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US Stem Cells Contaminated
Croaking Toad writes "According to The Register, US-based scientists using stem cells has hit a brick wall. The stem cells apparently have been contaminated for quite a while with animal proteins rendering them useless in the treatment of human illnesses. New stem cell harvesting was outlawed in the USA by a 2001 Executive Order from President Bush." To be precise, stem cell harvesting wasn't outlawed; the usage of federal funding was outlawed. Several states and research institutions have been using their own money to undertake research. The AP coverage is up as well. Update: 01/24 19:40 GMT by J : Carl Zimmer has a fascinating description of the sugars we humans lack that contaminated the stem cell lines. What a curious genetic heritage we have...
It would be funny if lobbyists were able to make the point with Bush that restricting stem cell funding might allow other countries to leap ahead of the U.S. and patent and market stem cell technology, locking them out of potentially lucrative products.
I wonder which lobby would have more influence -- corporate or Christian? Right now, I'd say Christian cause the funding is not there.
to everyone screaming that it's simply federal funding that's denied... i certainly don't see any private organizations jumping up to throw their money at stem cell research (unless someone can correct me on that), so aside from the money from Cali there's currently $0 being thrown at it
Ironic this news comes on the same day as the march for life in DC
...and that's all there is to it.
Incorrect. Everyone who had an interest in the topic at the time was aware of the order. I don't have a direct interest in the order and even I knew about it. It's only now, when it gets twisted into some horrible anti-Bush propoganda, that some people want to pretend it was a secret.
Let's review the facts:
- It is not a LAW, it is an executive order.
- It does not outlaw PRIVATE harvesting of embryonic stem cells nor the use of PRIVATE money to do research on same.
- It says nothing about NON-EMBRYONIC stem cells. Those are the cells that many researchers freely admit have much more potential for positive results.
- It wasn't a secret.
- It deals only with how FEDERAL funds are used.
For many years, political anti-war activists have been demanding the right to not have their tax dollars used to support "the military-industrial complex", to the point that they just don't pay taxes. Why is it so bad when those who object to the use of unborn children in medical research want the same kind of control over their money? Is it just jealousy, because one group didn't make a convincing argument and the other did?For those who claim that private money could not possibly be enough to do anything, keep in mind the incredible amounts of money to be made by private companies when they can fulfill the Kerry/Edwards promise to "make the cripples walk". Let the capitalists alone and see what happens; don't hold your breath waiting for the socialists to get anything done.
Or, if you cannot do that, at least stop spreading politically-motivated misinformation.
It is personal. It's tough for some to admit they made a mistake and voted in someone more stupid than themselves so they defy logic and reasoning to justify their decisions.
Regardless of whether there was an outright ban or not funding, and it was simply a funding ban on farther cell lines, it has cast a cloud over research in America. Many of the scientists working in the field have moved to China an India to be able to contunue work with less funds. Less companies are investing in research for fear it will be banned in the future as the neocons are still pushing for that.
Good luck with that my friend, they are having shitfits because a church is burying the ashed of those murdered children instead of throwing them in the trash or flushing them down a toilet.
I think too many people out there are willing to face the reality that abortion is really all about whether or not a mother can murder her own child.
Or at the very least hire a contract killer to do it for her.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
You're missing the point.
I'm not saying that I agree/disagree with the ban, I'm simply saying that people need to know what they're talking about when they discuss something. Especially ridiculous is the parent post of my first reply who accuses someone of ignorance while clearly demonstrating he doesn't comprehend any of the debate.
I agree we need to keep the law and religion separate. I also know that the key to doing this is complete and accurate understanding of all sides in a debate such as this.
$45 per U Colocation Special
That is a campaign speech lie.
Anyone have any idea of the theological implications of God's Vessel On Earth telling a lie?
The libertarian solution to the failures of capitalism is to apply more capitalism til the failures are fixed.
See, this is the moral ground that the pro-abortionists are standing on. After all, the human tissue is no better than cows.
You have to understand that fundamentalist Christians find this idea absolutely terrible. There is no equivalent to animals and plants (built to serve man by God) and man (built as sons and daughters and future equal heirs of God). Trying to compare animals to humans wins no converts from the fundamentalist camp.
I might as well preach to you that animals deserve to die and are filthy creatures whose sole purpose in life is to get in my belly. You wouldn't appreciate that argument any more than I appreciate yours.
The radical sect of Islam would either see you dead or "reverted" to Islam.
God interviened, foiling mans plans.
Just say no to license servers!!