Human embryonic stem cell growing on a layer of supporting cells (fibroblasts). Micrograph by Annie Cavanagh and Dave McCarthy. Source.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama will soon issue an executive order officially lifting an eight-year ban against embryonic stem cell research imposed by his predecessor, President George W. Bush, a senior adviser said on Sunday. President Obama had promised to reverse the ban, should he become president, during his 2008 election campaign. Making good on that promise could eventually yield research that will produce cures to illness such as diabetes, heart disease, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease and others.
Bush’s 2001 decision to ban embryonic stem cell science was seen as a largely political move to placate religious zealots that tout faith based decisions over scientific solutions to health and human needs. Moderates from both sides of the aisle are applauding the reversal. Here is a recent opinion piece making the case FOR Conservative, Pro-Life Case for Embryonic Stem Cell Research.
The lifting of the ban will allow the US to remain scientifically competitive in a quickly changing world of mapped genomes, human clones by the Chinese, stem cell injections for spinal cord patients, organ creation for replacement parts and immune system break-throughs. Please proceed with Ban Lift-Off, Mr. President!
These stem cells come from aborted babies. So this is really high-tech cannibalism.
One patient’s trash is another patient’s treasure.
If the mom of those Octuplets had chosen to thin out some of the over-implanted embryos, that fetal tissue could have been harvested to help cure disease.
But with all human life so rare and precious, that wasn’t an option at all for her, was it now?
@2 Those aren’t embryos, they’re babies.
Of course, she shouldn’t have had any kids that way. If she couldn’t have kids naturally, that’s just to bad.
Life no longer is sacred in America. It’s beginning to look a lot like Weimar. Guess what’s next?
Why is it discussions on the Internet always end up referring to hitler and the nazis. Weimar by the way refers to the Weimar republic whose collapse led to hitler coming to power.
Godwin’s Rule! Thanks for catching this, three and a half years later.
John,
Soilent Green is people!
@4
“Soylent Green” is one of my favorite depressing 1970s movies, starring the late, great Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson, another favorite. And let’s not forget the beauteous Leigh Taylor-Young.
Made in 1973 after 5 years of Nixon, it foretold America in 2009 after 8 years of Bush.
And don’t forget “The Omega Man” and “Planet of the Apes.”
What was it about C. Heston and future nightmare scenario movies? Hmm. Maybe that’s why he wanted to hang on to his guns so much.
wow that is creepy!!! but good luck with that!!! have a wonderful day!!! love shana,megan, and Bo.
Who ever john is your very stupid…… who cares anyway a embryo is and embryo not a baby, and stem cells for research and other purposes are never retrieved from ANY embryos fertilized in the female body, they are created from extra embryos from invirto fertilization that are donated because they would over wise be discarded, would you rather have the embryo go to waste or be used to cure disease? And once the line of stem cells is created it is practically immortal and can be used for years in hundreds of different labs. And only religious nutcases believe in the whole embryo being a human thing, God isnt real, Its proven.
wow bro u shouldnt coment bout religion it could totally offend ppl. anyways tht was a jerky comment and no one cares what u think so just shut up. and btw its not proven. just saying..
TOK question: Are we really here?
Answer plz! lol just want to see what ppl say
“God isnt real, Its proven”…….. Hmmmmm
It depend on what is reality and what proof you are referring too!
Based on quantum physic nothing is real!
yea just like it should be offensive for ppl to say god is real what right do they have to claim something they can not prove eh.