So much for stem cell research aye???

[Kolya]

Over twenty years ago, in vitro fertilization technique was perfected, and the first test-tube baby was born.

"As one would expect, ethical controversy over Steptoe and Edwards in vitro fertilization procedure ensued. The two were criticized by religious groups for playing God. Even James Watson, one of the men who helped solve the mysteries of DNA in 1953, voiced his concern about the implications of in vitro fertilization experiments. But Steptoe spoke out against his critics, saying that to halt his research would be like banning airplanes because they facilitate bombing.

As the first artificially assisted reproductive procedure, in vitro fertilization received a lot of publicity, both good and bad. But when the dust settled, many women who had been unable to conceive for years responded by turning the innovative procedure into a standard option for treating infertility. Since then, less-invasive procedures have been developed, including hormone therapies, frozen embryos and surrogate births. But with an estimated 300,000 procedures taking place since 1978, in vitro fertilization remains the most commonly used artificially assisted reproductive technique."
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH...l?d=dmtContent

Perhaps cloning will also go through the same cycle of criticism and acceptance.

[Lilly]

I was just watching a PBS program about a child called Alec in the USA who suffers from leukemia. He was being treated with a stem cell trasplant. After spending a short time in hospital, the child was sent home.

[rikbe]

The ultimate cure for all diseases, inclusive ageing?
http://www.nature.com/nature/stemcells/
http://www.stemcellresearchnews.com/
http://www.abc.net.au/public/indexes...s/stemcell.htm

If stem cells can replace any organ and cell, inclusive damaged brains cells, it means eternal life will becomes possible. But will eternal life not become immensely boring?

[Lilly]

I don't know about that, but it is extending the life of a child. He was treated with stem cell transplant trasnfusions and he will be monitored for several more months. A teenaged girl who was already into full chemo-therapy also had the same transplang, but died shortly after due to a lung infection as her immune system was destroyed by the chemo.

There is much more testing and research to do on this. I don't believe it will do what you think it will do Rikbe. It is not the Fountain of Youth.

[rikbe]

Originally posted by Lilly
I don't know about that, but it is extending the life of a child. He was treated with stem cell transplant trasnfusions and he will be monitored for several more months. A teenaged girl who was already into full chemo-therapy also had the same transplang, but died shortly after due to a lung infection as her immune system was destroyed by the chemo.

There is much more testing and research to do on this. I don't believe it will do what you think it will do Rikbe. It is not the Fountain of Youth.

It is not the fountain of youth that regenerates a body, more a refurbishment, replacement of old parts by new.

There is a lot of research going on around the world.
http://www.stemcellresearch.org/news.htm
I think it is not impossible, after all, we are surrounded by scientific realizations that were unthinkable only 50 - 100 years ago. Science seems to progress according an exponential curve.

My wife is a biologist but another speciality, so I don't think I can count on her to replace my failing cardiovascular system and shrinking brain. However, she regenerated one other near dysfunctional organ.

[Mountain_Mover]

I have posted this article because there was talk that stem cell research was as far as cloning should go. Stem cell cloning. I am not opposed to stem cell research as long as the medical scientist do it without reproducing a human being. But now we're back to the cloning of human beings for recreational reasons. $$$$$$$$$. It just goes to show that "we the people" are no longer in charge.

and if I gave offense to you about the "vegetebarian" remarks on the "common sense" thread, I assure you none was intended. I simply wanted to make my pro-human bias abundantly clear.PEACEALWAYS,T.