Stem-cell research.. What is it really about?

[Merla]

Does anyone have a good link for the basics of Stem cell research and Human Cloning?

 

This is how I understand this; We need more funds to improve the technology and learn more about how to prevent Parkinson, heart diseases etc (or how to help people with those diseases). But as we learn this we will also learn how to clone people and that may be a danger to the world as we have a tendency to misuse things. People could start cloning soldiers etc.. I'm not sure if I'm totally off, partial right or whatever. Could someone help me giving me some brief information about this subject or any good link for basic information on the subject?

[UncleAl]

A stem cell is totipotent - can diffentiate into any tissue. A stem cell can also be remarakably compatible with any immune system. A huge number of diseases result from either tissue failure (diabetes and the islets of Langerhans in a pancreas) or intrinsic genetic defects. In principle, stem cell therapy is a universal patch to mend either hole, plus injuries. Understanding the biology of stem cells adn theri differentiation would remove an extraordinary volume of human suffering - like discovering vaccination or discovering penicillin. Remember that both vaccination and antiboitotics kill people when administered. It is a statistically acceptable risk vs. gain.

 

The only source of human stem cells is humans. The most reasonable large-scale source is aborted fetuses. No big deal. Everything else is religious crapola. There is nothing man was not meant to accomplish. The future is supposed to be dangerous.

[bumab]

Someone came up with another option on this forum a while back: At the first checkup for expecting mothers, have them sign stem cell donor cards in case of stillbirth. There would be plenty of cells to go around, no arguments over if it's killing or not, and could be implimented right away with no new technology. I wish I could take credit for that, but it was somebody else :o

 

Great solution though. those who's morals stem cells bother are still happy, the research community is still happy, and those that want the science to help their lives (Parkinsons etc) are still happy.