Stem Cell research Act passed

[tangaloomababe]

Victoria (Australia) has now passed an act whereby excess IVF embryo's can be used for stem cell research.
I think we all recall how Christopher Reeve campaigned for just this type of research. On a personal opinion I see this as a good thing but I don't know that my views will be shared. What doi others think?

Bracks to spruik stem cells to Arnie

[Rane Longfox]

When did people start posting actual topics in the annoucements forum? Like it says on the description - "announcements, updates, and info on the chronicles network only."

Anyway, on topic, I see more stem-cell research as purely a good thing - it's a science with so many posibilities and potential benefits, we would be remiss to neglect any oportunity to further our knowledge of the subject.

[tangaloomababe]

My apologies to you Rane, I didnt really know where to post this one, maybe when I have been here a bit longer I will navigate around the site better.

[manephelien]

This should be moved to the science forum... But other than being posted in the wrong place, the topic's good.

[mosaix]

I'm for it.

[j. d. worthington]

The thing about stem cell research is this bs of "taking a life to save a life" and "creating a life in order to acquire the materials", which is bunk. We're not talking about any such thing. The embryos used for this research would be either kept perpetually frozen (which eventually becomes nonviable anyway) or thawed and disposed of. Either way, we're not talking about embryos that would have a chance to grow into full life... more along the lines of the fertilized ova and early-stage embryos that nearly every woman's body eliminates many times throughout her life as a natural process. Precautions can easily be taken to prevent the things they worry so about -- though there's no need for such, as the amount of genetic material already available in numerous fertility clinics is far and away enough, if it were allowed to be used. Even there, consent forms could be required (with the stipulation that, should the parties whose consent would have been required become deceased, such is no longer required). And the numbers aren't going to drop anytime soon, as people will still use such services. The majority of embryos in them simply end up being disposed of -- let them instead be used to benefit humanity rather than simply wasted material....

[dustinzgirl]

I completely agree with JD.

Stem cells are just that---stem cellls. They can grow limbs, hearts, and other organs. I am all for that because it is necessary. Think of the diseases that can be cured, the children that can be saved, the family that won't loose thier mom for lack of a heart transplant.

We are not growing people. There is not going to be a Clone War. These cells do not have process of thought, spirit, of individuality. They are not people, for pity's sakes.

I do believe that this kind of science, like any science, must be ethically regulated. But anyone who thinks they are growing an army of peoples is well, dumb.

[Curt Chiarelli]

This is a step in the right direction. What distresses me is how long it's taken and how hard the fight's been to get to this point on a critical topic that's a "no brainer". Of course, we can all expect America to be radically behind other nations in stem cell research for the forseeable future.