Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Stem Cell Research: Yay or Nay?

I heard a couple of NPR broadcasts about a Stem Cell Bill that President Bush plans to veto (the first of his Presidency) and wondered what some of you thought about stem cell research.

Are you for or against it?

If you'd like to know a little about it, here's an information source. An excerpt follows:
What are stem cells?
Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.

What are embryonic stem cells?
Embryonic stem cells, as their name suggests, are derived from embryos. Specifically, embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized in vitro—in an in vitro fertilization clinic—and then donated for research purposes with informed consent of the donors. They are not derived from eggs fertilized in a woman's body.
Do you think that researching the potential of using stem cells, specifically embryonic stem cells, to cure or fight diseases like Parkinson's, which afflicts Michael J. Fox, are worthwhile...

...or do you think they are a morally objectionable way of saving the lives of the born at the cost of the unborn?


What do YOU think?

No comments: