Ethical Alternatives to Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Biologists have made a major breakthrough in stem cell research. Apparently, they can "reprogram" normal, adult skin cells, fusing them with an "existing, laboratory-grown embryonic stem cell." While the new cells are not, technically speaking, stem cells, they do behave in most respects just as any other undifferentiated stem cell. In theory, this should eliminate the need to destroy existing embryos and avoiding certain ethical questions.
At this stage though, viable embryos are still required for further research. "Although the embryonic stem cells that we made contain the patient's genes, they also contain the embryonic stem cell genes that we started with," research team member Kevin Eggan said. "And for the time being that's going to interfere with the usefulness of this."
It's also going to interfere with the much anticipated ethical clean slate. National Geographic wonders: No More Need to Destroy Embryos? "Maybe" in the "future."
posted by Lee Ballard @ 8/26/2005
1 comments
1 Comments:
Hey Lee, great blog. I really appreciate some of the issues you raise, particularly regarding people leaving the church during times of 'evil' and being informed, but not transformed. Both are very important issues that demand careful thought.
On a side note, I noticed, after I had read a few of your posts, that you linked to my blog on your sidebar (Conscientious Contemplation). While this was recently posted there, I thought I would alert you to the fact that my twin brother and I have merged our blogs. If you would like to continue to link to us, the address is:
www.rebelution.blogspot.com.
God bless!
- Alex
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