Stem Cell Research and Cloning...

[babylonsister]

This is an older article, but I don't think the info here meshs with the r/w ad claiming stem cell research encourages cloning.


http://www.mydr.com.au/default_new.asp?article=3599


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Embryonic stem cells
These pluripotent cells from the inner cluster are the focus of much of the argument over stem cell research. The potential for their use in medical science is great, however, to extract these so-called embryonic stem cells the embryo has to be destroyed, hence the moral dilemma.

How embryonic stem cells might advance medical science
The pluripotent cells are capable of using their genetic code to propagate many types of human cells. Cell lines of heart, nerve or other cells could be created to replace damaged ones, for example in heart attack patients or people with Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.

Embryonic stem cells could also be used in research to further our understanding of the human development process or to test new drugs, before they were tested in humans or animals.

Therapeutic cloning
Therapeutic cloning is the creation of an embryo by cloning techniques, for the purpose of extracting stem cells from the embryo. Because it is cloned, the embryo is an identical genetic match to a person, which means that stem cells from the embryo could then be used in transplant procedures or for treatments of that person, without fear of tissue rejection which is a common problem of transplant procedures. To extract the stem cells, though, the embryo must be destroyed.

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[BootinUp]

1. It is in fact the same basic method

that was used to clone Dolly the Sheep.

[babylonsister]

2. But advocates of stem cell research aren't suggesting

a life be created in order to kill it, are they? We're talking about embryonic stem cells of either miscarriages, aborted early-stage fetuses, frozen eggs, and I imagine there are other ways to get them. I'm just trying to figure out how the r/w can get away with claiming we want to clone people to carry on the research.

[BootinUp]

3. Scan through this article

its a good source of info on the science and politics.

There are different methods of course to get stem cells. One of them is this therapuetic cloning procedure, which is currently not outlawed by federal law.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9982-instant-expert-stem-cells.html