Project admins
Cody P
Admin
05/19/2009 05:40pm
AdminEmbryonic Stem Cells
Human embryo growing inside a body
As their name suggests, embryonic stem cells come from living, human embryos. They are harvested from two sources.
• Embryos—Embryonic stem cells are obtained by harvesting living embryos which are generally 5-7 days old. The removal of embryonic stem cells invariably results in the destruction of the embryo.
• Fetuses—Another kind of stem cell called an embryonic germ cell can be obtained from either miscarriages or aborted fetuses.
What are your thoughts on the two types of embryonic stem cells?
While thinking about this... What if you were in need to receive embryonic stem cells? What if it was the key to your diagnosis’s...
Using Adult Stem Cells
In an apparent major breakthrough, scientists in Korea report using umbilical cord blood stem cells to restore feeling and mobility to a spinal-cord injury patient.
The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Cythotherapy, centered on a woman had been a paraplegic 19 years due to an accident.
After an infusion of umbilical cord blood stem cells, stunning results were recorded:
"The patient could move her hips and feel her hip skin on day 15 after transplantation. On day 25 after transplantation her feet responded to stimulation."
Umbilical cord cells are considered "adult stem cells," in contrast to embryonic stem cells, which have raised ethical concerns because a human embryo must be destroyed in order to harvest them.
The report said motor activity was noticed on day 7, and she was able to maintain an upright position on day 13. Fifteen days after surgery, she began to elevate both lower legs about one centimeter.
The study's abstract says not only did the patient regain feeling, but 41 days after stem cell transplantation, testing "also showed regeneration of the spinal cord at the injured cite" and below it.
The scientists conclude the transplantation "could be a good treatment method" for paraplegic patients.
Bioethics specialist Wesley J. Smith, writing in Lifesite.com, expressed enthusiasm about the apparent breakthrough, but also urged caution.
"We have to be cautious," said Smith, a senior fellow at the Seattle-based Discovery Institute and a special consultant to the Center for Bioethics and Culture. "One patient does not a treatment make."
The authors of the study note, writes Smith, that the lamenectomy the patient received might have offered some benefit.
"But still, this is a wonderful story that offers tremendous hope for paralyzed patients," he said.
The fact that the patient has a very old injury, Smith added, makes the results even more dramatic.
Smith said he has known about the study for some time, "but because I didn't want to be guilty of the same hyping that is so often engaged in by some therapeutic cloning proponents, I waited until it was published in a peer reviewed journal."
Like most breakthroughs using adult stem cells, this one has been completely ignored by the U.S. mainstream media, Smith pointed out.
"Can you imagine the headlines if the cells used had been embryonic?" he asked.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46546
I placed this article on my discussion board, because i do think its a great deal of information for hope. But also thought the very last comment he asked was interesting as well.
but i have one question for you, if you one day were in this situation. What would you want!?
Re: Using Adult Stem Cells
I feel like the issue concerning stem cell research is entirely over dramatized. When an embryo fails to develop into a fetus and, therefore, cannot possibly be tied to the creation of offspring, there is no reason why the cells should not be used for enhancing the life of someone who is already living. If they aren't being used for this purpose, then what are they doing? Nothing - just wasting away as if they never existed. It is evident that those in dispute of stem cell research do not realize the great things that can be accomplished by way of this amazing, life-revitalizing process (such as in the above posted article). If someone I cared about suddenly got hurt and ended up being paralyzed, I would hope that our supposed liberal and free-thinking society could look past its "pro-life-esque" moral convictions and support the use of stem cell research in order to fix the problem.
Re: Using Adult Stem Cells
Allegra I would just like to thank you for the support in this situation. Many individuals push this issue off to the side only because they think it can’t happen to them. Well to be completely honest it can happen to anybody in a matter of seconds. Thanks once again.
• I do agree with your points in your response. Now if everybody in our society looked at it the same way. Where would we be with Stem Cell Research? A few of my articles in my files and main magazine portion show that there is hope in Stem Cell Research and also noticed that Stem Cell Research is occurring around the world.
Re: Using Adult Stem Cells
In my opinion, many people seem to be against stem cell research and I am sure most have logical answers for why they are against such a risky advancement. But, I also believe that many do not fully understand the risks and creation process involved. People "belive" that they have a good idea on how the process works, but I do not think that they know all the details. I do not claim to know the whole process entirely, but I do know that doing a liittle research went a long way. I now understand that they are using the undeveloped embryos that will not be used again and giving them a purpose.
Re: Using Adult Stem Cells
Im going to have to agree with Allegra I know if something happened to me i would definately be all for the stem cells because that would give me a second chance and giving a second chance is a great feeling all around and those are the people that make this world go around.
My Response to "Using Adult Stem Cells"
Yes everything that you stated in your response, Destiny is true. And that is also my perspective on it too. Why just waste undeveloped embryos? When we can make use for the undeveloped embryo. Sometimes like, State Senator Mark Wagoner; for example, respond with an immediate "no!"
Many people don’t have a background on what really occurs. I will say embryonic stem cells aren’t the only type of stem cells in use, but I will say embryonic is the most needed and useful pertaining to spinal cord injuries.
Really without something like this, when will our country ever advance in technology? There is other area’s in the world already performing similar operations, which a few articles can be found in my files section backing up my statement.
I’m not saying we need to perform embryonic stem cell research to advance our technology, but overall it’s bettering not only our technology but a person’s life as well in one stone.
Check out the link I listed below for additional news in 2009. Also a video is located on this site as well.
http://www.myquadriplegia.com/
