Lounge of Tomorrow - Stem Cells revisited

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Stem Cells revisited

What the hell am I missing here.

First, news from Korea...

Quote:

Researchers in South Korea have created the first human embryonic stem-cell lines using DNA from injured or sick donors who could theoretically benefit from such cells.

-snip-

"This report brings science a giant step forward toward the day when some of humankind's most devastating diseases and injuries can be effectively treated through the use of embryonic stem cells," said the research team's leader, Woo Suk Hwang of Seoul National University.

-snip-

During a teleconference with reporters, Hwang argued that the two-dimensional blastocysts created in his lab shouldn't even be called embryos: "As you know, an embryo can be said as spermatozoa and oocyte [sperm and egg] fertilization, but there is no path to fertilization in our process ... I can say this result is not an embryo, just a nuclear transfer construct."

David Magnus, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, agreed: "Whatever these things are, they're not people."

And of course, Bush has to weigh in on the topic to stroke the extreme right.

Quote:

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Friday said he would veto legislation that would loose restrictions on embryonic stem cell research and expressed concern about human cloning research in South Korea.

“I’m very concerned about cloning,” the president said. “I worry about a world in which cloning becomes accepted.”

-snip-

I made very clear to Congress that the use of federal money, taxpayer’s money, to promote science which destroys life in order to save life — I’m against that,” Bush said. “Therefore, if the bill does that, I would veto it.”

I'm not seeing where life is being destroyed here. There is no fertilization. Does Bush even understand this topic?

I'm glad that other countries are doing the research that our leader is so afraid of. Seems to me that, according to Bush, life is only important up until a baby is born. After that, Bush has little interest in improving the quality of life for people that suffer from the debilitating diseases that this research aims to find a cure for. This country should be in the lead with this research but not as long as our leader and his followers fear science.

Woo Suk Hwang? Not me.

It would be nice to have a leader who actually LEADS us toward better medical discoveries, not one that runs from it because of unrealistic fears. :rolleyes:

Bush made it clear to Congress that he will not use taxpayer money to destroy life in order to save life. He then stressed that using taxpayer money to invade and kill anyone he sees fit would still be okey-dokey.

God bless the USA!

Click here

Quote:

"This bill would take us across a critical ethical line by creating new incentives for the ongoing destruction of emerging human life," the president said. "Crossing this line would be a great mistake."

Hmmm...crossed ethical lines resulting in death. Why does that sound so familiar?

How about this nugget from DeLay:

Quote:

"An embryo is a person," the Texas Republican said.

Idiot.

Quote:

"This bill tramples on the moral convictions of an awful lot of people who don't want their tax dollars to be spent for killing innocent human life," DeLay said.

What about my moral convictions and my desire to not have my tax dollars spent on killing actual human beings, Mr. Hypocrite?

More DeLay:

Quote:

"In the life of men and nations some mistakes you can't undo," DeLay said as he closed the House debate. "If we afford the little embryo any shred of respect and dignity we cannot in good faith use taxpayer dollars to destroy them."

The fight for embryo dignity continues. :rolleyes:

Don't you know that every sperm is sacred?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SacTown Chronic

Woo Suk Hwang? Not me.

I just got that. :D lol!

Ralphie, who works in a lab that works on stem cells, thinks the Bush veto will backfire on the Republicans. But, I'm not so sure. The media will not cover it honestly to make Bush or the GOP look bad. I hope the bloggers have a field day on this one.

All this bill wants to do is use the embryos that are going to be otherwise destroyed anyway. There is no "creating life to destroy it" going on. There are however a large number of these embryos available that would take the research leaps and bounds above the limits that are currently imposed. The bill places strict restrictions on what can and can't be used but would open a lot of doors that are currently closed.

Bush is just being stubborn and once again trying to score political points while we are forced to put science on the backburner. Meanwhile, there are people suffering from a bunch of terrible diseases that, even if a cure can't be found in time to help them, might help a younger family member who is genetically likely to suffer as well.

Compassionate conservatism indeed.

I suppose the same people who want to protect those embryos from stem cell research also think that each and every one of those embryos should be brought into this world.

OH THE HUMANITY of saving lives through science!!!!!! Won't SOMEONE think of the embryos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So what can override a presidential veto?

Edit:
I just found out.

I'm actually agreeing with a Republican Senator in this article.

Quote:

"I think history will be extraordinarily unkind to a veto that will be based on ideology and not on sound ethics or sound science," Shays said. "This shows that their ideology has gotten them out of the mainstream of the American people."

:snap: