Slog - Comments on New stem cell technique doesn't kill embryos http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni Scientists have found a way to create stem cell cultures without killing embryos. After a fertilized egg divides into eight cells, doctors can extract one of the cells and use it to grow stem cells, instead of using the entire embryo. "There is no rational reason left to oppose this research,” said Dr. Robert Lanza, as if there was before. There are, of course, still those who deride the research: But critics of human embryonic stem cell research raised other objections, such as the possible risk to the embryo and the in vitro fertilization procedure itself in which embryos are... Copyright 2007 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 13:29:43 -0800 Thu, 24 Aug 2006 07:37:47 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Levislade Yes, then we can just go back to disposing of the embryos as biological waste, as God intended. Amen.

]]> Levislade http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450005 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450005 News Wed, 23 Aug 2006 13:27:16 -0800 Comment by flamingbanjo Wishful thinking. This debate has never been about science.

]]> flamingbanjo http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450031 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450031 News Wed, 23 Aug 2006 14:07:06 -0800 Comment by Golob "...we can just go back to disposing of the embryos as biological waste, as God intended. Amen."

Heh. With about 1/7 US couples needing reproductive assistance, and this rate increasing, the snowflake couples better get busy building cribs...

]]> Golob http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450039 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450039 News Wed, 23 Aug 2006 14:14:18 -0800 Comment by DOIN' IT FOR THE CHILDREN Actually, this could even work in our favor, if it can be proven over time that embryonic development is not significantly harmed by the removal of the single stem cell.

Imagine the scenario four or five years from now:

Scientists: "Okay, we know removing these single cells does no harm to the embryo - now, who wants a baby?"

Christians: "Um..."

Scientists: "What? After all that wailing and moaning, now you DON'T want the babies?"

Christians: "Er..."

Scientists: "Oh for crying out loud! So, what - we should just toss them in the garbage?"

Christians: "NO! DON'T DO THAT!"

Scientists: "Well, in that case, we could use them to make more stem cells - "

Christians: "Sacrelige!"

Scientists: "You've got to be - okay, fine. We'll just put them back in the freezer until you-all can make up your frickin' minds. But remember, we only did this because you SAID you wanted the babies."

Christians: "Oh..."

Scientists: "So, do you or don't you?"

Christians: "Em..."

]]> DOIN' IT FOR THE CHILDREN http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450067 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450067 News Wed, 23 Aug 2006 14:52:45 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle I agree, wishful thinking. They hate science, just like they hate America and our values of Truth, Justice, and the American Middle Class way of life.

Nothing you do will change that.

Except drafting them.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450100 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450100 News Wed, 23 Aug 2006 15:33:12 -0800 Comment by kinaidos Ad falso sequitur quodlibet, so it's rather hard to imagine response of those claim that an eight celled organism is the moral equivalent of a human being. My guess is that the idea of using a zygote as material for harvesting cells still won't sit right. If an eight cell zygote has rights, then it probably has the right not to be harvested for stem cells period - without it's consent - whatever that might mean.
At least science helps a little. If christians still adhered to the homuncular theory of sperm, we'd have federal masturbation police. I guess we should be greatful that at least sometimes science prevails.

]]> kinaidos http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450128 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450128 News Wed, 23 Aug 2006 16:32:40 -0800 Comment by COMTE Actually, K, that seems to be part of the problem - they DO sort of still cling to the homuncular theory. It's just been slightly modified, so that, rather than believing that the male sperm contains a teeny-weenie miniature human being inside (which seems to have been intended to completely discount any contribution the female egg might have made to the process of procreation), now they've simply decided that "ensoulment" takes place the moment sperm and egg fuse into a zygote.

]]> COMTE http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450152 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450152 News Wed, 23 Aug 2006 17:00:04 -0800 Comment by Dianna Religious fundamentalists (like the one running the country) don't actually listent to fact so I really don't think this will make a difference.

]]> Dianna http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450160 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450160 News Wed, 23 Aug 2006 17:12:48 -0800 Comment by Golob heh. Faith-based federal masturbation police sounds like a bush program.

I can just hear it now, in his most condescending tone yelling at a reporter:

"well, of course each sperm is filled with a tiny baby! that's why we need the federal masturbation police to protect innocent life."

]]> Golob http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450187 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450187 News Wed, 23 Aug 2006 17:34:46 -0800 Comment by konstantconsumer they hate us for our wet dreams.

]]> konstantconsumer http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450427 http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/08/new_stem_cell_techni#c450427 News Thu, 24 Aug 2006 07:37:47 -0800