Posted by alexandra_k on May 29, 2005, at 5:55:58
In reply to Re: Whats wrong with stem cell research, posted by Nickengland on May 29, 2005, at 4:51:23
> These arguements are about the issues of so called "designer babies"...being able to choose your childs eye colour, hair colour, their intelligence levels etc..
Is that to do with stem cell research or is that something else? I thought that was more to do with genetic engeneering or the consequences of being able to chose which (I can't think of the term - embryo???) gets to be the lucky person on the basis of genes for those things???
>This is where the research drifts from the point of helping people to have healthy babies which are free of serious illness, to then taking the reseach to the level of a "fashion" baby.
Yeah. I think I agree with you in that case.
But I'm not sure that has a lot to do with stem cell research - or maybe I am missing something...
Stem cells have the ability to become any kind of cell (including brain cells and motor neurons). So inject some of them in someones severed spinal column and hey presto they can move...They are doing it in china...
But...
We don't know much about whether the cells will start to grow out of control over time (to become cancer basically...)So...
More research needs to be done...
But it is a shame it has got all caught up in the abortion debate.
Because it really could be the cure for a lot of people out there if we can control the cells growth...
poster:alexandra_k
thread:504387
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20050509/msgs/504589.html