditions. youth Defence are the greatest bunch of luddite gobdaws in the country.

KnifeWRENCH

No

Ah, embryonic stem cell research. Yay, verily.

The Youth Defence group are twats.

Mena

No

Yeah, they're useless

Link

Metro.co.uk wrote:

A 'blind' teenager has driven for the first time after stem cell treatment improved her sight.

Macie Morse, 16, was born legally blind but has now gained her learner driver permit – just like any other US teenager.
'It was one of the most exciting times of my entire 16 years,' said the student.

She suffered optic nerve hypoplasia, in which the nerve transmitting visual signals to the brain is underdeveloped. She had 20/4,000 vision in one eye, meaning she could see at 6m (20ft) what the normal eye can see at 1,220m (4,000ft). In the other, the girl could only perceive light.
But then her mother, Rochelle, found out on the web about a stem cell injection in China. Just ten people have had the £28,000 treatment.

In July last year, Macie spent six weeks receiving spinal injections of cord blood stem cells. After her third treatment, she said she could read. Macie now has 20/80 vision in one eye and 20/400-plus in the other. 'I always wondered what it would be like to see my friends,' said the girl, who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Tellox

No

Tellox wrote: »

Albiet Stem cells have long been in debate, I've found that every "serious" conversation I have around them often degenerates into Creationism vs Science.

You come to after hours for a serious conversation?

Jesus Juice

No

Fad wrote: »

Yay for stem cells.

I'm almost tempted to vote yes in the lisbon re-vote (thats happening isnt it?) because youth defence support the no vote. They are asshats of the highest order!

+1 look at the Youth Defence leaders name Eoghan de Faoite
I hate him already.

Turd Ferguson

Mena wrote: »

Yeah, they're useless

Link

Why would you say they are useless, and then quote an article that proves the exact opposite? Why would you do such a thing?

Diabhal Beag

No

**** God. Yes for Stemies

Mena

No

Turd Ferguson wrote: »

Why would you say they are useless, and then quote an article that proves the exact opposite? Why would you do such a thing?

Sarcasm: Sarcasm is stating the opposite of an intended meaning especially in order to sneeringly, slyly, jest or mock a person, situation or thing.

Yeah I know, Sarcasm + Internetwebz = ****e

brozio

No

Tellox wrote: »

So, today while leaving for work, I saw a giant poster reading (paraphrased): "Stem cells have never been proven to hold any medical relevance. Ban stem cells". Following me almost crashing my bike in anger, I got into work and did a quick look up on why these billboards are appearing everywhere. Eventually, I found the following: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0210/1233867929764.html

€60,000 pumped into anti stem cell posters. From what I've seen, every poster also skews the truth in a large way. The main one they're flaunting is that there are 65 cures derived from adult stem cell research. David Prentice's opinions are debunked in the following article: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/1129987/DC1

Albiet Stem cells have long been in debate, I've found that every "serious" conversation I have around them often degenerates into Creationism vs Science. While I believe there should always be a moral ground when it comes to scientific research, I don't believe that "God will be mad" is a strong enough excuse to ban research on what is more than likely the largest medical breakthrough waiting to happen.

So boards, I ask you - Stem cells, yae or nay?

I am currently doing a masters in stem cells is galway, the possible uses for stem cells is massive. the only reason the technology hasn't advanced as it should have is due to the ethics involved. Animal models have shown stem cells to be effective in treating everything from broken spinal cords, to heart attacks to parkinsons disease to name only three. Thankfully Obama has authorized the first clinical trial with embryonic stem cells in the US (on his 2nd day in office!) to treat spinal cord damage and hopefully this will really start the ball rolling in research.

i can see the reasoning behind the protest against human embryonic stem cells, but if you ask me the use of stem cells obtained from a embryo that was going to die anyway which are then used to give a paraplegic hope of walking again must be a good thing. incinerate the embyro once it has died (in the case where excess embryos are left over from fertility treatments ect.) or use it to try make someone walk again that never thought they would , its a no brainer for me.

we are still years away from seeing any embryonic stem cell treatments as there are many risks involved and challenges to overcome but the possibilities are massive.

luckat

No

The poster's information is incorrect, I think - look at this story, for a start:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3171993.stm

Last Updated: Monday, 25 August, 2003, 05:11 GMT 06:11 UK

Cell transplant restores vision

A blind man can see again after being given a stem cell transplant.

Mike May, of California, had been blind for 40 years since an accident at the age of three where he lost one eye and was blinded in the other.

During that time he had some ability to perceive light, but could not make out form or contrast.

He said he had no visual memories from his early childhood.

The operation transplanted corneal and limbal stem cells into his right eye.

<snip>

There are many more such accounts. Stem cell research offers the best hope of a cure or relief for illnesses such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, asthma, Crohn's and others.

And as time goes on it is increasingly becoming possible to use cells developed from other sources than embryos - the main reason for the anti-stem-cell-research movement being a horror of using human embryos in this way. (Embryos in this usage are the human being from implantation of the fertilised egg until it is eight weeks old, when it is renamed a foetus.)

