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Children Help Their Mothers for Decades

Itninja writes "NPR reported this morning on some interesting findings regarding mothers and their children. From the article: 'Some scientists have proposed that when a woman has a baby, she gets not just a son or a daughter, but a gift of cells that stays behind and protects her for the rest of her life. That's because a baby's cells linger in its mom's body for decades and -- like stem cells -- may help to repair damage when she gets sick. It's such an enticing idea that even the scientists who came up with the idea worry that it may be too beautiful to be true.'"

16 of 285 comments (clear)

  1. Someone's been reading DNA by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's such an enticing idea that even the scientists who came up with the idea worry that it may be too beautiful to be true.

    A qualified poet once testified under oath that beauty was truth, truth beauty, and hoped thereby to prove that the guilty party in the case was Life itself for failing to be either beautiful or true. The judges concurred, and in a moving speech held that Life itself was in contempt of court, and duly confiscated it from all those there present before going off to enjoy a pleasant evening's ultragolf.

    Yes, there is the "Good Hypothesis": that the cells stay in the mom and try to protect her for the rest of her life.

    And yes, there is the "Bad Hypothesis": that the cells gather at inflammation sites and contribute to mom's autoimmune diseases.

    But there is also a third hypothesis:


    That both of the first two hypothesis were concocted by by a wily editor of The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy in order to increase the level of universal uncertainty and paranoia and so boost sales of the Guide?

    --
    Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
  2. Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase by ettlz · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Service Pack".

    1. Re:Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase by Craptastic+Weasel · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think you mean "Cervix Pack"...

      yeah i know, made me groan too.

  3. Re by Alex+P+Keaton+in+da · · Score: 5, Funny

    So My mom has a fetus cache? Or did I leave a cookie?

    --
    And All I Ask is a Tall Ship And a Star to Steer Her By
  4. That's nothing. by ScentCone · · Score: 4, Funny

    My personal collection of cells can actually mow my Mom's entire lawn.

    --
    Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
  5. The bugina by bermudatriangleoflov · · Score: 5, Funny

    The miracles of the vagina never cease to amaze me....9 months trying to get out and the rest of your life trying to get back in.

    1. Re:The bugina by spadefoot · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well, not the same one, I would hope.

  6. So in essence... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Babies are the new brocolli! Eat more babies!

    1. Re:So in essence... by uberjoe · · Score: 4, Funny

      Now there's a modest proposal if I ever heard one.

      --

      The days of the digital watch are numbered.

  7. Fathers, meanwhile by muertos · · Score: 5, Funny

    Experience negative health benefits from children.

    I know mine drive me crazy.

  8. Some of the cells by RealProgrammer · · Score: 5, Funny

    are 30 years old and still living in the basement.

    --
    sigs, as if you care.
  9. Your mom by szembek · · Score: 4, Funny

    I've got some cells that are lingering inside your mom too.

    --
    nothing
  10. Re:I wonder by thatguywhoiam · · Score: 5, Funny
    Nope, I'm pretty sure that's more due to the fact that they don't do stupid things as often. Let's be honest here, men are pretty wreckless.

    nice, your typo contradicted your point :)

    --
    If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
  11. Dance with me, Mom! by layer3switch · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Dance with me, mom! Dance the dance of life!" ...fumble, trip, crash...

    So is this mean, I can finally talk back to my mom with same tone?

    mom: ...sigh... the things I did for you, giving you birth through excruciating labour for hours...
    son: ...sigh... the things I did for you, leaving my fetal cell behind to help you heal...

    ps: Mom, I love you. I'm just kidding.

    --
    "Don't let fools fool you. They are the clever ones."
  12. Guilt Trip deflector by UnknowingFool · · Score: 4, Funny

    Thanks. Now when my mom asks me what I've done for her, I can deflect the guilt trip.

    --
    Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  13. This is great news! by Hrodvitnir · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now when my mom and I get into an argument and she uses the line "Hey! I brought you into this world!" I can counter with:

    I gave you super healing!

    --
    "There are more important things than stopping terrorism. Upholding the Constitution is one of them." - Ars Forumer.