Embryonic stem cells, without the embryo

[Rsak]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/ ... TE=DEFAULT

They claim to be able to reprogram cells into stem cells via targeted viruses which turn on or off specific genes.

[Ddrak]

It's definitely a good advancement, and preferable to using embryos.

Dd

[Partha]

It's a good start, although using viruses gives me the heebie jeebies.

[Klast Brell]

We need to explore this method while continuing to explore other methods as well. Abandoning embryonic stem cells at this time would be premature. This method has distinct advantages, but it also has distinct disadvantages. The use of a virus for one, also one of the 4 genes introduced is a cancer gene. Would hate to have a doctor inject you full of cancer to try and cure your nerve damage.

[Embar Angylwrath]

We need to explore this method while continuing to explore other methods as well. Abandoning embryonic stem cells at this time would be premature. This method has distinct advantages, but it also has distinct disadvantages. The use of a virus for one, also one of the 4 genes introduced is a cancer gene. Would hate to have a doctor inject you full of cancer to try and cure your nerve damage.

Carcinogenesis doesn't work that way. You can visualize the process as a set of genetic switches. In order to start a cancer, some switches must be turned on, while others have to be turned off. Its not as simple as injecting a gene which may cause cancer.

[Arathena]

It's a good start, although using viruses gives me the heebie jeebies.

Fortunately, nature has provided us with very few other ways of causing new genetic expression within a cell. You have to invade each individual cell with fresh genetic material whilst neutralizing the cell's defences against that very thing. Hard.

[Rsak]

I do not feel that embryonic stem cells should be abandoned, but this is a method to have federal money fund research on stem cells and avoid the public debate and the president's reservations. Not to mention this process is reported to be less complex and cheaper to implement.

[jookkor]

I do not feel that embryonic stem cells should be abandoned, but this is a method to have federal money fund research on stem cells and avoid the public debate and the president's reservations. Not to mention this process is reported to be less complex and cheaper to implement.

The Horror of progress...?

[Garrdor]

Playing with stem cells is playing with SATAN.

PRAISE JESUS

[Harlowe]

Playing with stem cells is playing with SATAN.

PRAISE JESUS

Speaking of PRAISE JESUS....I was in TN for Thanksgiving with the future in-laws (charming, southern intellectuals are the most entertaining people on the planet so zero complaints there, I had a blast) BUT we went to a mall to pick up something and I ran across a big ol' kiosk of t-shirts, bumper stickers and assorted shit...here are some the gems:

*Bumper stickers

* If I’d have known this, I WOULD HAVE PICKED MY OWN COTTON (complete with confederate flag)

* Keep honkin, I’m reloadin

Next to Jesus t-shirts

* If you want to know what real love is, read between the lines – this is over a picture of Jesus’ slashed up, bleeding back

* I asked the lord how much he loved me and he opened his arms, said this big, and died – this has flowers and butterflies around the lovely script writing

Next to men's white briefs

All of these fascinating items are next to men’s briefs that say things like

* I farting

and a Scarface memorabilia display (poster, gun and bullets mounted in a lovely wall shadow-box).