'Plentiful' Non-Embryonic Stem Cells Found

An anonymous reader writes "CNN reports that scientists at Harvard and Wake Forest have discovered a 'plentiful' non-embryonic source for stem cells, as well brain, liver, and bone cell types as well. The cells, found in amniotic fluid, can be harvested without harm to the donor or the donor's unborn child. While there's no proof that amniotic stem cells are as potent as embryonic stem cells, scientists are hopeful that this will be a huge step forward for the field of stem-cell research."

Comments

Re:amazing

[PopeRatzo]

"Why the attack on religion?"

Haven't you noticed that about 95% (I didn't make that number up) of the war in the world currently is caused because of religion? I'm all for Faith, but there's way too much religiopathy today. Time to dial it back a bit.

Re:You USians (-1, Flamebait)

[Anonymous Coward]

Why is it that liberals support abortion; that is, the extermination of a totally innocent and defenseless unborn baby, and yet in the same breath oppose the death penalty for violent criminals such as serial rapists and serial murderers?

Re:What I'm shocked about...

[Pojut]

first off, it's not that people aren't eating too much it's that they are too greedy. There is MORE than enough food and money in this world to feed, educate, and clothe every living man woman and child. It just isn't that high on the priority list of the people that are lucky enough to have those things.

Secondly, it is not a choice of who lives or dies. It's not like we are going "oh that embryo will have this name so we will use it", it's a finger pointed at a random name on a list. VERY different than killing off say only black embryos or only female embryos.

Re:amazing

[ElleyKitten]

I could say the same for the "mentally challenged". Should we carve them up as well?

The mentally challenged feel pain, happiness, sadness, and many other things, even if not like we do. An embryo does not. That's the difference.

To take it a step further: I remember the Chaivo case a while back where a lady was determined to be brain dead. Her husband was allowed to pull the plug on her, not because she had no brain activity, but because she would never again have any brain activity. You can't say the same of an embryo.

Ms. Schiavo also has no similarities to an embryo. I was against euthanizing her because PVS (Persistant Vegetative State, the diagnosis she was given) has an incredibly high misdiagnosis rate and there have been plenty of people who have been written off as PVS despite being aware and able to feel pain (say, the pain of not having food or water until they die). I personally know a woman who was labeled PVS for 14 years, but today is far from that. Anyways, back on the topic, if you think that embryos shouldn't be experimented on because they will grow into humans, I hate to tell you, they won't. The embryos that they get stem cells from are either fertility clinic rejects or created from eggs and sperm specifically donated to science. If we didn't get stem cells from them, they would be thrown away - and in fact, millions and millions are. If you want to complain, go complain that people are making more embryos than they can use in the first place, don't complain that some are using a tiny percentage of what's destined for trash for something useful.