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'Plentiful' Non-Embryonic Stem Cells Found

Posted by Zonk on from the bumper-crop dept.

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."

7 of 489 comments (clear)

  1. Ethic issues by JHWH · · Score: -1, Troll

    The ethic issues remain: can a foetus be taken in consideration separately from his/her amiotic fluid and umbilical cord?
    In other words, we are trying to play with the exact human-driven definition of life and person.
    None the less this seems to be a great advance in science.

    --
    Intelligence has limits. Stupidity doesn't.
    1. Re:Ethic issues by Ingolfke · · Score: 0, Troll

      any form of the bible as a moral compass, it advocates hate and intolerance.

      So all religious books of any kind advocate hate and intolerance? READ the Bible sometime. It does not advocate hate or intolerance. People are evil and make mistakes, people will co-opt religion to push their own agendas forward, but claims that "any form of bible" advocates "hate and intolerance" is obviously ignorant.

  2. Re:amazing by oliverthered · · Score: 0, Troll

    a banana is partly human, do you have any problem with people eating bananas?

    --
    thank God the internet isn't a human right.
  3. Re:the more important question is.... by Ingolfke · · Score: 0, Troll

    To quote you... "i... primative bliefs... smash... fucking... balls."

    Yeah, you're the model of a modern sensible individual who understands how to respect others.

  4. Re:The spin by dangitman · · Score: 0, Troll

    Inputting your own perception and beliefs.

    No, it's not a belief, it's a fact. An embryo needs to be fertilised before it even has the chance of becoming a child. But even a fertilised embryo is not a child.

    But ask the average street person, they'll say it is.

    Frankly, I call BS. Have you done a poll to determine this? Does the average person also believe that a woman is "killing babies" when she menstruates? I don't think so.

    --
    ... and then they built the supercollider.
  5. Re:The idea that human life begins at conception by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 1, Troll
    In that sense the "secular" definition of when human life starts, are the limits we make for legal abortion. Something like 20 weeks.

    Umm, no. Legal limits on abortion in the USA are pretty much set at "before labor commences".

    --

    "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
  6. Re:The spin by corbettw · · Score: -1, Troll

    I never said they worked perfectly well as a treatment for anything.

    Then what's the point? The whole issue seems to center on finding something so that Michael J. Fox can stop twitching and get back to work making us all laugh. If embryonic stem cells don't work as a treatment for that, then what's the point?

    --
    God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.