The report from the TV program '730 Report' by Michael Brissendon, discussed revolutionary advances made in the US by using embryonic stemcell research.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2745574.htm

"Scientists in the United States say they are just a few years away from a revolutionary advance in medical technology that could cure such debilitating diseases as diabetes and HIV. President Barack Obama’s decision back in march to overturn the bush administration's veto of funding for embryonic stem cell research has resulted in an unprecedented acceleration of scientific outcomes."

Consider the huge arguments the Obama Administration caused in the US and other countries, including Australia, when they allowed scientists to recommence using embryonic stemcells in their search for cures to many diseases.

What does everyone now feel about this controversial subject?
Did Obama make the right decision to allow scientists almost unrestricted use of leftover IVF embryos?

Is it more ethically or morally correct to destroy unwanted embryos rather than to use them for research to help save many more lives or give people a better quality of life?

Suze.

The main objections to stem cell research will come from the religious right, who have awarded themselves the crown of moral superiority.

This research has saved lives and can save millions more. And the ban on this reseach will only mean that it is done by others.

What, as opposed to your own sense of theological superiority, S&M?.

My partner has had a double lung transplant. To me, the miracle of that is no different to the potential of stem cell research, and I'm a Christian.

Couldn't it be argued that God gave medicine the ability?.

Anyway, back to the topic.

I think it's ridiculous to just waste embryoes. Totally for it, as long as the tech is used 'for good'.

Suzie,
IMHO that's a no brainer of course it should be allowed.

Subject to the usual ethics oversights

Excellent news! And good on Obama for overturning the ban!

Another advantage of Embryonic Stem Cells is that they can repair damaged tissue very effectively- making them important for dangerous surgical procedures, burns and tissue transplants/regeneration.

The *ONLY* people who are against it are rabid anti-abortionists who basically have no choice but to oppose this on principle or else look totally stupid; and for the simple reason that it adds moral justification to the practice they despise and banning stem cell research is one step towards banning abortion- totally ignoring the fact that embryonic cells can also be extracted from placenta and umbilical chords.

Dear Suze,

Anything that saves lives instead of destroying
them is surely a positive.

When will we ever learn to stop destruction of
things that could be put to better use for all
of mankind?

The average person can expect to give up three
to four years of his or her life working to
foot the arms bill, while ever more people
suffer from ill health, disease, illiteracy,
and chronic hunger. US President Barack Obama
has done the right thing. We need new ways of
thinking to cope with the nuclear age - and
nerve us to build an alternative future.

As Charles Olson proclaimed, "What does not
change is the will to change." We have to believe
that there can be change, and that there are positive
alternatives is evident - we need leaders like President
Obama - who can find and take direction.

Adult stem cells are proving to be more useful than embryonic stem cells. In the near future all experiments will be solely on adult stem cells. So, if all you supporters of embryonic stem cell research had waited a couple of years, you wouldn't have lost your souls.

Same goes for abortion, if you had just waited for advances in imaging technology you would have seen that a child in the womb is very much alive and kickin'.

We Christians are here to guide you, don't dismiss what we say. Listen to us and you'll find peace.

"Truth"now- I will provide a point-by-point contradiction to everything you said.

-Adult Cells are proving to be more useful- um, because most research groups haven't been allowed to study embryonic stem cells, genius.
But before congratulating yourself on having a 'soul'- ask yourself- how exactly do we ensure we have a good supply of adult stem cells? We don't quite have a lot of organ donors in general. And don't waffle about "oh, but people SHOULD donate"- they don't- deal with it.
We can either take cells from already-aborted embryos instead of throwing them in the bin- or we can wallow about how not enough people are donating cells. Take your pick.

-I'm not sure what rock you've been living under but we KNOW fetuses and embryos and cytoplasts are alive- just like sperm and eggs are. Feel free to read the overwhelming amount of analysis posted in other abortion threads to acquaint yourself to the various rights and autonomy arguments, post-birth consequences, moral hypothesis and social considerations (for once) instead of whining that your "but they're alive- my God says so" is falling on deaf ears and hoping if you keep saying it enough it will somehow make things different (not all minds are as weak as that, sorry).

-"We Christians are here to guide you, don't dismiss what we say. Listen to us and you'll find peace."
So far "You Christians" (ie a minority among Christians) are giving some spectacularly lame advice creating a high likelyhood of negative social consequences ENTIRELY out of simplistic thinking.

