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Harvard Scientists to Clone Human Embryos

An anonymous reader writes "Harvard University scientists claim they will soon start trying to clone human embryos to create stem cells. Even with the history of controversy and fraud researchers hope they can one day use the newly created stem cells to aid in battle against many diseases. From the article: 'The privately funded work is aimed at devising treatments for such ailments as diabetes, Lou Gehrig's disease, sickle-cell anemia and leukemia. Harvard is only the second American university to announce its venture into the challenging, politically charged research field.'"

17 of 592 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Is it worth it? by Surt · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sure, we shouldn't get involved in a land war in asia, even to cure a disease, but why would cloning fall into that category?

    --
    "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
  2. Evoloution has no morals by itsthebin · · Score: 3, Funny


    why can't the people who object to this just put themselves on a 'do not clone register'.

    --
    ...I obey the laws of physics....
  3. Full support! by Jugalator · · Score: 5, Funny

    I support cloning, because that's the only way I assume I'll reproduce. :-/

    --
    Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
  4. Nice timing, Harvard. by CosmeticLobotamy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Harvard, doing its very best to ensure the guys running the Republicans have enough nonsense issues to keep control indefinitely.

  5. Re:Is it worth it? by Jugalator · · Score: 5, Funny
    Aren't there any areas we should stay away from _even_ if they would help us cure diseases?

    Well, I for one am not putting my hand in your ass to diagnose if you have prostate cancer!

    So that's one area.

    Any more?
    --
    Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
  6. Re:Morality? by JonathanR · · Score: 3, Funny

    But then how does she cash in his life insurance? This is a pretty clear-cut moral decision.

  7. Re:Survival of the Fittest by RobertKozak · · Score: 4, Funny

    Whatever happened to survival of the fittest? Is all this technology assisting with breeding a race of second rate homo sapiens?

    As a group were are not first rate homo sapiens.

    There is natural selection and sexual selection. As long as ugly people, stupid people and politians* keep getting laid we will always be a race of second rate homo sapiens.

    * (also people who drive slow in the fast lane, people that try to take out a second mortgage through the ATM machine, RIAA lawyers, people that answer cell phones in the theatre, most of my ex girlfriends (but not their hot girlfriends), terrorists, people involved in the Garfield movie, the religious right, all those bullies from gym class, fanatics of any kind, people who like onions, dog owners that dont scoop, the people who invented rebate pricing, people who fart in the elevator just as the doors close and telemarketers. )

    ** NOTE TO MODERATORS: I would really prefer a +1 interesting over a +1 Funny.

    --
    Bet this .sig looks familiar.
  8. is this new? by frietbsd · · Score: 3, Funny

    identical twins been doing this for years.

  9. obligatory by owlnation · · Score: 1, Funny

    Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!! !!

    sorry!

  10. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 3, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  11. Of course not... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Then identical twins only have half a soul each.

    No. Only one of them has one... the other is the evil twin.

  12. Re:Never, never, and never by Anne_Nonymous · · Score: 2, Funny

    >> the day pigs fly

    The molecular genetics group at Harvard is working on this too.

  13. In related news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Princeton scientists have decided to clone the clones of human embryos.

    When asked about the decision, a representative said: 'One upmanship? Competitiveness? Don't be ridiculous. A scientist knows not of these things.'

  14. Re:Survival of the Fittest by Enigma2175 · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...There is natural selection and sexual selection. As long as ugly people, stupid people and politians* keep getting laid we will always be a race of second rate homo sapiens.

    * (also people who drive slow in the fast lane, people that try to take out a second mortgage through the ATM machine...


    Also people who say "ATM machine" and "PIN number".

    --

    Enigma

  15. Re:but when by ElleyKitten · · Score: 2, Funny

    yeah thats nice and all, but, when will researchers do something usefull... like clone lindsay lohan for me a couple times :P

    Unfortunately, cloning Lindsay Lohan for you a couple of times would just leave you with a couple of babies named Lindsay.

    Unless science found a way to rapidly age them, but then you'd have a couple of adult women who aren't toilet trained and cry all the time. Now there's a fantasy!

    --
    "What is Internet Explorer 7? Are you saying we can't access the normal internet?" - I love tech support. Really.
  16. Re:Baby killers [Re: br. morality in...] by zsau · · Score: 2, Funny

    Do *you* have free will? Or is your free will an illusion, and the path you would take known to someone who knows everything that is and was, and cared to take the time to work it out?

    I'll grant that your consciousness might be the issue, till you fall asleep. People in comas might object too, if they were conscious.

    --
    Look out!
  17. Re:Have geeks even considered... by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 2, Funny
    just as I've never considered following other Bible verses that suggest I keep slaves, sleep with my daughters, marry multiple wives, or stone people who lie.

    Actually, the slaves, wives and stoning things do have a certain attraction. :)