Genghiz Cohen

No

brozio wrote: »

I am currently doing a masters in stem cells is galway,

My sister finished that, more stem cell researchers!!
MOAR!!!

Also, embryonic stem cells are only one way of getting them. You can take stem cells from anywhere in the body, but they are limited in what they can change into, the embryonic ones change into anything, even a new Dennys....

Professey Chin

No

Yeahhhhhh spongebo.....i mean stem cells

allabouteve

Tellox wrote: »

Albiet Stem cells have long been in debate, I've found that every "serious" conversation I have around them often degenerates into Creationism vs Science. While I believe there should always be a moral ground when it comes to scientific research, I don't believe that "God will be mad" is a strong enough excuse to ban research on what is more than likely the largest medical breakthrough waiting to happen.

So boards, I ask you - Stem cells, yae or nay?

The reason it degenerates into a religious debate is because the religious right believe that all stem cells come either from aborted fetuses or cord blood.

I believe unbilicus blood is the richest sourse of cells in general, but stem cells are also present in menses, nasal cells, spinal fluid, and many other more accessible areas of the live human body, without recourse to embryonic research, or the products of abortion.

Zadkiel

No

*** too slow typing , answered above ***
Good topic OP, will read up more on this but;
From what I've read on the subject they can also be gotten from Umbilical chords? ( someone correct me if I'm wrong ) but is research done on anywhere on these?

Tellox

No

I've love to invite the leader of the Youth Defence Party for a public debate on their campaign - I would put money on them knowing nothing on what they're arguing about. If anyone knows where I can contact him, that'd be much appreciated :pac:

Wurly

'Yae' or something....

eVeNtInE

No

This post has been deleted.

KnifeWRENCH

No

Tellox wrote: »

I've love to invite the leader of the Youth Defence Party for a public debate on their campaign - I would put money on them knowing nothing on what they're arguing about. If anyone knows where I can contact him, that'd be much appreciated :pac:

I'd love to meet the Leader of Youth Defence and repeatedly clobber him over the head with an object large enough such that it's size and hardness are directly proportional to his groups ignorance and stupidity.

But failing that, a debate would be sufficient.

Tellox

No

square_igloo wrote: »

I'd love to meet the Leader of Youth Defence and repeatedly clobber him over the head with an object large enough such that it's size and hardness are directly proportional to his groups ignorance and stupidity.

But failing that, a debate would be sufficient.

Unfortunately, I would strongly doubt they would have the balls to face a questioning - and more than likely their own public humiliation. Does anyone even know how they can be contacted?

KnifeWRENCH

No

Kinda surprised that they don't seem to have their own website - you'd think that would be a handy way for them to spread their bull**** propaganda.
They do have an office somewhere though (possibly more than one) You could try find their office and ask to speak to someone, although I actually don't know where they're based.

Poll results are reassuring though - 48 supporters, 0 opposers and 1 turtle fancier so far.

GunScope

No

While tempted to support the turtle, I must throw my considerable weight behind stem cell research, physically speaking

humanji

No

square_igloo wrote: »

I'd love to meet the Leader of Youth Defence and repeatedly clobber him over the head with an object large enough such that it's size and hardness are directly proportional to his groups ignorance and stupidity.

But failing that, a debate would be sufficient.

Ooh, you should damage their spinal cord so that they'll need stem cell research to help them walk again!

ScumLord

luckat wrote: »

The poster's information is incorrect, I think - look at this story, for a start:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3171993.stm

Yes but what they don't tell you about is the 36 people that turned into giant wasp people.

dfx-

No

A proper poll would be: Is there going to be a nay vote at all?:)

Stephen

No

Stem cell research ftw. Religious whackjobs that try to prevent it are costing lives. ****ers.

Fad

No

square_igloo wrote: »

Kinda surprised that they don't seem to have their own website - you'd think that would be a handy way for them to spread their bull**** propaganda.
They do have an office somewhere though (possibly more than one) You could try find their office and ask to speak to someone, although I actually don't know where they're based.

Poll results are reassuring though - 48 supporters, 0 opposers and 1 turtle fancier so far.

They do: (I think this is them anyway)

Also

their own site wrote:

Q4. What is stem cell research?
Stem Cells are the most primitive of human cells. Human Stem Cells are present in embryos, in foetuses and in bone marrow. They have two extremely valuable properties: they can divide endlessly to produce more stem cells and they can transform themselves into any of the cells present in the human body (skin cells, liver cells, and heart cells).

Therefore, methods are used whereby the stem cells are formed into replacement tissue and even entire organs. Researchers believe that stem cells will eventually be used to repair injured or poorly functioning brains and nervous systems. Scientists have been able to implant heart muscle cells grown from stem cells (taken from an aborted foetus) into the hearts of mice and observe them.

We must remember an embryo is a full human being with the same right to life as anyone on this earth. Thus, any procedure that injures or kills an embryo for research is a murder and an assault of a human being.

No application eh?