Sciences >
Medical Science (Other)
RSS FeedWill political setbacks for stem cell advocates destroy medical research efforts?
Title endorsed in part by:
Results so far:
| Yes | 34% | 95 votes | Total: 280 votes | |
| No | 66% | 185 votes |
Yes
Write now
Print
Invite a writer™
Add to FavoritesThroughout history science has always be at the mercy of the ignorant fearful that their carefully nurtured world will be beyond their control. These ignorant people who unfortunately held positions of great power over centuries have been responsible for holding back and retarding the advancement of science in immeasurable number of instances. Only the bravest of the bravest scientist dared to challenge the beliefs held at various times during the past centuries and has had to endure condemnation from the ignorant.
The ignorant will always be fearful of the unknown.Fear unsettles them and challenges them to find ways to either accept new concepts or destroy them . Unfortunately the first instinct of the ignorant is to destroy anything they don't understand. That has been the way of the ignorant for centuries. Nothing has changed.
The ignorant don't want their boat rocked. It has taken them so long to learn the ropes that they can't adjust to change readily . New concepts lash at their very core of established ways like some vicious storm at sea threatening to capsize and drown their boat .Rather than abandon their ideas they will cling to them and fight all opposition just like a ship at sea fighting off the rages of a storm. So terrifying was the experience of a storm at sea to them they will take steps that it will never happen to them again. So it is with sea of ideas from scientists that threaten to rock their boat.
Politics is very much about people. Politicians are acutely aware that that they are at the mercy of the common people and play them like a well tuned fiddle. Scientists have always had to dance to the tune of the popular melodies at all times in the course of history. When scientists themselves come up with a tune of their own that grates on the ears of the ignorant and politicians ,be they one of the same or separate, it won't be listened to and demand will be made to ban it.
The ignorant will always fear the truth for it makes them fear that things are beyond their control. Scientists don't need to be at sea dancing a hornpipe to amuse onlookers. They need to be able to carry out research for the betterment of mankind free of interference.
Scientists are people as well and not some weirdos planning to take over the world . The great danger is they will lose heart in their medical research efforts from politicians catering to the opponents of stem cell research. If that happens once again the scientists will have lost out to the ignorant.
Learn more about this author, Barry Williams.
Click here to send Author comments or questions.
No
Political setbacks for stem cell advocates will not destroy or harm medical research efforts because successful efforts have not relied on embryonic stem cells in the first place. For those who wish to pursue embryonic stem cell research, there are other sources of embryonic stem cells.
A fact that is not commonly heard in the debate on embryonic stem cells is that medical advances based on stem cell research have not been based on embryonic stem cells. These advances have been made exclusively by research using adult stem cells. Use of adult stem cells has proved beneficial in over seventy different diseases (http://www.stemcell research.org/facts/t reatments.htm) while embryonic stem cell research has led to no treatments thus far. On the contrary, embryonic stem cells have been known to cause tumors in adults and be rejected by the body (http://www.stemcell research.org/facts/t reatments.htm).
Additionally, embryos are not the only source of embryonic stem cells. These cells can also be found in umbilical cords, placentas, amniotic fluid, and cadavers. Many of these sources of stem cells cause no disruption of a pregnancy and no loss of human life. These nonlethal sources of stem cells should be sufficient for research.
Finally, over the past few months, scientists have made advances in creating artificial stem cells. Scientists have already succeeded in turning bone marrow cells into stem cells (http://www.newscien tist.com/article/dn1 1601-bone-stem-cells -turned-into-primiti ve-sperm-cells.html) . Just a few days ago, scientists announced that they are now able to convert adult skin cells into cells that behave like embryonic stem cells (http://www.cnsnews. com/ViewCulture.asp? Page=/Culture/archiv e/200711/CUL20071120 d.html).
The political setbacks for stem cell advocates only focus on government funding for stem cell research. Private research using embryonic stem cells is legal. We should ask ourselves, if embryonic stem cells hold so much promise for miracle cures, then why can the research not be done by private companies? These companies should be willing to invest in research and development of stem cell therapies that would earn massive profits. If private companies don't see that embryonic stem cells hold the promise of cures and profits, then why should the government pursue this research with taxpayer dollars?
There is no longer any reason to destroy living human embryos for research. Adult stem cells provide the greatest success for medical treatments, but for those who wish to continue research using embryonic stem cells, there are several artificial alternatives. If their research is promising, private funding can easily be found on the capital market due to the huge profits to be earned from successful therapies.
Learn more about this author, David Thornton.
Click here to send Author comments or questions.
Difference of opinion? Debate now.
- Medical Science (Other)
- Is euthanasia ethical or unethical?