We'll pass thanks.

Just as any country with the word "Democratic" in it is despotic, TRUTHNOW is more interested in dogma than fact.

There have been several advances in technology specific to adult stem cells, but there still far more to be learnt from embryonic stem cells. The restriction in the USA has meant that the greatest research engines in the world just have not done that much research, but it was continuing in several asian countries and Europe.

Fetuses are alive but not sentient, which is completely beside the point as the right to abortion is not about the fetus, but the rights of women to decide what to do with their bodies, free from the slavery that the religious right wind wish to impose.

As for guidance, Christians are as useful as a blind guide dog. As for your "peace", all I can say is that ignorance is bliss.

All narrow minded pidgeon holing bigots are, S&M.

I disagree Shadow Minister, Christians are even more useful than a blind dog. Because at the end of the day we love you guys whereas New Atheists like you would have us in concentration camps being forced to sing Joni Mitchell songs.

And we also put facts first -

http://www.stemcellresearch.org/commentary/answeringcommonclaims.htm

Thanks for everyone's input. Myself and all my colleagues are excited about these new developments that may be made possible as a result of Obama allowing embryonic stemcell research to go on, unhindered by religious objections.

We care for many people with Diabetes, parkinsons, paraplegia, MS, and many other diseases. These people now have more hope that something may be able to be done for them in their lifetime.

Truthnow78, these new developments were not able to be made using adult stemcells.

With the years that the Bush administration refused to give permission to US scientists to use embryonic stemcells, do you not think they would have tried very hard to get some positive results from the adult stemcells?

They had a small measure of success, but nowhere near as exciting and promising as the success since the embryonic stemcell research has been allowed.

These new ideas could be the start of ending the pain, suffering and deaths of millions of people already born.
Truthnow78, surely your God would not deny them this chance?

The stream was titled embryonic stem cell ADVANCES.
Not one poster has yet named one advance of embryonic stem cell research, and that is because there have not been any advances to date.
With Adult stem cells on the other hand we hear weekly of a person's own stem cells being used to create a new bladder, a new oesophagus, and the miracle of your own stem cells is that there are no rejection issues. You do not need donors, because we all have an ample supply in our own noses, for one example.
see http://www.cogforlife.org/adultStemCellSuccess.htm for references.
With adult stem cells, physicians have successfully treated autoimmune diseases such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, adult stem cells have helped to avert corneal degeneration and to restore vision in cases of blindness. They have also restored proper cardiac function to heart attack sufferers and improved movement in spinal cord injury patients.

All of these successes have come exclusively from adult stem cell research. Embryonic stem cell research, which requires the destruction of early human life to acquire the cells, has not produced any successes in human patients

Bridgejenny, Yes, we have had some wonderful limited success with adult stemcells, but I don't see any reason why we can't continue to have extensive research into the capabilities of both adult stemcells and embryonic stemcells. Why does it have to be only adult stemcells ?

It is well known in medical research facilities that embryonic stemcells may provide the best opportunities in the future for clinical treatment.

Embryonic stem cells multiply indefinitely and can be transformed into all other cells of the body.

They are also more adaptable than stem cells derived from body cells.
It is believed that, in the long run, adult stemcells do not have the same potential as the embryonic stemcells.

At the end of the day, the people who are helped by this research aren't going to care which cells made it happen.

If anyone did really object to scientists using embryonic stemcells for their research, then they can certainly choose not to avail themselves of any of the resulting treatments.
Leave the rest of us alone to make our own choice.

TRUTHNOW78,

Thanks for posting that "unbiased" article promoting IPSC (induced pluripotent stem cells) over ESC (embryonic stem cells) research.

I notice the way they glibly pass over the single defining problem with IPSC treatments "The risk of tumor formation may, at this time, be higher in iPSCs than in embryo-derived stem cells because the genes used for reprogramming remain inserted in the cell"

Translated: It will probably kill you.

"And we also put facts first", but only the ones that promote your cause and ignore the facts that make your cause a sham.

The reprogamming genes are the single most important why the HSCs are being researched. IPSCs don't have them and never will.

In layman's terms

IPSCs are like maleable pipes that can be bent into many shapes:
ESCs are like liquid metal that can go into any shape.

IPSCs are useful but will never replace ESCs.

P.S. Thanks for a prime example of the religious right wing. I suppose you also believe that evolution didn't happen?